Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
stretch out mine hand—indicating some remarkable and unusual work of vengeance (Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 9:12, Isaiah 9:17, Isaiah 9:21).
Judah—including Benjamin. These two tribes are to suffer, which thought themselves perpetually secure, because they escaped the captivity in which the ten tribes were involved.
Jerusalem—the fountainhead of the evil. God begins with His sanctuary (Ezekiel 9:6), and those who are nigh Him (Leviticus 10:3).
the remnant of Baal—the remains of Baal worship, which as yet Josiah was unable utterly to eradicate in remote places. Baal was the Phœnician tutelary god. From the time of the Judges (Judges 2:13), Israel had fallen into this idolatry; and Manasseh lately had set up this idol within Jehovah's temple itself (II Kings 21:3, II Kings 21:5, II Kings 21:7). Josiah began his reformation in the twelfth year of his reign (II Chronicles 34:4, II Chronicles 34:8), and in the eighteenth had as far as possible completed it.
Chemarims—idol priests, who had not reached the age of puberty; meaning "ministers of the gods" [SERVIUS on Æneid, 11], the same name as the Tyrian Camilli, r and l being interchangeable (compare Hosea 10:5, Margin). Josiah is expressly said (II Kings 23:5, Margin) to have "put down the Chemarim." The Hebrew root means "black" (from the black garments which they wore or the marks which they branded on their foreheads); or "zealous," from their idolatrous fanaticism. The very "name," as well as themselves, shall be forgotten.
the priests—of Jehovah, of Aaronic descent, who ought to have used all their power to eradicate, but who secretly abetted, idolatry (compare Zephaniah 3:4; Eze. 8:1-18; Ezekiel 22:26; Ezekiel 44:10). From the priests Zephaniah passes to the people.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Zephaniah 1:4:
Hosea 10:5
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