"Zephaniah.
As observed above, Zephaniah 1:3 introduces a reversal of creation by listing the animals in a reversed order as they were originally mentioned in the creation account from Genesis 1. He
furthermore uses the familiar word-play in the original language between man and ground known from Genesis 2:7. The reversal of creation order, however, transmits a strong theological message: In Gen. ii . . . the pun is used to indicate man’s dependence on that from whence he came, whereas Zephaniah uses it to show man’s separation from his creator, Yahweh. A situation that involves a return to the age before creation can result only in man’s destruction. Zephaniah is depicting the progressive loss of dominion over creation by humanity and its resulting de-creation.
Aside from the obvious creation allusions, Zephaniah also refers to another event of the Urgeschichte, i.e., the Flood, by using the phrase “from the face of the earth” as an inclusion for the passage in Zephaniah 1:1-3 (cf. Gen. 6:7; 7:4; 8:8). Within the prophet’s message of judgment, the Flood serves as an example of present impending doom."
PerspectiveDigest
As observed above, Zephaniah 1:3 introduces a reversal of creation by listing the animals in a reversed order as they were originally mentioned in the creation account from Genesis 1. He
Aside from the obvious creation allusions, Zephaniah also refers to another event of the Urgeschichte, i.e., the Flood, by using the phrase “from the face of the earth” as an inclusion for the passage in Zephaniah 1:1-3 (cf. Gen. 6:7; 7:4; 8:8). Within the prophet’s message of judgment, the Flood serves as an example of present impending doom."
PerspectiveDigest
