Zephaniah 2:12 Commentary and Bible Study

In verse 12 the Ethiopians are also named, and by Ethiopians here is meant the whole of that region, including former Egypt. These had attacked Judah and God had answered the prayer of Asa in defeating them (2 Chronicles 14:9-13). ‘Ye shall be slain by my sword.’ Jeremiah records the destruction of Egypt at the decisive battle of Carchemish (Jeremiah 46:1-10) and the Ethiopians are specifically named there in verse 9. Egypt and Ethiopia were confederate together (Gill), and the two are named by the prophets in the same breath (Isaiah 20:4-5; 43:3; Ezekiel 30:4). God refers to Nebuchadnezzar and his armies as ‘my sword’, for the Lord even uses wicked men to carry out his justice on those who offend (Ezekiel 30:24-25). Afterwards, they in turn will be punished (Jeremiah 50:17-18, 24).