1:1 Hezekiah … Josiah. Zephaniah traced his royal lineage back to his great-great-grandfather Hezekiah (ca. 715–686 B.C.) and placed his ministry contemporaneous with Josiah (ca. 640–609 B.C.). 1:2, 3 The prophet began by noting the far fulfillment of the Day of the Lord, when even animal and physical creation will be affected by His judgment of the earth (cf. Gen. 3:17–19; Ex. 12:29; Josh. 7:24, 25; Rom. 8:22). 1:2 face of the land. Generally translated “ground,” the term is used in reference to