פירוש על צפניה 3:23

Woe to her who is filthy and polluted Until now, Zephaniah was speaking of Ninveh, but now he refers to Jerusalem: Woe to her who is destined to be plundered and sullied like dung. It will be polluted with the filth of its iniquity. filthy as in (Lev. 1:16) “its crop”; and (Nahum 3:6) “And I will make you like dung.”

Woe to her who is filthy and polluted – One should mourn for Jerusalem which has become dirtied and filthy, the city which defraud and oppresses the populace:

the dove like city Like a silly dove, without a heart.

wolves of the evening who hasten to devour their prey at night.

They did not leave over the bones for morning They did not leave over even the bones to gnaw in the morning.

they removed the Torah They did not teach it to those who inquired of them.

The Lord is just He caused His Shechinah to rest in their midst; therefore, He cannot look upon their evil deeds. He is just, and there is no injustice before Him.

He brings His judgment to light He judges a true judgment to its absolute truth.

But the one who commits injustice knows no shame But the unjust judges do not take it to heart, to be ashamed because of the Righteous One Who dwells among them.

I have cut off nations I brought retribution upon the nations so that you should see and fear as He concludes, “I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me.’”

I said, “Surely you will fear Me... and her dwelling shall not be cut off” Her dwellings shall not be destroyed.

all that I ordained upon her And all the good that I ordained to bring upon her shall not be cut off from her.

That I will rise up to meet When I will rise to meet with you.

From the other side of the rivers of Cush They will bring Me an offering.

My supplicants those who pray to me.

the community of My scattered ones The gatherings of My scattered ones, whom I scattered.

you shall not be ashamed of all your deeds Because you have already suffered, and your iniquity has been expiated.

a humble and poor people A humble people that submits to humiliation.

your afflictions justice in French.

A Mighty One will save He is a Mighty One, Who will save [Israel] from the enemy.

He will be silent in His love He will conceal your transgressions with His love. So did Jonathan render: He will cover your sins with His love.

Those who are removed from the appointed season I destroyed those removed from My appointed seasons, those who did not keep the Sabbaths and the festivals.

I have destroyed lit., I gathered in.

they were of you They were of your people.

it was a burden of shame upon her That guilt was a burden of shame to you.

Those who are removed an expression of taking out, as in (Prov. 25:4) “Take away the dross from the silver”; and (II Sam. 20:13) “When he was removed from the highway.” The only radical letter is the “gimel.”

Behold, I wreak destruction Jonathan rendered: Behold I wreak destruction. It may also be interpreted as an expression of crushing, as in (Mal. 3:21): “And you shall crush the wicked.”

throughout all the land where they suffered shame Every place where they were for their shame, there I will make them to be a praise and a name.