Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Yes, Zephaniah was a person who lived prior to the destruction of Jerusalem 
in 586 BC. All indications are that he was a very young lad when he 
prophesied, and so I presume that he was deported to Babylonia, or fled to 
Egypt. The section of the Twelve that bears his name must, therefore, have 
pre-exilic elements. However, since we have no independent book of Zephaniah, 
and the earliest evidence we have for it comes from the larger Book of the 
Twelve, which is definitely postexilic, it is difficult to know just how much 
Zephaniah's contribution has been affected. Is there a way you can 
distinguish 'original' material from later redactional layers?



Regards,

GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au