Zephaniah 1:8

“And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, etc.] When the above sacrifice prepared shall be offered, and the slaughter of his people made, when his wrath shall be poured out upon them, within the time of its beginning and ending: that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children; either the children of Josiah, who, though a good prince, his children did evil in the sight of the Lord, and were punished by him: Jehoahaz, after a three months’ reign was carried down to Egypt, and died there; Jehoiakim, his elder brother, that succeeded him, rebelling against the king of Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign, fell into his hands, and died, and was buried with the…”

“the princes--who ought to have been an example of good to others, but were ringleaders in all evil. the king's children--fulfilled on Zedekiah's children (Jer 39:6); and previously, on Jehoahaz and Eliakim, the sons of Josiah (Kg2 23:31, Kg2 23:36; Ch2 36:6; compare also Kg2 20:18; Kg2 21:13). Huldah the prophetess (Kg2 22:20) intimated that which Zephaniah now more expressly foretells. all such as are clothed with strange apparel--the princes or courtiers who attired themselves in costly garments, imported from abroad; partly for the sake of luxury, and partly to ingratiate themselves with foreign great nations whose costume as well as their idolatries they imitated, [CALVIN]; whereas in…”

“I will punish - (Literally, visit upon). God seems oftentimes to be away from His own world. People plot, design, say, in word or in deed, “who is Lord over us?” God is, as it were, a stranger in it, or as a man, who hath “taken a journey into afar country.” God uses our own language to us. “I will visit,” inspecting (so to say), examining, sifting, reviewing, and when man’s sins require it, allowing the weight of His displeasure to fall upon them. The princes - The prophet again, in vivid detail (as his characteristic is), sets forth together sin and punishment. Amid the general chastisement of all, when all should become one sacrifice, they who sinned most should be punished most. The evil…”

“The princes - The great ones, who dreamed of shifting better than others, but fell with the first, Kg2 25:19-21. Children - Sons and grand - children, Josiah: Jehoahaz died a captive in Egypt, Kg2 23:34, Jehoakim died in Babylon, and was buried with the burial of an ass, Jer 22:18-19, Jeconiah died a captive: and Zedekiah and his children, fared still worse. Strange apparel - The garb of foreigners, imitated by the wanton Jews. Zephaniah 1:9”

“1:8 The leaders and princes of Judah were the tribal chieftains of Israel (Num 1:4), court officials (1 Chr 22:17), district supervisors (1 Kgs 20:14-15), city officials (Judg 8:6), military leaders (1 Kgs 2:5; 2 Kgs 1:9-14; 25:23, 26), or even religious leaders (Ezra 8:24). Their influential role put them in a position of heightened responsibility before God (cp. Jas 3:1).”

“punish: Heb. visit upon, Isa 10:12, Isa 24:21 \*marg. the princes: Kg2 23:30-34, Kg2 24:12, Kg2 24:13, Kg2 25:6, Kg2 25:7, Kg2 25:19-21; Isa 39:7; Jer 22:11-19, Jer 22:24-30; Jer 39:6, Jer 39:7 strange: Deu 22:5; Kg2 10:22; Isa 3:18-24 Zephaniah 1:9”

“The judgment will fall with equal severity upon the idolatrous and sinners of every rank ( Zep 1:8-11), and no one in Jerusalem will be able to save himself from it ( Zep 1:12, Zep 1:13). In three double verses Zephaniah brings out three classes of men who differ in their civil position, and also in their attitude towards God, as those who will be smitten by the judgment: viz., (1) the princes, i.e., the royal family and superior servants of the king, who imitate the customs of foreigners, and oppress the people ( Zep 1:8, Zep 1:9); (2) the merchants, who have grown rich through trade and usury ( Zep 1:10, Zep 1:11); (3) the irreligious debauchees ( Zep 1:12, Zep 1:13). The first of these he…”