Answer
The book of Zephaniah is included in the Twelve and is the ninth book among the Minor Prophets. According to the first verse, the prophet Zephaniah composed his work during the reign of Josiah (Zephaniah 1:1). This suggests that Zephaniah experienced the dark days of kings like Manasseh, who “shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 21:16). Despite the occasional good king such as Josiah (2 Kings 22:15–20; 2 Chronicles 34:26–28), prophets like Zephaniah affirmed that judgment was inevitable. Given the prevalent evil, God’s response is understandable and reflective of His nature.
There is no dispute regarding the authorship of Zephaniah, although our knowledge of the prophet is solely derived from the book itself. The introductory verse indicates that Zephaniah is “the son of Cushi.” Since the name Cushi means “black” and is related to the Hebrew word for “Ethiopian,” some scholars have proposed that Zephaniah had African roots. Interestingly, Zephaniah’s great-great grandfather is named Hezekiah, and that’s where the recorded lineage stops. Some scholars believe this to be King Hezekiah. If that’s accurate, Zephaniah would be one of a few prophets from a royal lineage, placing him at the heart of political activities. His position would amplify the impact of his words.
Outside the book of Zephaniah, no evidence aids in placing the prophet in a particular historical context. Thus, we must rely on the information provided in the first verse. It suffices to know that Zephaniah was a prophet used by God to warn Israel: “The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: ‘Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets’” (2 Kings 17:13).
Zephaniah extensively explored the theme of the “day of the Lord” more than any other prophet. While prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Obadiah, and Malachi also wrote on the day of the Lord, none delved as deeply as Zephaniah. Through this theme, Zephaniah proclaimed the fall of Judah (see Zephaniah 1:4–6) and the future restoration of humanity (verse 12).
