Zep 2:8-11 | TNotes | STEP | 2:8 The Moabites and Ammonites were Israel’s traditional foes. The Israelites fought with them frequently (see 2 Kgs 3:1-27 ; 2 Chr 20:1-30 ), and they remained Israel’s enemies to the end (2 Kgs 25:25 ; Jer 40:11-14 ). • mocking ... invading: The Israelites not only suffered repeated attacks by the Moabites and Ammonites (see Amos 1:13 ) but also endured their insults over their successes.

2:8 ^a The Moabites and Ammonites were Israel’s traditional foes. The Israelites fought with them frequently (see 2 Kgs 3:1-27 ^b; 2 Chr 20:1-30 ^c), and they remained Israel’s enemies to the end (2 Kgs 25:25 ^d; Jer 40:11-14 ^e).

• mocking ... invading: The Israelites not only suffered repeated attacks by the Moabites and Ammonites (see Amos 1:13 ^f) but also endured their insults over their successes.
2:9 ^g The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as an example of God’s severe judgment of sin, both in the Old Testament (Deut 29:23 ^h; Isa 1:9 ⁱ; Jer 23:14 ^j; Amos 4:11 ^k) and in the New Testament (Luke 10:12 ^l; Rom 9:29 ^m; 2 Pet 2:6 ⁿ).

• salt pits: A ruinous waste (Deut 29:23 ^o; Ps 107:34 ^p; Jer 17:6 ^q). Sowing the earth with salt was a mark of permanent judgment (see Judg 9:45 ^r) because it made the ground barren.
2:11 ^s nations ... will worship the Lord: At the end of history, all people in all places will worship God alone (3:9 ^t; Ps 66:4 ^u; Mic 4:1-2 ^v; Zech 14:16 ^w).