Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Zephaniah 1

Zep 1:1 The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

Josiah

2Ki 22:1-20; 2Ch 34:1-33; Jer 1:2; 22:11.

Zep 1:4 I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;

Chemarims

i.e. idolatrous priests. Cf. 2Ki 23:5.

Zep 1:5 And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

the host of heaven

2Ki 23:12; Jer 19:13.

Malcham

An idol of the Ammonites, same as Molech, or Milcolm.

Zep 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

the day of the Lord

As in the other Prophets, the approaching invasion of Nebuchadnezzar is treated as an adumbration of the true day of the Lord in which all earth-judgments will culminate, to be followed by the restoration and blessing of Israel and the nations in the kingdom. See "Day of the Lord" (Scofield Isa 2:10-22; Rev 19:11-21); "Israel" (Scofield Gen 12:2-3; Rom 11:26). Cf. Joe 1; 2.

Day (of Jehovah). Zep 1:7-18; Zec 12:1-14. (Isa 2:10-22; Rev 19:11-21).

Zep 1:11 Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

Maktesh

Literally The Mortar, a depression in Jerusalem where the bazaars were.

Zep 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.

settled on their lees

Jer 48:11; Amo 6:1.

Zep 1:14 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

The great day of the LORD is near

Joe 2:1, 11.

Zep 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

That day is a day of wrath

Zep 1:2; Isa 22:5; Jer 30:7; Joe 2:2, 11; Amo 5:18.

Zep 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them

Pro 11:4; Eze 7:19.