And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
Zephaniah pursues the subject contained in the verse I explained yesterday. For as the majority of the people still adhered to their superstitions, though the pure worship of the law had been restored by Josiah, the Prophet threatens here, that God would punish such ingratitude.
That Zephaniah descended from King Hezekiah gave him standing to reprove the king's own children. When magistrates and ministers work together in reformation, removing idolatry as both did under Josiah, the work prospers; when they do not, corruption returns even in a godly reign.
AI summary
Commenting on Zephaniah 1:1-6
And upon them that worship the host of heaven upon the house tops The sun, moon, and stars, which some worshipped upon their house tops; the roofs of their houses being flat, as the roofs of the houses of the Jews generally were; from hence they had a full view of the host of heaven, and worshipped them openly; and fancied, the nearer they were...