WRITER, evidently a direct descendant of King Hezekiah
# Zep 1:1

He prophesied during the reign of Josiah, King of Judah
# Zep 1:1

It is thought he uttered his prophecy near the beginning of Josiah’s reign,
before the religious revival which swept over the kingdom at that period.
See 2 Kings, chs 22,23 # 2Ki 22:1 – 23:1

Tradition says that Zephaniah was associated with Huldah, the Prophetess, and Jeremiah in the initiation of the reformation of the kingdom.

MAIN THEME, The searching Judgments of God.

KEY TEXT
# Zep 1:12

CONTENTS. The book is exceedingly somber in its tone, and is filled with threatenings and denunciations; but the sun breaks through the clouds in the last chapter, and the prophet foretells the coming of a glad day, when the Hebrews shall become a praise among all the people of the earth.

SYNOPSIS
(1) The announcement of coming judgments upon Judah ch 1 # Zep 1:1
(2) The Call to Repentance # Zep 2:1-3
(3) Judgments threatened upon surrounding nations # Zep 2:4-15
(4) A woe pronounced upon the sinners of Jerusalem because of their corruption and spiritual blindness in continuing in wickedness, in spite of all the judgments meted out to the heathen nations # Zep 3:1-8
(5) A universal judgment foretold, which only a godly remnant should escape # Zep 3:8-13
(6) The future glory of Israel, when Jehovah shall deliver his people, and cause them to become famous throughout the earth # Zep 3:14-20