Zephaniah 2:9

“Therefore [as] I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, etc.] The Lord here swears by himself, by his life; partly to show how provoked he was at, and how grievously he resented, the injuries done to his people; and partly to observe the certain fulfilment of what is after declared; and it might be depended upon it would surely be done, not only because of his word and oath, which are immutable; but because of his ability to do it, as “the Lord of hosts”, of armies above and below; and because of the covenant relation that subsisted between him and Israel, being their God; and therefore would avenge the insults and injuries done them: surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the…”

“the breeding of nettles--or, the overspreading of nettles, that is, a place overrun with them. salt pits--found at the south of the Dead Sea. The water overflows in the spring, and salt is left by the evaporation. Salt land is barren (Jdg 9:45; Psa 107:34, Margin). possess them--that is, their land; in retribution for their having occupied Judah's land.”

“Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts - Life especially belongs to God, since He Alone is Underived Life. “He hath life in Himself” John 5:26. He is entitled “the living God,” as here, in tacit contrast with the dead idols of the Philistines 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, with idols generally Jeremiah 10:10; or against the blasphemies of Sennacherib 2 Kings 19:4, 2 Kings 19:16, the mockeries of scoffers Jeremiah 23:36, of the awe of His presence (Deuteronomy 5:25 (Deuteronomy 5:26 in Hebrew)), His might for His people Joshua 3:10; as the object of the soul’s longings , the nearness in the Gospel, “children of the living God” (Hosea 1:10 (Hosea 2:1 in Hebrew)). “Since He can swear by…”

“Of nettles - Not cultivated, but over - run with nettles. Salt - pits - A dry, barren earth, fit only to dig salt out of. The residue - That return out of Babylon. Possess them - Settle upon those parts of their lands, that are fit for habitation. Zephaniah 2:11”

“2:9 The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as an example of God’s severe judgment of sin, both in the Old Testament (Deut 29:23; Isa 1:9; Jer 23:14; Amos 4:11) and in the New Testament (Luke 10:12; Rom 9:29; 2 Pet 2:6). • salt pits: A ruinous waste (Deut 29:23; Ps 107:34; Jer 17:6). Sowing the earth with salt was a mark of permanent judgment (see Judg 9:45) because it made the ground barren.”

“as I: Num 14:21; Isa 49:18; Jer 46:18; Rom 14:11 Surely: Isa 11:14, 15:1-16:14, Isa 25:10; Jer. 48:1-49:7; Ezek. 25:1-26:21; Amo 1:13-15, Amo 2:1-3 as Gomorrah: Zep 2:14; Gen 19:24, Gen 19:25; Deu 29:23; Isa 13:19, Isa 13:20, Isa 34:9-13; Jer 49:18, Jer 50:40 the residue: Zep 2:7, Zep 3:13; Joe 3:19, Joe 3:20; Mic 5:7, Mic 5:8 Zephaniah 2:10”