Zephaniah 1:14-18

The passage is similar to one from Amos that also discussed the "Day of Yahweh." Our goal will be to continue to understand Zephaniah's use of the "Day of Yahweh" and especially his development of this idea. We will also want to connect this to Zephaniah's historical setting.

 

Other examples of the "Day of Yahweh":

  • Amos 5:18, 20: in 5:18-20, the prophet warns the people that the Day of Yahweh of judgment that will result in darkness for them and not light because they are guilty
  • Isa 2:12: the day in which Yahweh will judge the haughty and then be exalted.
  • Isa 13:6,9: In this case, the "Day of Yahweh" is a day in which Babylon will be destroyed. This is a helpful example to show that the "Day of Yahweh" was definately used as the day in which Yahweh would fight against the enemies of God = in this case, a foreign nation.
  • Zeph 1:7: connected to the passage for we are treating this week.
  • Jer 46:10: defines that the "Day of Yahweh" is "a day of retribution, to gain vindication from his foes..." The phrase in this case is used in part of a judgment against Egypt. This, like the passage in Isa 13:6,9 shows that the "Day of Yahweh" is a day that Yahweh will be vindicated against the enemies of God.
  • Ezekiel 13:5: this passage is a little different, and it shows that the phrase "Day of Yahweh" can have a wider meaning than just the final day of judgment. In this passage, Jeremiah condemns other prophets because and refers to a "Day of Yahweh" as a more generic day of battle. My hunch is that the "Day of Yahweh could refer to the day in which Yahweh comes as the divine warrior and "judges" the enemies of God (this is similar to Amos 5:18-20 and Zeph 1:14-18), and it could also mean the generic day in which Yahweh was seen to fight for the people. This verse is helpful at illustrating what Amos is warning the people about.
  • Ezekiel 30:3: in 30:2-9, the prophet uses the phrase "Day of Yahweh" in manner very similar to Zephaniah. Like Zephaniah, he states that the "Day of Yahweh" is "near," and it will be a time of doom.
  • Obadiah 1:15: Again, this use by the prophet refers not to a 24-hour period, but to a time when Yahweh will set everything right and judge the wicked. It is also helpful for understanding Zeph 1:14-18, because it uses "Day of Yahweh" together with "near."
  • Malachi 3:23
  • Job 1:15, 2:1,11; 3:4; 4:14 
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    Literary Setting
    


  
  • How does this passage relate to the rest of the first section
  of Zephaniah (1:2 - 2:3 = "Judgment Against Judah and Jerusalem")?
  
  • How does the passage relate to the judgment against the other
  nations found in chapter 2?
  
  • How does this concept of the "Day of Yahweh" factor
  into Zephaniah's prophecies?

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    Questions for discussion
    


  
  • How does Zephaniah use this oracle about the "Day of
  Yahweh" as he holds the Davidic Covenants and the Mosaic
  Covenants in tension with each other? In thinking about this
  question, continue to reflect on our discussion from class on
  Wednesday about how Zephaniah is both presenting a judgment against
  the rulers and hierarchy in Jerusalem and remembering the promises
  made to Judah that Jerusalem would be exalted.
  
  • How has Zephaniah developed the idea of the "Day of
  Yahweh?" Has he reappropriated this idea? If so, can we
  reappropriate this idea?
  
  • What should the "Day of Yahweh" mean for us today?
  Really think about this question, and reflect on if the concept
  is even one that is valid for us today. Another way of asking
  the question is to ask if the idea of the "Day of Yahweh"
  is too closely tied to the eschatalogical end of the world to
  be use to us today.

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