Zephaniah, Nahum and Habakkuk the Books of the Prophets Zephaniah and Nahum with Introduction and Notes by the Late G

WESTMINSTE~ CO~IMENTARIES EDITED BY WALTER LOCK D.D. FORMERLY LADY MARGARET PROPESBOR OF DIVINITY IN THE UNIVERSITY 011 OX110RD .AND D. c. SUIPSON D.D. ORIEL PROFEBBOR 011 THE INTlill.Pll.li• TATION 011 HOLY BCll.IPTUll.E, CANON OJI' 11.0CIIESTER. THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS ZEPHANIAH, NAHUM AND HABAKKUK THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS ZEPHANIAH AND NAHUM WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY THE LATE G. G. v. STONEHOUSE B.D. THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET HABAKKUK WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY G. W. WADE D.D. BBNIOR TUTOR OJI' ST DA. VID'S COLLEGB, LA.JllPBTBR CA.1!1O1!1 OJI' BT A.SA.PR METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON First Published in 1929 l'llINTEil IN GllEAT BlllTAIN PREFATORY NOTE BY THE GENERAL EDITORS HE primary ob~ect of these Commentaries is to be exegetical, Tto interpret the meaning of each book of the Bible in the light of modern knowledge to English readers. The Editors will not deal, except subordinately, with questions of textual criticism or philology; but taking the English text in the Revised Version as their basis, they will aim at combining a hearty acceptance of critical principles with loyalty to the Catholic Faith. The series will be less elementary than the Cambridge Bible for Schoo_ls, less critical than the International Critical Com mentary, less didactic than the Expositor's Bible; and it is hoped that it may be of use both to theological students and fo the clergy, as well as to the growing number of educated laymen and laywomen who wish to read the Bible intelligently and reverently. Each commentary will therefore have (i) An Introduction stating the bearing of modern criticism and research upon the historical character of the book, and drawing out the contribution which the book, as a whole, makes to the body of religious truth. (ii) A careful paraphrase of the text with notes on the more difficult passages and, if need be, excursuses on any points of special importance either for doctrine, or ecclesiastical organi zation, or spiritual life. But the books of the Bible are so varied in character that considerable latitude is needed, as to the proportion which the various parts should bold to each other. The General Editors will therefore only endeavour to secure a general uniformity in scope and character : but the exact method adopted in each case and vi NOTE the final responsibility for the statements made will rest with the individual contributors. By permission of the Delegates of the Oxford University Press and of the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press the Text used in this Series of Commentaries is the Revised Version of the Holy Scriptures. WALTER LOCK D. C. SIMPSON PREFACE HIS volume is of composite authorship, and a brief statement Tconcerning its origin seems to be required. The late G. G. V. Stonehouse, formerly scholar of Exeter College, Oxford, greatly distinguished himself (both before and after graduating there) in Theological and Semitic studies. After leaving Oxford, he was Vice-Principal of the Theological College at Edinburgh from 1903 to 1916; but his connection with his University was renewed when he served as Examiner in the Honour School of Theology for the three years 1916-1918. He first became an author in 1911, when he published a commentary upon the Book of Habakkuk. Not long after that, he was asked to contribute to a series of commentaries on the Bible by Anglican Churchmen, which was designed to be fully abreast of the highest standard of theological learning. The books assigned to him were Zephaniah and Nahum; and his commentaries upon these two prophets were apparently complete when he died in 1918 at the early age of 38. Of the series of which they were intended to form part only a very few volumes appeared: the scheme was abandoned; and Mr Stonehouse's work consequently remained for many years in manuscript. But it could not but seem very regrettable if productions which showed evidence of wide reading and accurate scholarship should fail to be given to the world in some form; and accordingly a few years ago Dr Lock, who at the time was the sole General Editor of the "Westminster" Series, asked me whether I would undertake to adapt them to the plan of that series. To this inquiry, after a cursory examination of the Mss, I rashly replied in the affirmative. I have used the word "rashly" with deliberation because, when I began to deal with Mr Stonehouse's commentaries, I discovered that the task to which I had committed myself involved alike much labour and much anxiety. For, on the one