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Names of the Book

ZEPHANIAH from "THE TRIUMPH OF RELIGION"- John Singer Sargent

English:  Zephaniah
Hebrew:  צפניה
Transliterated:  Tz'fanyah
Other names:   

 

whoWho

Wrote the book:  Zephaniah
Are the key people:  Zephaniah, the people of Jerusalem
Is it written to:  The people of Jerusalem

 

whatWhat

The day of judgment (Zephaniah 1:1-3:7)
The day of hope (Zephaniah 3:8-20)

 

whenWhen

Was it written:  c 640-621 BCE
Did the events occur:  c 640-621 BCE
Was it canonized:  c 499-100 BCE
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh)

 

whereWhere

Was it written:  in or near Jerusalem
Did the events occur:  Jerusalem

 

whyWhy

Zephaniah was written to inform us that: 
There will be a day of judgment.
Indifference to G-d has severe consequences.
There is hope.

 

whyIntroduction

The historical and prophetic book of Zephaniah relates events from the reign of Josiah, king of Judah. Josiah enacted laws to bring about religious revival after the spiritual degradation that occurred during the reign of his predecessor, Manasseh. Much like the prophet Amos' message to Israel, Zephaniah delivers G-d's stinging rebuke to Judah for the nation's apostasy and corruption but at the same time, he announces G-d's plan to restore Judah. Like Amos, Zephaniah sounds a call to repentance and warns of the coming "day of the Lord" when G-d would judge the nation, sin would be punished, and a faithful remnant would be saved.

 

 


 

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

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Today is

Yom Shishi, 19 Adar II, 5784

Friday, March 29, 2024

 

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