Zephaniah-Chap-3
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please do NOT visit this
site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh
versions:
Throughout this site I may use any
of three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Hebrew
Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, However, the
JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations
or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), having been corrected
like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
Chapter Three..
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Let us first
read Tehillim - Psalms 86, verses 1 & 11 & 12.
Please Note: All verses on this study are from the JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh.
“A Prayer of David. Incline Thine ear, O יְהוָה - LORD, and answer me; for I am poor and needy … Teach me, O יְהוָה - LORD, Thy way, that I may walk in Thy truth: make one my heart to fear Thy Name I will thank Thee, O אֱלֹהֵי- יְהוָה- LORD my Elo’hey, with my whole heart; and I will glorify Thy Name for evermore”.
“A prayer of Dovid – David - … Teach me, Thy way, יְהוָה – the LORD that I may walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy Name. I will praise Thee, O יְהוָה - the LORD my Elohim, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy Name for evermore” Tehillim - Psalms 86:1 & 11-12 (JPS).
I believe this is where we really should be as Torah keeping Hebrews, thus
let us ask the question, do we really measure up to this beautiful exclamation
by King Dovid? We need to remember that our beloved Creator, blessed be He,
sees all, knows all our thoughts, thus we simply cannot hide in any shape or
form, thus at Yom Kippur we should pour out our hearts and repent of
all our wrong doings. But should we really just wait until that one day a year,
I feel it should be done the very minute we know we have wronged, for He has
already seen it! The sad truth is that the world is in turmoil, and surely none
of us could say otherwise, for being very honest things have never been worse
in a general tense as I will sadly must describe.
I am beginning with a rather sad thought, for the tragic truth is if we
take a really good look at today’s world we will realise that the vast majority
of this world is in a severe crisis! The truth is that the world in general has
become a most sinful, if not a very evil world. All we have to do is just look
at the news and we know what we will hear and see, for it will cover all the
worst that is happening in our city, country and throughout the globe, for evil
seems to be the way of life for so many and it is not just adults but now it is
also the very young ones who are driving cars like idiots, and killing their
own friends, robbing as well as murdering people.
WE should ask ourselves, “What is the real problem with human nature
today”. The sad truth people these days are filled with the – ‘I - Me,
and Myself’. They have become individuals that are filled
with kind inclinations of the self, lust and need of self-gratification and somehow
they do not care if they have to hurt others, and even if they have to kill. We
need to realise beloved evil has in general become a deity of the earth and
that is why sin rules the globe, and that is why we see murders on a daily
basis, and what is so sad as I have already said, so many who do the killing
are also among the younger generation these days. I am sure most of us are
aware that there seems to be an epidemic of rape, and wife abuse these days and
sadly I know for a fact that it is happening right in our very own Hebrew
community! The most horrid and wicked things are occurring these days at a
speed so fast that the law simply cannot keep up with it!
I am so sorry that I am painting such a shocking, but sadly a very truthful
picture of this world, but what is so sad, what I am telling you what I have
been saying also includes ‘Eretz Yisrael’! And that is one of the great
tragedies, for what should Yisrael really be according to the Torah? גּוֹי
קָדוֹשׁ
-
“A Holy Nation”, but tragically Yisrael was far from being that, for
sadly it is no more than a badly run ‘secular state’ and it is very far from
the land we read about in prophecy, and certainly not the restored land
which was spoken of in the Tanakh, for it has turned the wrong way in many
more ways than one!
“… ye
shall be unto Me a
As I said, sadly, Yisrael is just like any other secular nation, where
these days anything seems to be legal and everything is tolerated. Yisrael is
considered to be one of the most liberal states in the world, for
same-sex sexual activity was legalized way back in 1988. Same sex marriages has
long been legalised and they can even adopt babies.
So, if we love our Elohim, blessed be He, how would He see this, and do you
think He would bless the land, or would He prefer to destroy it? Well
punishment will come for all those who will not repent, but the day must come
when not just Eretz Yisrael and its people will have to change their ways and
they will have to … “Return unto Me”.
“From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת-יְהוָה - the LORD of Tzva’ot (Hosts)” Malachi 3:7 (JPS version of the Tanakh).
“Yisrael’s Passing Crisis”
Considering the above sad situation of what is going on in the world and
Yisrael, we are now going to look at a study I have entitled “Yisrael’s
Passing Crisis,” which is based on what Tsephanyah has given us
in this third chapter of his sefer.
But I would like to commence at the beginning, for unlike most other
prophets, Tsephanyah provided us with a great detail of his mishpocha’s
(family’s) background. In fact, in the first verse of the book, he provided
details of his families four generations.
The Book of Tsephanyah - Zephaniah commences with my favourite Ivrit words
(which translates as (The) “Word (of) יְהוָה - the LORD.”
“The word of יְהוָה which came unto Tsephanyah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah” Tsephanyah - Zephaniah 1:1 (JPS version of the Tanakh).
