Genre
The book is classified among the prophetic literature, and is included among the twelve minor prophets
Date
Zephaniah prophesied in the region of Josiah 640-609BC. This was a time of an attempt at reform. The temple was cleaned out and restored, and in that project, long lost writings were discovered, typically believed to be what we now know as the book of Deuteronomy. These reforms are detailed in 2 Kings 22–23 and 2 Chronicles 34–35.
This was a time of political and social turmoil (is there ever not a time of political and social turmoil?!) The Jewish people have been ruled by foreign powers for a century at this point, but those powers (Egypt and Assyria mainly) were having their own turmoils.
Themes
The overall theme of the book is looking forward to the day of the lord, when God will restore proper worship and free his people.
Outline
- oracles of doom 1:2-18
- exhortations 2:1-15
- promise of salvation 3:1-20