Zephaniah

 WRITER, evidently a direct descendant of King Hezekiah
 Zep 1:1

He prophesied during the reign of Josiah, King of Judah

 Zep 1:1

It is thought he uttered his prophecy near the beginning of Josiah's reign, before the religious revival which swept over the kingdom at that period. See 2 Kings, chs 22,23

 2Ki 22:1 - 23:1

Tradition says that Zephaniah was associated with Huldah, the Prophetess, and Jeremiah in the initiation of the reformation of the kingdom.

MAIN THEME, The searching Judgments of God.

KEY TEXT

 Zep 1:12

CONTENTS. The book is exceedingly sombre in its tone, and is filled with threatening and denunciations; but the sun breaks through the clouds in the last chapter, and the prophet foretells the coming of a glad day, when the Hebrews shall become a praise among all the people of the earth.

SYNOPSIS

(1) The announcement of coming judgments upon Judah ch 1

 Zep 1:1

(2) The Call to Repentance

 Zep 2:1-3

(3) Judgments threatened upon surrounding nations

 Zep 2:4-15

(4) A woe pronounced upon the sinners of Jerusalem because of their corruption and spiritual blindness in continuing in wickedness, in spite of all the judgments meted out to the heathen nations

 Zep 3:1-8

(5) A universal judgment foretold, which only a godly remnant should escape

 Zep 3:8-13

(6) The future glory of Israel, when Jehovah shall deliver his people, and cause them to become famous throughout the earth

 Zep 3:14-20

(Outline from Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible)

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