ZEPHANIAH, Book of. The title of the book of Zephaniah says that the prophetic message was given in the days of Josiah, king of Judah, 63%-6M B.C. Since that time is appropriate for the book, the title is usually con sidered to rest upon an historical basis, al though other suitable times for these utter ances might be found. In the title Zephaniah is said to have been the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah, by whom the king of that name is doubtless meant. This also is generally ac cepted, since the book contains nothing out of harmony with the royal descent.
It is evident that the message of Zephaniah must have preceded the introduction of the Deuteronomic law in 621. This is because the conditions here reflected are such as doubtless belonged to the early part of the reign of Jo siah, but were somewhat changed, perhaps only temporarily, by the Deuteronomic reform. The characteristic features are religious syncretism astral worship, imitation of foreign customs. and scepticism, i, 4-6, 8, 9, 12. Since the book shows no clear influence of Jeremiah it is prob ably to be dated not later than the beginning of his work. That indicates a date of about 627 B.C.
The background of the book is some great invasion affecting many lands. At the time mentioned that must have been the Scythian invasion, alluded to in Jeremiah i, as a danger from the north. The invasion cannot have come from Egypt or Assyria, since both art mentioned as affected by it, u, 12. This Scythian invasion, it is known, affected Assyria and ex tended to the borders of Egypt, overrunning also several of the intermediate countries. It lasted for a considerable number of years, and while its limits cannot be determined with entire certainty, the year mentioned, 627, .as quite evidently near the beginning of its course The theme of the book is the coming of the day of Yahweh. This is probably not to be regarded as identified with the Scythian nom sion, but the latter is an introductory move ment indicating that it is at hand. The day of
Yahweh is first mentioned by Amos, and then as a familiar idea. As here presented the de struction of that day is to engulf Judah. Pha i•tia. Moab, Ammon. Ethiopia (Egypt) and As syria; but the mention of Moab and Ammon often considered a later addition. That day. while regularly a day of world-judgment in some real sense, is here presented in unusually vivid terms as a day of universal judgment and destruction. The judgment upon Judah has an ethical basis, a point which does not appear in the condemnation of the other nations Zephaniah, like Amos whom he re‘etnblei is distinctly a prophet of judgment. Most the book gives little suggestion of mercy At the end, however, are several vents of a dif ferent tenor which, as in the parallel case In Amos, are to be regarded as a later additioa This applies most clearly to iii, 14-20. Here is a message of restoration of the people now scattered among the nations. This belongs to the exile or, more probably, after the exile. iii, 9-10 is probably also a later addition be cause its attitude toward the nations is out of harmony with most of the book. Other passages sometimes considered to be later are less cer tainty so; most prominent among these is ii, 8 11, which has suggestions of the exile.
While Zephaniah adds nothing of funda mental importance to the messages of the line of prophets who have preceded him, yet his utterance is characterized by a zeal for right eousness and a vigor of presentation not un worthy of that goodly fellowship. Historically, his testimony to the conditions in the tune shortly before the reform of Josiah is of much value.
Bibliography.— Davidson, A. B., 'Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah' ((Cambridge Bible,' Cambridge 18961; Driver, S. R.. 'Zephaniah' ((Century Bible,' Edinburgh 1906); Smith, J. M. P., The Book of Zephaniah' ('Interna tional Critical Commentary,' New York 1911).