The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes.
Zephaniah has just announced ruin on the Philistine cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron, on the coastal plain. Now God promises that same strip of land to a surviving remnant of Judah — so who are they, and when do they get it?
Judgment on Philistia, Blessing for Judah
This promise is placed where it is for a reason:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThe seventh verse connects with the opening message of the chapter, the call to repentance... Because the remnant is to own this territory when God judges Philistia, they ought to repent and seek the Lord.
Ashkelon, named in the verse, has a long history with Judah:
Morrish Bible DictionaryAshkelon was one of the five main cities of the Philistines. It fell to Judah, who took Ashkelon and the land around it (Judges 1:18). But they did not really subdue it. It was still in Philistine hands in the days of Samson... God pronounced His judgements against this city (Jer. 25:20; Jer. 47:5, 7; Amos 1:8; Zech. 9:5), and the remnant of Judah should dwell there (Zeph. 2:4, 7).
Who the Remnant Is
Who is this remnant? The same phrase runs through the rest of the book:
H. P. BarkerIn both chapters 2 and 3 "the remnant" is mainly in view, "The remnant of the house of Judah," "the remnant of my people" (Zeph. 2:7, 9). These are "the afflicted and poor people" who trust in the name of the Lord (Zeph. 3:12), and who are blessed in connection with Christ.
Earlier in the chapter the prophet addresses them:
J. G. BellettBut "the remnant chosen by grace" is recognised here in Zephaniah, as everywhere. They are called "the meek of the earth." They are told to wait for the Lord, in the hope that He will hide them in the day of the Lord's anger. (Zeph. 2:3; Zeph. 3:8.)
A Promise Still Waiting
Has this promise happened yet? The return from Babylon does not match it, and history since has run the other way:
William Kelly...this has clearly not been fulfilled yet in full... In fact, since then the Jews have been carried off into a longer exile. Their captivity under Nebuchadnezzar was nowhere near as extreme as their scattering to the ends of the earth.
So when will this happen?
Arno Clemens GaebeleinIt hardly needs pointing out that this has still not happened. It was not fulfilled in the remnant who returned from the captivity in Babylon. Since they rejected Christ, they have been out of the land. Here is a prophecy of final blessing to the remnant in the day of the Lord, when God will regather them.
Emptied Land, Restored People
The ruin of Philistia is not the end of the story:
J. N. DarbyThe desolation that followed would leave the whole land free for Israel to possess — for God never takes back His gifts and calling. Jehovah would visit them and bring back His captives, and the remnant of His people should own it.
Mercy Inside the Message of Judgment
The verse ends with mercy, and that mercy arrives in a dark setting:
The Christian's FriendZephaniah prophesied in the days of that good king Josiah, and yet the burden of his message was judgment. In spite of the efforts of the king and the reformation he started, the people stayed stubbornly tied to their pagan idols and superstitions. So God could not go on with them, and the prophet proclaimed that "the day of the Lord was at hand." But the Lord never gives up His people. So in the middle of judgment He remembers mercy.
Summary
- Seek — The promise of the coast is a reason to repent. The remnant will own this land, so they should seek the Lord now.
- Hidden — Those who inherit are the meek of the earth, the afflicted and poor who trust the Lord's name. He will hide them in the day of His anger.
- Cleared — Judgment on Philistia leaves the land free for Israel. God never takes back His gifts and calling.
- Unfulfilled — The return from Babylon did not fulfil this word. The later scattering was far worse. The blessing belongs to the day of the Lord, when God regathers the remnant.
- Mercy — The Lord never gives up His people. In the middle of judgment He remembers mercy: He will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes.