Zephaniah 1:8-11 - On that day

1:8,9

It is now made clear that the immediate context is the destruction of Jerusalem. The officials and relations of the king would be the ones who were benefiting from the current way that things were done, but judgement would come upon them. There is no escape from the Lord’s judgement.  “Clad in foreign clothes” is a reference to adopting the ways of pagan nations. “Stepping on the threshold” is also a reference to a pagan activity if worship. “Violence and deceit” go along with worship of idols. We see this today, and throughout history. When a people stop worshiping God, violence and deceit come in, for such a people lose moral bearings. In Judah this was happening to a people who maintained some pretence of worshiping God, but in reality were not. Likewise in history there have sadly been times when the “church” has stopped worshiping God in reality, and violence and deceit have ensued.

1:10,11

What will happen on the day of the Lord? The merchants who had made money by economic exploitation would suffer. In all societies that are going awry there are groups who make money. This can be done in overtly criminal ways, such as drug dealers, or human traffickers. Or it can be done in “respectable” ways, ie by legal trade that exploits people. But a day of reckoning will come, and a reckoning from which there will be no escape. Note that Zephaniah mentions specific areas of the city, thus making it all very real.