Ethiopians Slain Zephaniah 2:12

The countries of Moab and Ammon were among the surrounding areas of Judah and Jerusalem who were named by Zephaniah the prophet in the LORD's coming judgment. Their pride, reproach and magnifying “themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts” put them in a position of facing a “terrible” or “fearful and dreadful” God, and in chapter two and verse twelve of his prophecy, Zephaniah added “Ethiopians” to his list where we read:

You Ethiopians also, you shall be slain by my sword.

The verse begins, “You Ethiopians also, you...” Zephaniah wrote, “You Ethiopians” which is the Hebrew word, “Kuwshiy” and means “Cushi or their blackness”. This refers to “one of the descendants of Cush the grandson of Noah through Ham and a member of that nation or people” “also you” or “these, the same and withal” were in the line of site for the LORD's punishment to the nations who surrounded Judah and Jerusalem.

The verse goes on to say, “...shall be slain by my sword.” Zephaniah continued, “shall be slain” or “fatally wounded, pierced and profaned” “by my sword” which refers to “a knife, dagger, mattock or tool for cutting stone”. The “sword” of the LORD would fatally wound the Ethiopians who were near Judah when His judgment fell upon them.

As we consider Zephaniah's words in this verse, although they are few, they have great implications. Who would want to hear their country was going to be “slain” by the “sword” of the LORD? This should be a great warning for any nation who would dare come against Judah and the people of the LORD. We must remember that God chose Israel to be a people through whom all the nations of the world would be blessed, however, should those nations come against His chosen people, WOE be unto them, and should they every decide to forcefully come against them, in Jesus' name, let them consider the fate of the “Ethiopians” who were “slain” by His “sword”.

Next time Zephaniah shares concerning the “Assyria and Nineveh”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ;