Zephaniah, << zehf uh NY uh, >> Book of, is a book of the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament. It is named for the prophet Zephaniah, whose ministry in the Kingdom of Judah probably occurred between about 630 and 625 B.C. During Zephaniah’s ministry, Palestine was invaded by the Scythians, a nomadic people from eastern Europe. Zephaniah equated their arrival with God’s judgment on Judah and on all humanity. He stated, however, that God’s wrath was principally directed against Judah so that people might repent. Zephaniah forecast a destructive “Day of the Lord,” when the wicked would be punished. This theme is a central element in Biblical prophecy. The prophet predicted that a faithful few would be spared God’s anger and be preserved in Jerusalem and in the rest of Judah. There God would gather them and they would accept his rule.
