The American Wisdom Series

Presents

Pamphlet 1715 Zephaniah kc 6-2

Let us now read of the demise of the strongholds of the enemies of our people:

Zeph 2:4
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

Gaza = strong, fortified
Ashkelon = weighing place, mart
Ashdod = oppressor, robber
Ekron = torn up by the roots; emigration

There is also a figure of speech (in all languages) called a paronomasia where similar sounding or rhyming words are used to make cute little sayings which add poetic emphasis to the oft times profound message being communicated. An example in English is our saying "No Pain, No Gain". In addition to their play of similar sounds, paronomasias make sense and they're fun to say. (See appendix 6 in the Companion Bible.)

We find two paronomasias in Zephaniah 2:4 which actually begins with one and ends with one. The first is gaza gazubuh which emphasizes that Gaza "the strong" is as good as "gone", i.e. forsaken, refuse, for it shall be destroyed! The last paronomasia is 'ekron te'aker which emphasizes that the "emigrants", i.e. the migratory ones (kenites), shall be plucked up by their roots! This should perk up the ears of those who are familiar with the Parable of the Tares in Matthew 13 where it is written that Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, shall take care of rooting up the tares, the kenites! We are to leave them alone for now! Here are Christ's words from the parable of the tares in Mat. 13:27-30, the clear and simple explanation of which is given in vs. 37-42:

Matthew 13:27
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Matthew 13:38
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

[28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Matthew 13:39
The enemy that sowed them is the devil;

[29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

[30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Matthew 13:39-41
...the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. [40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. [41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;