hand, I was wishful to do justice to the author, who was deeply interested not only in the historical and exegetical questions viii PREFACE raised by the books which he had edited, but also in the recon struction of the text, where this appeared corrupt; whilst, on the other hand, I had to meet the needs of the majority of the readers of the "Westminster" series of volumes, who were probably not sufficiently acquainted with Hebrew to appreciate textual problems in that tongue. And now that my task has been concluded, I have serious misgivings about my success in reconciling these two ends. However, I have done my best. Mr Stonehouse's introductions Ihave abbreviated to some extent; in one place the view expressed I have modified in consequence of fresh information that bas come to light since the author wrote the passage ; and his lengthy discussions of the textual emendations proposed by various scholars I have greatly reduced. But most of bis own suggestions for the improvement of the text I have retained, thinking that these were, in some ways, the most characteristic features of his work. In a few cases I have altered his wording, feeling that he himself would have done the same if be bad lived to prepare his book for the press. But, in general, of what he has written I have left untouched as much as I could, consistently with the necessity of fitting it to take its place in the series in which it now appears. My errors of judgement and other deficiencies in the execution of my undertaking are doubt less numerous, but I trust they will be regarded with leniency in view of the difficulties with which I have been faced. My own share in the constituents of the present volume is the commentary on H abakkuk, which Dr Lock suggested I should add to Mr Stonehouse's two commentaries. In it I have not ignored textual problems (the book contains a great many); but I have not given to the discussion of them any extensive space, and in handling the different matters calling for notice I have endeavoured to maintain the same proportion as I observed in the two volumes which I have previou,Sly contributed to this series. For the Index to the whole book I, of course, am solely responsible. Both Mr Stonehouse and myself have made use of most of the recent editions of the Minor Prophets (collectively or singly) which have proceeded from English, American, German and French scholars. Hence we are equally under obligation in PREFACE ix various degrees to Davidson, Driver, Sir G. A. Smith, J. P. Smith, Ward, Wellhausen, Nowack, Marti, Duhm, and Van Hoonacker; whilst I individually have also had the advantage of consulting Mr Stonehouse's book on Habakkuk and Sellin's German notes on the same prophet. Mr Stonehouse was evidently a. man of independent mind, and though he availed himself of the labours of others, he did not hesitate to form and to express opinions of bis own. I hope that the like independence will not be found altogether absent from my own work. To my wife I owe much gratitude for help in preparing the MS.; and I am also indebted to Dr Lock for detecting in proof several oversights and for supplying the verses with which the Commentary on Habakkuk concludes. G.W.W. NO'Dember, 1928 CONTENTS PA.GE INTJWDUCTION TO ZEPBANU.B: § 1. The Historical Background l § 2. The Personal History of Zephaniah, and the Date of his Pro- phetic Activity • . • • • . • • • 8 § 3. The Prophet's Message and it.8 Revisions 10 § 4, The Teaching of Zephaniah . 22 § 5. The Literary Style of Zephaniah. 26 CoJ01BNTARY ON ZEPHANIAH 29 TJLABSLATIOIN OF ZEPHANIAH !!'ROM AN EMENDED TEXT 68 INTBODUOTION TO NAHUH: § 1, The Historical Background. 73 Additional Note . 77 § 2. The Prophet Nahum and the Date of his Prophetic Activity 79 § 3. The Prophet's Message and its Revisions 87 § 4. The Teaching of Nahum 95 § 5. The Literary Form of Nahum . 99 00HHENTA.RY ON NA.HUM , 101 TRANSLATION OF NA.HUM FROM AN EMENDED TEXT 136 INTRODUOTION TO HABAKKUK: § 1. The Historical Background. 141 § 2. The Structure and Date of the Book . 148 § 3. The Literary and Religious Interest of the Book 163 0oHHENTARY ON HA.BAK.KUK 169 TRANSLATION OF HA.BA.KKUK FROM AN EMENDED TEXT 211 INDEX , 216 A LIST OF TRANSLATIONS, COMMENTARIES, AND OTHER WORKS CONSULTED (WITH ABBREVIATIONS) Aq. Aquila.'s Greek Translation of the Old Testament (in Field's Hexaplorum qUOJ 1upersunt). Ar. Arabic. Arain. .Axamaic. .A. V. Authorized Version of the Bible. B.D.B. Hebrew Lexicon, by Brown, Driver, and Briggs. Camb. B. Cambridge Bible. C.B. Century Bible. Dav. Davidson, The Books of Nahum, Hahakkuk, and Zephaniah (Carob. B.). DB. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. Dri. Driver, The Minor Prophets, vol. ii. (C.B.). ,, BJ. Driver, The Book of Jeremiah.

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