The previous Chapter, was a warning to Yehudah and Yerushalaim. This Chapter is a warning to Yehudah's Enemies.
Zephaniah 2:1
Gather yourself together gather together the nation not to long for.
This has been translated in various other ways, but the Hebrew state plainly that it is a nation you rather not have upon your doorstep, you do not long for them.
Zephaniah 2:2
before the sure enactment as chaff vanishes day before not he come upon you burning anger of Yahweh before not he come upon you anger of Yahweh
We should look at this literal Hebrew in context with the verse before and after. We see then that they have to get their act together before the enactment of the following announcements when the day vanishes like chaff. before not he come upon you, we could paraphrase in English as, "in order that it may not come upon you."
Zephaniah 2:3
Seek to find Yahuweh all humble of the country who His ordinances to do, seek to find righteousness, seek to find humbleness, if so be hidden in the day anger of Yahweh.
There is still time for those willing to seek Yahweh and be humble and righteous, to do this before the day of Yahweh and they will be protected in that day.
Zephaniah 2:4
Because Aza forsaken it shall be and askelon to desolation asdod in the noon time be driven out and ekron to be plucked up.
These are all cities of the philistines and although this has happened in the past to some degree, it did not happen totally at the time of Yehuda's deportation and therefore point to a time still to come. It will be very likely because Israel's enemies, although not from the original philistine races, are again dwelling in these cities. We find also again a hebrew word play in this verse, it starts with "aza azuvah."
Zephaniah 2:5
Woe! inhabitants coast of the sea nation keretiym word Yahweh to you kenaan country pelistiym and I destroy you (and there shall be a) lacking of inhabitants.
Keritiym (Cheritites) is probably and indication for People from Crete, who were peliset, which means invaders, on the coast of Canaan.
Zephaniah 2:6-7.
And it shall be the territory of the sea abode and cottage shepherds and folds for flocks.And shall be territory to remnant house yehudah, on them they pasture, in the houses of ashklon in the evening they lie down, because to pay attention to them Yahweh their Elohiem and turn back their captivity.
The Hebrew word chebel, means measuring line. It can be used to indicate a territory. Here we have a clear indication that this point to a time yet even in our future. The territory mentioned is that, which was already mentioned in the previous verses and is at the present occupied by Arabs who call themselves Palestinians.
Up to now this territory has never been a place where Jews have dwelled secure. It clearly indicates that the present occupants will be removed and the Jews will occupy their dwellings.
If only the people of our time, all Jew and gentile, would take notice of the words of Yahweh spoken by His prophets and not only a few who are not listen to.
We should notice that in 17:8, Yahuweh says:
"the land of your sojourning.
Now if we look at Gen.21:34 we read:
"And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days"
YES!
the "Gaza" has been promised to Israel as well.
According to Joshua 15:47 & Judges 1:18.It became Yehudah's territory when the land was given to Israel by Yahweh. Also compare this with the prophecy in Jeremiah 47; Amos 1:6-8; Zech. 9:1-7.
Zephaniah 2:8-9.
I have heard the scorn of Moab and the abuse of the children of Amon that which reproach my people and they magnified upon their borders. Therefore as I live declares Yahweh Tzebaot Elohiem of Israel because moab like sodom shall be and children of amon like amorah, place possessed with nettles and pits of salt and desolation for ever, remnant my people plunder them and remainder my nation inherit them.
Moab and Amon are to day's Jordan and Iraq, since that which shall remain of the Jews have not yet plundered and occupied this territory, it is still to come.
Zephaniah 2:10.
This to them because of their exaltation because they taunted and they magnified (themselves) above people (of) Yahweh Tzebaoth.
This is at the present for sure the attitude of the inhabitants of these regions, but also of many other nations.The see themselves as being above the Jews having more rights then them and everybody else, is telling Israel what to do.
Zephaniah 2:11.
To cause astonishment and awe Yahweh to them because He makes lean all the rulers of the country and they prostrate themselves to Him each from his place all regions of the nations.
All the people who have boasted that the Jews are a race of losers suddenly shall discover that Yahweh promotes Israel above everybody else. Compare this with Isaiah 53:15. And we should remember that the Servant in Chapters 52 & 53 is Israel. The proper Hebrew text refers to a nation and not a single person.
To make this fit a person, like the Messiah, some liberties in translations have been taken.
Yes the Messias has a parallel to Israel.
Zephaniah 2:12.
You to kushiem, slain by my sword they.
Kushiem is usually translated as Etheopians. However, the word originally means, 'black ones.' And it refers to the African people, among them Ethiopia who have turned to Allah and other Idols.
Zephaniah 2:13.
And He shall strech out His hand toward the North and destroy ashur and direct toward niynveh devastation dry like wilderness
Ushur or Assyria is Iran to day. Nineveh was an important city and indeed is not more to day and we could say the prophecy is fulfilled. However, we must also consider that when Zephaniah had written Teheran, which is the most important city today, the people would not have known what he was talking about. The mentioning of Nineveh to the most important city of the region in Zephaniah's days, puts the emphasis on the area. Since the prophecy of the destroying of Iran (Assyria) has not been literally fulfilled it still has to come. We could therefore substitute Teheran for Nineveh. Since they are the enemies of Israel to day, it makes sense in the context of this chapter to direct this prophecy to Iran.
Zephaniah 2:14.
And to lay down in her midst flocks all its living goy also unclean birds also the animal that rolls up on the capitals of her pillars they to lodge noise to sing in window desolation on the tresshold since cedar panels laid bare.
We all know from visits to or photographs of ancient sites how amidst old ruins those old pillars are still standing with their capitals on top. The cedar beams atop of them, who carried the roof, are long gone they were laid bare and disappeared. All its living goy, points to Animals who live in groups. The original meaning of goy is a group of something, which could be people as a nation but also animals together in a group. Noise to sing in window. That should be the wind making erie sounds around the ruins. when you go over the tresshold you see everything cut or fallen down, which is the original meaning of the Hebrew, because all the inside paneling is gone.
Zephaniah 2:15.
That the city the exultant, the one to be set in security, the one that said in her heart I am, the end is me, others how? she has become to waste dwelling place to wild animals all that passes over her shall hish, shall wave their hand.
"I am the end how can there be others like me?" Is what the Hebrew literally says. We should also take in consideration that when in the olden days a city was mentioned it also pointed to the country around it. Also people in the East will hish and shake their fist to show their scorn.
So we see here a prophecy from which parts have been fulfilled but the literal prophecy has not been completely fulfilled. This means that it is still to come. Looking at the world to day and the behaviour of the occupants of the countries mentioned, we could say that it might not be far off.