an announcement of doom. It begins with broad panorama ( all living beings ) then moves to a much narrow focus ( Judah and Jerusalem ) to those who engage in idolatry and syncretistic religious practices Zephaniah speaks specifically of three types of idolatrous worship which have three loci: Baal worship, conducted in the temple; astral worship, practiced on the rooftops; and the ritual dedicated to the Molekh, performed in the valley of Ben Hinnom. The Day of the Lord is described in graphic detail. Destruction spreads through Jerusalem's business district and wealthy residential areas from northwest ( the Fish Gate ) to the southwest ( the Mishneh ) to the south and southeast. The destruction is characterized by its sound, wailing and crashing. Sound is also the feature of the day itself, a day of trumpet blast and siren. Along with sound comes sight, or the absence of clear sight, darkness and gloom, clouds and fog, and finally people walking like the blind. In the aftermath homes will be destroyed, possessions plundered, the victims will wander blindly and will be killed. The whole land will be consumed. The underlying image is that of war . The time of punishment is imminent, the day of the wrath of the Lord draws swiftly near. The humble of the land ( poor ) or those loyal to God are urged to seek safety from the oncoming destruction. If they seek the Lord then perhaps they will escape the disaster. The totality and finality of the prophecy of destruction is moderated by a ray of last-minute hope. There is, perhaps a call to repent, or perhaps it is just encouragement for the faithful. There is no absolute guarantee of escape, only the possibility. The last section of the book of Zephaniah marks a reversal of its previous parts. The theme of this section is joyful. Jerusalem shall sing, for her sentence has been commuted and her enemies removed . God will rejoice over Jerusalem, with whom he is reunited. The gentle natio...
