▸ AUTHOR: In the beginning of the book, Zephaniah traces his lineage back four generations to the godly King Hezekiah. This would make him the only prophet of royal descent. His use of the phrase “this place” in reference to Jerusalem indicates that he was probably an inhabitant of Judah’s royal city.
▸ TIME: c. 630 B.C.
▸ KEY VERSES: Zeph. 1:14–15
▸ THEME: Contemporary with Jeremiah, Zephaniah was written during the reign of Josiah, one of the good kings of Judah. The book follows a fairly familiar pattern for the prophets. Judgment is pronounced on Judah as well as several surrounding nations. After the judgment of the first two chapters, the third declares a restoration process that sounds strongly encouraging.