The name Tsephanyah has a wonderful meaning for it means; “יְהוָה has treasured,” or “יְהוָה protects.” It was a well-chosen
name for that time. There is no doubt that this prophet may not rival some of
the great prophets like Yeshayahu - Isaiah in sublimity, nor did he match the
eloquence and imaginative powers of Hoshea - Hosea, yet he was
a prophet who yielded to no one as we will soon see by the impressive and
forceful manner in which he delivers Elohim’s Word blessed be He, combined with
a powerful warning. A warning, that speaks of a cloud of retribution that would
soon burst a deluge of fire and blood. His style alternates between stern
denunciation and then one of soothing comfort. The vigour and clarity of his
diction compensate for what Tsephanyah may lack in charm and deep insight into
human nature.
Sadly, Tsephanyah faced what was at large a corrupt and sadly a nation, the
nation of Yehuda - Judah, who did not worship our beloved Elohim, the very
people who are identified by Elohim as “My people” and we need to
remember that this is a title the people of Israel never sought.
However, at that time the majority of Yehuda continued to live in sin, thus the
Almighty had to act on His Word, for יְהוָה Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, is not a
respecter of persons, be they chosen or not. Thus, Elohim must and will punish
the children of disobedience, according to His Word!
It would be the “Day of יְהוָה.” Tsephanyah at all times rightly sought to inspire
fear of that coming day into the hearts of his hearers and constantly appeals
for true “repentance,” in Hebrew the word is “Te’Shuva,”
which means to “Return” to Elohim, in order for them to be redeemed, restored
and be made whole once again!
Tsephanyah points out that through this judgement, mercy will come to those
whom Elohim truly intends to deliver. Those with genuine Te’Shuva
- Repentant Hearts, will sing praises unto the just and loving Elohim, the
Elohim of Avraham, Yitzchak - Isaac and Ya’akov - Jacob, who dwells in their
midst. Elohim, blessed be He, at ALL times has a redemptive plan for His
people. Even as His people were taken captive and suffered persecution in
The redemptive plan proves that the dispersion and persecution of Israel is,
a “Passing Crisis,” for the time will come that Israel will once again …
“shall take refuge in the Name of יְהוָה” Tsephanyah - Zephaniah 3:12 (JPS).
Now let us take a closer look at chapter three of Tsephanyah, as it
contains some very powerful teaching on the subject of
1. Judgement of the Corrupt City - Verses 1 to 8.
2. Promised Blessings in Salvation – verses 9 to 13.
3. That Salvation demands Praise and Worship – verses 14 to 20.
Let us now read and consider Tsephanyah chapter 3, verses 1 to 8 of chapter
3 (JPS).
“Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She hearkened not to the voice, she received not correction; she trusted not in יְהוָה, she drew not near to her Elohim. Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are wolves of the desert, they leave not a bone for the morrow. Her prophets are wanton and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned that which is holy, they have done violence to the law. יְהוָה who is righteous is in the midst of her, He will not do unrighteousness; every morning doth He bring His right to light, it faileth not; but the unrighteous knoweth no shame. I have cut off nations, their corners are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant. I said: 'Surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, despite all that I have visited upon her'; but they betimes corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait ye for Me, saith יְהוָה, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy” Tsephanyah - Zephaniah 3:1-8 (JPS).
As we can obviously see there is so much teaching here, especially in verse
1. This verse contains three very powerful words that have very special
meanings. But of course we generally never hear these three word in shul,
although I did give this study way back in the early 1980’s and I have been asked
to repeat it on various occasions, especially in and around Europe but it is
not a message I would share on a Shabbat of course, for it is simply not
suitable for Shabbat! But I pray that by placing it online it can be shared
with one and all!
Let us commence with the Hebrew word for “filthy” which
is מוֹרָה - “Morah” which
is also translated as “rebellious.” What Tsephanyah was saying is this …
“B’nei Yisrael was rebellious against אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim and were behaving in a vile and an abhorrent manner.” (Paraphrased).
Next comes the word “polluted” that in
Hebrew is גָּאַל - “Ga’al” that
also means, “defiled” or “stained.” This same word is found
in Yeshayahu - Isaiah chapter 59 Verse 3. “For your hands are defiled (גָּאַל
- Ga’al) with blood.”
Thus we have read that Yehuda -
Now, I would like to provide some very special teachings which you will
generally not have ever heard.
It is related to that word גָּאַל - Ga’al,
which we have we know means “defiled” or “polluted,” however this
word has another meaning in Ivrit.
In Shemot - Exodus chapter 6, the word גָּאַל - “Ga’al” is
also used, however in this chapter it is translated in a completely different
way, for there it is “deliver” see the “Stone Edition and the JPS
Version.
“Wherefore say unto the children of
In fact it is that in this chapter that the word גָּאַל
-
“Ga’al” appears for the very first time in the
Word of Elohim. Thus, we may ask, why then is “Ga’al not
translated in Tsephanyah - Zephaniah delivered or redeemed,
but rather as something completely opposite such as polluted or defiled?”
The question is how can that be?
