Zep 3:7 | JFB | STEP | 7. I said, Surely, &c.—God speaks after the manner of men in condescension to man's infirmity; not as though God was ignorant of the future contingency, but in their sense, Surely one might have expected ye would under such circumstances repent: but no! thou —at least, O Jerusalem! Compare " thou, even thou, at least in this thy day" ( ). their dwelling —the sanctuary [BUXTORF ]. Or, the city. Compare Jesus' words ( ), "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" ( ); and used as to the temple ( ). "Their" is used instead of "thy"; this change of person implies that God puts them to a greater distance. howsoever I punished them —Howsoever I might have punished them, I would not have cut off their dwelling. CALVIN , "Howsoever I had marked them out for punishment" because of their provocations, still, if even then they had repented, taught by My corrections, I was ready to have pardoned them. MAURER , "Altogether in accordance with what I had long ago decreed (ordained) concerning you" ( , and, on the other hand, ). English Version, or CALVIN'S view, is better. rose early, and corrupted, &c.—Early morning is in the East the best time for transacting serious business, before the relaxing heat of midday comes on. Thus it means, With the greatest earnestness they set themselves to "corrupt all their doings" ( ).

Zephaniah 3:7

7. I said, Surely, &c.—God speaks after the manner of men in condescension to man's infirmity; not as though God was ignorant of the future contingency, but in their sense, Surely one might have expected ye would under such circumstances repent: but no!

thou—at least, O Jerusalem! Compare "thou, even thou, at least in this thy day" (Lu 19:42).

their dwelling—the sanctuary [BUXTORF]. Or, the city. Compare Jesus' words (Lu 13:35), "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Le 26:31, 32; Ps 69:25); and used as to the temple (Mic 3:12). "Their" is used instead of "thy"; this change of person implies that God puts them to a greater distance.

howsoever I punished them—Howsoever I might have punished them, I would not have cut off their dwelling. CALVIN, "Howsoever I had marked them out for punishment" because of their provocations, still, if even then they had repented, taught by My corrections, I was ready to have pardoned them. MAURER, "Altogether in accordance with what I had long ago decreed (ordained) concerning you" (De 28:1-14, and, on the other hand, De 28:15-68; 27:15-26). English Version, or CALVIN'S view, is better.

rose early, and corrupted, &c.—Early morning is in the East the best time for transacting serious business, before the relaxing heat of midday comes on. Thus it means, With the greatest earnestness they set themselves to "corrupt all their doings" (Ge 6:12; Isa 5:11; Jer 11:7; 25:3).