Zep 1:4-5 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Zeph 1:4-6: 1:4-6 Having pronounced judgment on the whole earth (1:2-3 ), Zephaniah now focuses attention on his own people, Judah and Jerusalem . 1:4 When Zephaniah made this prophecy, before Josiah’s reforms in 622 BC , idolatrous priests rampantly promoted Baal worship and other forms of paganism (2 Kgs 23:5 ).

a1:4-6►

b1:2-3►

c1:4►

d2 Kgs 23:5►

e1:5►

fDeut 4:15-19►

g2 Kgs 21:3►

h23:12►

iLev 20:1-5►

j2 Kgs 16:3►

k21:6►

‏ Zephaniah 1:4-5

Summary for Zeph 1:4-6: 1:4-6 ^a Having pronounced judgment on the whole earth (1:2-3 ^b), Zephaniah now focuses attention on his own people, Judah and Jerusalem. 1:4 ^c When Zephaniah made this prophecy, before Josiah’s reforms in 622 BC, idolatrous priests rampantly promoted Baal worship and other forms of paganism (2 Kgs 23:5 ^d).
1:5 ^e Scripture denounced the practice of worshiping heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars (see Deut 4:15-19 ^f; 2 Kgs 21:3 ^g; 23:12 ^h).

• Molech might refer to the Canaanite god Baal, the Ammonite god Milcom, or the pagan deity Molech. Although the law explicitly prohibited Molech worship (Lev 20:1-5 ⁱ), it remained a constant temptation to Israel (2 Kgs 16:3 ^j; 21:6 ^k).