Zephaniah 1:11
"Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh,.... The name of a street in Jerusalem, as Aben Ezra; perhaps it lay low in the hollow of the city, and in the form of a mortar, from whence it might have its name, as the word (q) signifies; which is used both for a hollow place and for a mortar, Jdg 15:19 unless it might be so called from such persons dwelling in it, that used mortars for spice, and other things. The Targum is, "howl,

all ye that dwell in the valley of Kidron;'' and Jerom thinks the valley of Siloah is intended, which is the same; which, Adrichomius (r) says, was broad, deep, and dark, and surrounded the temple in manner of a foss, or ditch; and was disposed in the form of a mortar, called in Hebrew "machtes"; in Latin, "pila"; in which merchants and tradesmen of all kinds dwelt. It is thought by others to be the same which Josephus (s) calls "the valley of the cheese mongers", which lay between the two hills Zion and Acra. The reason of their howling is, for all the merchant people are cut down; either cut to pieces by the sword of the enemy, and become silent, as the word (t) sometimes signifies, and the Vulgate Latin version here renders it; become so by death, and laid in the silent grave, and no more concerned in merchandise; or else stripped of all their wealth and goods by the enemy, and so cut down, broke, and become bankrupt, and could trade no more. The word for merchant signifies a Canaanite; and the Targum paraphrases it thus, "for all the people are broken, whose works are like the works of the people of the land of Canaan:'' all they that bear silver are cut off; that have large quantities of it, and carry it to market to buy goods with it as merchants; these shall be cut off, and so a great loss to trade, and a cause of howling and lamentation; or such that wear it in their garments, embroidered with it; or rather in their purses, who are loaded with this thick clay, abound with it. The Targum is, "all that are rich in substance shall be destroyed.'' (q) "mortarii", Vatablus, Tigurine version; "cavi", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "loci concavi", Calvin. (r) Theatrum Terrae Sanctae, p. 163. (s) De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 1. (t) "conticuit", V. L. "in silentium redactus est", Drusius.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (12 words)

H3213 יָלַל
Definition:

2;וְהֵילִיל֫וּconsecutiveAmos 8:3;ImperfectיְיֵלִילIsaiah 15:23t. (Ges§ 70. 2, R. 2 Köi. 437, 421);אֲיֵלִילJeremiah 48:31;וְאֵילִי֫לָהMicah 1:8;יְיֵלִיל֫וּHosea 7:14(Köi. 421);יְהֵילִי֫לוּIsaiah 52:5; 2;וְהֵילִיל֫וּconsecutiveAmos 8:3;ImperfectיְיֵלִילIsaiah 15:23t. (Ges§ 70. 2, R. 2 Köi. 437, 421);אֲיֵלִילJeremiah 48:31;וְאֵילִי֫לָהMicah 1:8;יְיֵלִיל֫וּHosea 7:14(Köi. 421);יְהֵילִי֫לוּIsaiah 52:5;

Possible Meanings:
  • howling (semantic_range)
H3427 יָשַׁב
Definition:

8,19וישב,Judges 1:13ואשב,dwell; Phoenicianישבdwell; ZinjirliישבsitDHMSendsch. 58; Assyrianašâbu,sit,dwell, DlHWB 244; Arabicleap, jump, Himyer. dialectsit, Lane2919; EthiopicII. 1secum cohabitare face 8,19וישב,Judges 1:13ואשב,dwell; Phoenicianישבdwell; ZinjirliישבsitDHMSendsch. 58; Assyrianašâbu,sit,dwell, DlHWB 244; Arabicleap, jump, Himyer. dialectsit, Lane2919; EthiopicII. 1secum cohabitare face

Possible Meanings:
  • remain (semantic_range)
H4389 מַכְתֵּשׁ
Definition:

11. The noun denotes “the Mortar,” a hollow, bowl-shaped depression inside Jerusalem that served as a bustling commercial quarter.Geographical and Historical SettingMost interpreters locate Maktesh in 11. The noun denotes “the Mortar,” a hollow, bowl-shaped depression inside Jerusalem that served as a bustling commercial quarter.Geographical and Historical SettingMost interpreters locate Maktesh in

