Who wrote the books of the Bible and when?

      Book of Zephaniah, the prophecies of Zephaniah son of Cushi about Judah's judgment, was written some time before 621 (640-621) B.C. by Zephaniah the phrophet during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. It was believed that the impending "Day of the Lord" (a day of judgment) would begin harshly with Judah's enemies and would lessen as it got to Judah, however, it began with Israel and Judah and was as swift and devastating as the prophets had warned it would be if they didn't repent. Although Judah reformed shortly before the Babylonian invasion, it wasn't enough to keep them from returning to their evil ways.

      The Book of Zephaniah includes:

  • Warning that the Lord would destroy every remnant of idol worship in Judah and that there would be much shedding of blood for their sins
  • Exhortation to repent since it wasn't too late
  • Judgment against Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Cush, and Assyria
  • The Lord promises to remove all those in Jerusalem who do not heed his correction
  • Jerusalem would be punished first, then the surrounding nations


        "I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth."
        Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's wrath comes upon you. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger.
(Zephaniah 1:17-2:3)

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