Habakkuk
Verse 1. Burden. Such prophecies more especially are called burdens, as threaten grievous evils and punishments. Challoner.—He says not against whom, because the menace is directed to persecutors in general. Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Habakkuk 1
Historical chapter commentary
Habakkuk
Verse 2. Save. Some think that he expresses the sentiments of the weak, like David, (Psalms 72:2) or what he had formerly entertained. The language of the prophets is very bold. Exodus 32:32. Job 3:3. Jeremiah 20:14. Jonah 4:8. Calmet.
Habakkuk
Verse 3. Opposition. Septuagint “the judge receives” bribes. Bible.—Such was the state of Juda after Josias. Jeremiah 21:12.
Habakkuk
Verse 5. Among. Septuagint ye despisers. Saint Paul nearly agrees with this version. Acts 13:41. The copies vary, as the Hebrew has done. Calmet.—The apostle gives the mystical sense; the literal is very obscure. Worthington.—God answers the prophet’s complaints, and shews that the Chaldees shall punish the guilty, and afterwards be themselves chastised.
Habakkuk
Verse 6. Chaldeans. Nabuchodonosor was the first of this nation who attacked Joakim, and having conquered all as far as the Nile, returned to succeed Nabopolassar. He afterwards came upon Jechonias and Sedecias, and so forth The prophet might have all this in view, particularly the first invasion. Calmet.—Bitter; warlike, as all the Greek historians remark. Saint Jerome—The Chaldees were not yet arrived at such greatness, and of course this is not the Habacuc specified Daniel 14. Worthington.—Yet the same prophet might foresee it. Bible.
Habakkuk
Verse 7. Proceed. They admit no authority but their own. Calmet.—This pride will prove their ruin. Bible.
Habakkuk
Verse 8. Leopards: the swiftest quadrupeds. Calmet.—The horses near the Euphrates were swift and warlike. Oppian.—Swifter. Hebrew “sharper” ( Bible.) in seeing, even when there is no moon. Elian x. 26.—Evening. Septuagint “Arabian.” Bible.—It may denote the hyena of that country, which is most terrible. Guevar.
Habakkuk
Verse 9. Burning. Hebrew also, “eastern,” which is hot, and raises the sand of Arabia so as to be very detrimental. Calmet.—Out of 2,000 travellers from Mecca to Aleppo, only twenty-nine escaped such a storm, or kamsin, in that vast desert, Aug. 23, 1813. Rock. 312. Bible.—Sand, from various countries. Isaiah 20:4. Beros. cited c. Ap. i.
Habakkuk
Verse 10. Prince, or “it,” the nation. verse 10. Hebrew “They,” and so forth—Laughingstock, (ridicule.) Nabuchodonosor raised or deposed princes as in jest. Bible.—Sennacherib’s officers were or had been kings. Isaiah 10:8.—Mount. Thus cities were chiefly taken. Ezekiel 4:1. Calmet.
Habakkuk
Verse 11. Spirit; that is the spirit of the king of Babylon. It alludes to the judgment of God upon Nabuchodonosor, recorded Daniel 4 and to the speedy fall of the Chaldean empire. Challoner.—It shall yield to the Medes, and so forth after conquering the Assyrians. Worthington.—Fall. Hebrew “sin.” Septuagint “obtain pardon.”—God: “idol.” Chal. “This is the strength of my God.” Septuagint God forced the proud king to confess that his great exploits were not to be attributed to himself or to idols. Bible.
Habakkuk
Verse 12. Die? We hope that this scourge will not entirely ruin us.—Correction, like Pharao. Exodus 9:16.
Habakkuk
Verse 13. Look, with approbation ( Calmet.) or connivance.
Habakkuk
Verse 14. Ruler. People are subdued by Nabuchodouosor. Bible.—They make little resistance. Calmet.
Habakkuk
Verse 16. Drag, adoring his own arms and prowess, (Sanct.) like Mezentius and Capaneus:
Dextra mihi Deus, (Æn. x.)
Te voco, te solum, superum contemptor, adoro. Stat. x.
—Guevare thinks fishes were adored, as they were among the Syrians. Nabuchodonosor attributed all to his own genius, or to Bel, whose statue he set up. Daniel 3. Calmet.—Victorious nations thus honour themselves and not God.
Habakkuk
Verse 17. Nations, of every country. Worthington.—Few have been so much addicted to war as Nabuchodonosor. Calmet.
Habakkuk
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
Habakkuk
“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
Habakkuk
The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).