H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H1820 דָּמָה
Definition:

2,וְדָמִ֫יתִיconsecutiveHosea 4:5;Imperfect3feminine singularתִּדְמֶהLamentations 3:49; 3feminine plural jussiveתִּדְמֶינָהJeremiah 14:17; —1intransitiveceaseJeremiah 14:17(eyes from weeping)Lamentati 2,וְדָמִ֫יתִיconsecutiveHosea 4:5;Imperfect3feminine singularתִּדְמֶהLamentations 3:49; 3feminine plural jussiveתִּדְמֶינָהJeremiah 14:17; —1intransitiveceaseJeremiah 14:17(eyes from weeping)Lamentati

Possible Meanings:
  • be like (semantic_range)
H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H5971 עַם
Definition:

Fromamam; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock -- folk, men, nation, people.see HEBREWamamBrow Fromamam; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock -- folk, men, nation, people.see HEBREWamamBrow

Possible Meanings:
  • with (semantic_range)
H3667 כִּנַעַן
Definition:

Fromkana'; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him -- Canaan, merchant, traffick.see HEBREWkana'Brown-Driver-BriggsI.כְּנַ֫עַן90proper name, masculineandof a territoryCanaan Fromkana'; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him -- Canaan, merchant, traffick.see HEBREWkana'Brown-Driver-BriggsI.כְּנַ֫עַן90proper name, masculineandof a territoryCanaan

H3772 כָּרַת
Definition:

1819t.; 2 masculine singularכָּרָ֑תָּDeuteronomy 20:20; 1singularכָּרַתִּיExodus 34:2715t.; + 8 t. Perfect;ImperfectיִכְרֹתJob 40:2821t.; 2 masculine singularתִּכְרָתֿIsaiah 57:8; 1singularאֶכְרוֺתIsa 1819t.; 2 masculine singularכָּרָ֑תָּDeuteronomy 20:20; 1singularכָּרַתִּיExodus 34:2715t.; + 8 t. Perfect;ImperfectיִכְרֹתJob 40:2821t.; 2 masculine singularתִּכְרָתֿIsaiah 57:8; 1singularאֶכְרוֺתIsa

Possible Meanings:
  • cut off (semantic_range)
  • cut down (semantic_range)
  • cut off (semantic_range)
  • cut down (semantic_range)
  • hew (semantic_range)
H3605 כֹּל
Definition:

8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA 8 Kt.),noun masculinethe whole, all(Moabite, Phoenician,id.; Aramaicכּוֺל,; Arabic; Sabeanכל, compare DHMEpigr. Denk. 36-38; EthiopicAssyriankullatu) — absoluteכֹּל, constructכֹּלGenesis 2:5,16,20 #NA

H5187 נְטִיל
Definition:

11those laden with silver..Topical LexiconOverviewNəṭîl (Strong’s 5187) appears once in Scripture,Zephaniah 1:11, where it identifies those who “weigh out silver.” The vocabulary evokes the bustling m 11those laden with silver..Topical LexiconOverviewNəṭîl (Strong’s 5187) appears once in Scripture,Zephaniah 1:11, where it identifies those who “weigh out silver.” The vocabulary evokes the bustling m

H3701 כֶּסֶף
Definition:

9silver, money(Late Hebrewid.; Phoenician, Zinjirliכסף; Aramaicכַּסְמָּא; PalmyreneכספאVogNo. 23; Assyriankaspu; probably thepalemetal Thes and others, compare RSJPh xiv,125) —׳כabsoluteGenesis 20:16+ 9silver, money(Late Hebrewid.; Phoenician, Zinjirliכסף; Aramaicכַּסְמָּא; PalmyreneכספאVogNo. 23; Assyriankaspu; probably thepalemetal Thes and others, compare RSJPh xiv,125) —׳כabsoluteGenesis 20:16+

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