Zechariah warned Judah and other nations that Yahweh was about to punish them. He also prophesied about how Yahweh would restore Judah. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/dayofthelord]])
This book has traditionally been called "The Book of Zephaniah" or just "Zephaniah." Translators may decide to call it "The Sayings of Zephaniah." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
Zephaniah is the author of this book. But four different Old Testament people are named Zephaniah. This Zephaniah was probably the great-grandson of King Hezekiah and a cousin to King Josiah. Zephaniah lived in the city of Jerusalem. He began to prophesy about seventy years after the prophets Isaiah and Micah. Zephaniah spoke Yahweh's messages during the reign of King Josiah (about 640–621 B.C.), and just before Jeremiah began to prophesy.
Manasseh, the grandfather of Josiah, had been one of the worst kings of Judah. He led the people to worship other gods. After his death, his son Amon ruled for only two years before he was killed. Amon's son Josiah became king when he was eight years old. Josiah learned to worship and honor Yahweh. Zephaniah likely began his work after Josiah had destroyed most of the idols and shrines of false gods in Judah. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]])
Zephaniah often said a foreign nation would invade the kingdom of Judah. Zephaniah probably meant Babylonia. However, Zephaniah never mentions the name of this nation.
See in Reader
