ZEPHANIAH
(Tzfanyah)
Verse one identifies the author as the Prophet Zephaniah and his name in Hebrew means “Defended by Yah.” The book was written to the House of Judah sometime between 735 and 725 B.C. Zephaniah’s message is three fold: 1) Elohim is sovereign over all the nations of the earth. 2) The wicked will be punished and the righteous will be vindicated on judgment day. 3) Elohim always blesses those who repent and trust in Him. Zephaniah prophecies judgment on the whole earth and on all nations on what is called the Day of the יהוה. He follows it up with prophecies of coming blessing on all nations, especially on the faithful remnant of His people, which are yet to be fulfilled.
Aleph/Tav את Used in ZEPHANIAH: et אֶת 0 times, אֶת־ et- 14 times, אֵת eet 2 times, אֶת־ Et- 0 times, אֵת Eet 0 times, אָתְּ aat 0 time, אַתְּ at 0 times, אַתְּ־ at- 0 times, = Total 16
Vav/Aleph/Tav ואת Wa‘at וְאַתְּ 0 times, Wa‘eet וְאֵת 0 times, Wa‘et- וְאֶת־ 3 times = 3 Grand Total 19
Aleph/Tav ALERT: The Book of Zephaniah is also only 3 short chapters and has a total of 19 Aleph/Tav את Symbols. The first Aleph/Tav את Symbol appears as a prophecy and it is interesting to notice that this particular Hebrew word for “consume” is only used 3 times in the whole Tanakh and they are right here in Zephaniah 1:2 I will utterly (completely) consume (destroy) all things from off the face of the earth, says יהוה. 3 I will consume (destroy) man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea and the stumbling blocks את of the wicked; and I will cut off את man from off the face of the earth, says יהוה…again implying את Y’shua is our judge and He is the one who will carry outיהוה Father’s punishment and when this judgment comes it will consume the whole earth and marks the end of man’s reign on earth and the beginning of Y’shua’s millennial Kingdom.
He goes on to say who את Y’shua’s judgment is falling on in 1:4 And I will stretch out My hand upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place this את remnant of the Baal את and the name of the Chemarim with the priests; 5 ואת them that worship upon the housetops the host of heaven; ואת them that worship, that swear to ליהוה and swear by Malcam; 6 ואת those that turn back from following יהוה; and those that have not sought יהוה את, nor inquired after Him…12 And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search את Jerusalem with lamps…18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of יהוה wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for even a speedy riddance He shall make את of all them that dwell in the land. The Yah-head warns of how to be delivered from the Yah-head’s wrath in 2:3 Seek את יהוה, all you meek of the earth that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be that you will be hid in the day of יהוה anger…but the prophecy ends with an encouraging promise from את Y’shua in 3:19 Behold, I will undo את all that afflict you at that time and I will save her את that was lame and gather her that was driven out; and I will make them a praise and a name in every land where they have been put to shame…20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back את your captivity before your eyes, says יהוה.