Let me now show you the connection, the fact is this to correctly
understand the word redeemed, we have to realise that to be “redeemed,” we have
to be “covered” or “surrounded” with a protective care. When the word גָּאַל
- “Ga’al” is used in the correct tense, we
were redeemed with a total covering of protection of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיהֶם
- the LORD their
Eloheihem, blessed be His Sanctified Name, and we were indeed saved from the evil
Egyptian’s and all the armies that desired our elimination whilst we were in
the Wilderness. Elohim, blessed be He surrounded us with His love and care and
kept us safe!
However, when this same word is used in the negative tense it represents a
covering of evil. Thus, it is either a covering of good or a
covering of evil as it was in Tsephanyah. Sadly, the Judeans who had
gone astray living in Jerusalem tragically had their hands “polluted,” or
“stained,” and “covered” in blood, said יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיהֶם
- the LORD their
Eloheihem, blessed be His Sanctified Name, through His prophet Tsephanyah.
But now we come to the concluding word of verse 1, “the oppressing.”
In Hebrew, it is הַיּוֹנָה - “HaYonah.” This word is a rather strange
one, for it also translates as “the Dove.”
Thus, in a sense we see
Wickedness and fleshly desires of its inhabitants turned
However, praise be to Elohim, even during times of
great sin and evil, there were always a remnant that remained faithful, one being
the faithful prophet, Tsephanyah. Thus, Elohim sent him to proclaim His Word
and he did so without fear.
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיהֶם
- the LORD their
Eloheihem, blessed be His Sanctified Name, declared in verse 6 that He has “cut
off nations” because of their horrendous sins, and that their “cities
were made desolate, without inhabitants.” Now you would think that no
stronger warning could have been given to
The question is did the people heed to this powerful warning? Sadly, the
answer is, Not in any way whatsoever, except for the faithful
few, Judah continued living in their sinful and evil ways, and
Elohim, blessed be He, according to His Word had to correct them as he had
already stated in Vayikra - Leviticus 26 and Davarim - Deuteronomy 28. However,
even when He speaks of punishment, there is always a redemptive element.
“And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their treachery which they committed against Me, and also that they have walked contrary unto Me. I also will walk contrary unto them, and bring them into the land of their enemies; if then perchance their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and they then be paid the punishment of their iniquity; then will I remember My covenant with Jacob, and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land … And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break My covenant with them; for I am יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם - the LORD their Eloheihem. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their Elohim: I am the יְהוָה” Vayikra - Leviticus 26:40-42, 44-45.
Whilst אֱלֹהִים - Elohim must pour out His
indignation, upon those that have turned away from Him, there is this promise,
if
“For then will I turn to the peoples a pure
language that they may all call upon the Name of יְהוָה, to serve Him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of
Verse 9 states, “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language.”
“A pure language” is better translated as “a pure lip.” Human lips in
that day will not be contaminated by the mention of idolatrous deities,
instead Israel will once again mention and call upon the precious
Name of יְהוָה “with one accord” for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is not finished
with B’Nei Yisrael!
“And so all
“Oh that the salvation
of
We now come to the last seven verses of this chapter and considering the
state אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD
Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, has found His people in, here we discover
that He proves His never-ending love of His people. And even now, when His
secular people are back in the state of Israel living a life much the same as
was written in the Tsephanyah, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is still in “the
midst of them” sustaining both His people and His land.
“Sing, O daughter of
We may ask ourselves, “Who really won the Six-Day War? Was it the mighty
army of
“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn” Yeshayahu – Isaiah 54:17.
Even though his people were not living within the way of the Torah, but אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is always in
control of His land and allowed things to happen when it was right, and when
the enemy was evil he would save B’Nei Yisrael! But as I made clear at the
beginning, the current State of Israel is NOT the completed nor the intended
nation of Israel of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
His Sanctified Name, for it is a terribly sinful nation and sadly they are
far removed from being Torah abiding. But the time will come that He will make
the name of Yisrael, “for I will make you to be a name and a praise among
all the peoples of the earth” verse 20. However there is still much to
happen before that!
It is my one prayer that we all get back to the one and only Torah, and it was
written in the Five Books of Moshe, yes there are 613 Mitzvot given. Although
not all are relevant to each and every one of us, because we are not all
priests, farmers, also many mitzvot with specific duties are assigned for
certain persons, etc. But there are all those which are far more general and we
should uphold those, and NOT those FAKE rabbinic manmade ones! In fact they
have almost destroyed the Torah of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, for they are
really part of an evil plot.
Like I have already indicated, the crisis is NOT over as yet.
It is now our responsibility to share our faith, and read our weekly parashat
with your loved ones and share it with whom-ever has an interest. You do not
have to be a rabbi to read and to talk about our beloved Torah! But always say
all the relevant ‘Berakhot’ before and after!
YYYYYYY
Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down
the page!
This site
was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and
wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or
three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him,
blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with
hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following through a number of our
prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of
hosts” Mal’a’chi - Malachi
3:7. (JPS).
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is the One who gave
us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food
and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Enter ...