Zephaniah 3:18

I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly,.... Who are grieved and troubled, because they cannot meet at the time and place of religious worship, or attend the word and

I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

This promise removes an objection which might be made by dispersed ones: How can we return? I will gather you, saith God. That are sorrowful for the solemn assembly; mourn in their distance from the solemn worship of God, as David, Psalms 42; that are troubled more for want of God’ s ordinances than for any thing; which three times every year in great solemnity they celebrated, but now for seventy years had wanted them. Are of thee; these longing mourners are thy children indeed, Israelites in whom is no guile. The reproach; the taunts of enemies and triumphs over God and religion, such as ,10. A burden; heaviest burden, or a sword in their bowels.

Zephaniah 3:18 I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden.Ver. 18. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly] Which now they cannot celebrate, as being in captivity; and are therefore in great heaviness; as was David, Psalms 42:2-3; Psalms 42:5. Nothing goes nearer to a good heart than to be debarred the benefit of God’ s holy ordinances, than to hear the sabbaths mocked at by the enemies, as these good souls did, Lamentations 2:7, and to be asked, as David was, "Where is now thy God," Psalms 42:3. All outward comforts in this case are mere Ichabods. When the ark was taken Eli could live no longer; that word struck him down backward, and killed him in the fall. No sword of a Philistine could have slain him more painfully; neither is it easy to say whether his neck or heart were first broken. Who are of thee] True children of the Church, as appeareth by their strong affections to the ordinances, 1 Peter 2:2. Luther said he would not live in paradise without the word; as with it he could easily live in hell. An infant cannot be quieted with gauds or fine clothes without the dug; so neither can a true Christian with anything but the public services, the solemn assemblies. To whom the reproach of it was a burden] It lay heavy upon their spirits, and made them send up many a deep sigh to God, who heareth the breathings of his people, Lamentations 3:56, and will restore comfort to such his mourners, Isaiah 57:18. He that helped his Levites to bear the ark, 1 Chronicles 15:26, will help those that grieve at the want of it and groan under the reproach cast upon it, which they ever honoured as the face of God, Psalms 105:4. Yea, as God himself, Psalms 132:5. One of the larger and more ornamental beads placed between the decades of ‘ aves’ in a rosary. ŒD

(18) The festival of the accomplishment of salvations is represented under the figure of the joyous Feast of Tabernacles, as in Zechariah 14:16. None shall be impeded from attending on this joyous occasion, for the oppressors shall be overthrown (Zephaniah 3:19-20). To whom the reproach of it was a burden.—Or, on whom reproach was a burden—i.e., on whom their exile, and consequent inability to attend at Jerusalem, had brought derision. On the construction, the Hebrew student may consult Hitzig or Kleinert.

Verse 18. I will gather - sorrowful] This may refer to those who, during the captivity, mourned for their former religious assemblies; and who were reproached by their enemies, because they could not enjoy their religious solemnities. See Psalms 137:1-9: "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song," &c. This very circumstance may be the reference here.

18. The language is very obscure. Perhaps: I will gather (lit. have gathered) those sorrowing far away from the solemn assembly, who are of thee (belong to thee), thou on whom reproach lay heavy. The term “sorrowing” is found Lamentations 1:4. The sense, those removed away from the solemn assembly, might be supported by 2 Samuel 20:13. The reference in any case is to the dispersed among the nations, far from the sanctuary and the feasts. The “reproach” is just that arising from the national calamities and humiliation. Isaiah 54:4, “the reproach of thy widowhood (the time of exile) shalt thou remember no more.”

I will gather them that are sorrowful - for the solemn assembly, in which they were to “rejoice” Leviticus 23:40; Deuteronomy 12:12, Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 27:7 before God

Zephaniah 3:18-20 do not contain the song of rejoicing sung by Jehovah, but rather a series of promises made by him to the redeemed community. Zephaniah 3:18 is very obscure.