The priests were God’s appointed guardians of the law. They were to ensure that the law was followed in the land, and that justice was carried out. If there was any case that was too difficult for the common court system, the priests together with a judge in office would decide the case (Deuteronomy 17:8–9). The instructions
that they would give were torah (v. Deuteronomy 17:11), and their decision was binding. So when Zephaniah now says that the priests of his day do violence to the law [torah],
their attack is against both the law of God itself and those who have been bound by their decisions.1 Their violence is found in their neglecting their task to teach and uphold the law of the Lord.2.
4 Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men; her priests profane what is holy; they do violence to the law.