Cherethites and Canaan Zephaniah 2:5

As Zephaniah continued his prophesy concerning the punishment of Judah and Jerusalem, he began to include the surrounding cities of “Gaza”, “Ashkelon”, “Ashdod” and “Ekron”. In chapter two and verse five of his prophesy he added the “Cherethites” and “Canaan” to his list where we read:

Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy you, that there shall be no inhabitant.

The verse begins, “Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan,...” Zephaniah began with the word “Woe” which means “ah!, alas!, ha!, ho!, O!” “unto the inhabitants” or “those who dwell, remain, sit, stay and abide” “of the seacoasts” which refers to “the sea territory or band” “the nation” or “people” “of the Cherethites!” which means “executioners” and were “a group of foreign mercenary soldiers serving as a bodyguard for king David; also executioners”. Zephaniah continued with “the word” or “speech, speaking, saying or utterance” “of the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah, the existing One and the proper name of the one true God” “is against you; O Canaan,” which means “lowland” and was “the land west of the Jordan peopled by the descendants of Canaan and subsequently conquered by the Israelites under Joshua”. When the judgment of the LORD fell upon these “Cherethites” and the inhabitants of “Canaan” there was to be great “Woe” upon them.

The verse goes on to say, “...the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy you, that there shall be no inhabitant....” . Zephaniah went on to be more specific about “Canaan” as he wrote, “the land” or “earth, country, territory, district or region” “of the Philistines” which means “immigrants” and were “the inhabitants of Philistia and descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan” “I will even destroy” or “perish, vanish, and make astray” “you that there shall be no inhabitant” which refers to “those who dwell, remain, sit, stay and abide there”. Zephaniah prophesied that the destruction of the Philistines was to be so complete that not one “inhabitant” would remain there.

When we think through Zephaniah's words, we see how thorough the LORD was to be in his judgment of the cities which surrounded Judah. No one was to escape from the land of the Philistines, and the “Cherethites” who were once “executioners” were to be executed themselves. When the Bible pronounces a “Woe” upon people, it is good for us to take heed. Exemption from punishment from the LORD could have easily been obtained if the people would have turned from their wicked ways and followed after Him. In the same manner, the LORD Jesus Christ extends salvation through His grace from the punishment for our sins, and He demonstrated His appeal to us by His death on the cross. The only question is whether we will receive His free gift or not. If we receive it, we will be exempt from well-deserved future judgment, but if we refuse, great “Woe” will rest upon us from the One with whom we have to do.

Next time Zephaniah shares more concerning “the sea coast”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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