BOOK OF HABAKKUK.
THE absurd and contradictory legends of the Jewish writers, concerning this prophet, are not worthy of notice, except as they shew how little dependence can be placed on such witnesses. Some pretend that he was the son of the Shunamitish woman, whom Elisha restored to life! While others (especially the apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon,) introduce him as feeding Daniel in the den of lions, just before the return of the Jews from Babylon!
It is, however, plain that he prophesied before the captivity; and probably, about the close of Josiah's reign, and the beginning of Jehoiakim's, being contemporary with Jeremiah.-Habak'kuk stands high in the class of the Hebrew poets. The beautiful connexion between the 'parts of this prophecy, its diction, imagery, spirit, and sublimity, cannot be too much admir'ed.' Bp. Newcombe. He is repeatedly quoted, as an inspired writer, in the New Testament: (Comp. 1:5. with Acts 13:40,41. and 2:3,4. with Rom . 1:17. Gal . 3:11.
Heb . 10:37,38.) and his predictions of the devastations made by the Chaldeans, and the judgments to be inflicted on them, are generally considered as including the temporary success and final ruin of the oppressors and corrupters of the Christian church, and the final and universal prevalence of true religion throughout the earth.-'As Nahum ... foretold the destruction of the Assyrians, who 'carried the ten tribes captive; so Habakkuk foretels the judgments that should come on the 'Chaldeans, who completed the captivity of the two remaining tribes.' Lowth .
The prophet begins with complaints of the wickedness of his people, and then proceeds to predict the Chaldean invasion and its terrible effects. He bewails the successful wickedness of the invaders; gives encouragement to God's people, and denounces judgments on his enemies: and he concludes with celebrating, in the highest strains of sublime poetry, the ancient wonders that the Lord had wrought for Israel in order to excite confidence and joy in him, in the prospect of approaching calamities.
'and when I reprove them, there are those 'which raise up strife and contention against 'me.' Bp . Hall . It appears, that the prophet had long lamented the abounding and increasing wickedness of his people, and prayed that God would put some effectual stop to it: but it
5 Behold & ye among the heathen, the leopards, and are more fierce than
and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told
continued to prevail more and more, and he was tempted to conclude that his prayers were disregarded. He also complained, that the Lord constrained him to behold violence and iniquity; whilst the poor were crushed and cruelly plundered by the powerful. He inquired why his lot was cast in such evil times, that he was forced to dwell among robbers and oppressors, and to witness discords and virulent contentions. These things were become so cominon, and the rulers were so addicted to bribery, that the law lay dormant, and the execution of it was entirely relaxed; so that wicked men circumvented and defrauded the righteous with impunity: for either no sentence could be obtained, or it proved a perverted and
the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far, they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
9 They shall come all for violence their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong-hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
11 Then shall his mind change, and
Heb. sharp.
n Jer. 5:6. Zeph. 3:3. o Jer. 4:13. Lam. 4:19. Ez. 17:3,12. Hos. 8:1. Matt. 24: 28. Luke 17:37.
P6. 2:5-13. Deut. 28:51,52.
Jer. 4:7. 5:15-17. 25:9.
q Is. 27:8. Jer. 4:11,12. Ez. 17: 10. 19:12. Hos. 13:15.
r 2:5. Gen. 41:49. Judg. 7:12. Job 29:18. Ps. 139:18. Jer. 15:8. 33:22. Hos. 1:10. Rom. 9:27.
2 Kings 24:12. 25:6,7. 2 Chr. 35:6,10.
t Is. 14:16. Jer. 32:24. 33:4. 52:4-7.
Dan. 4:30-34.
another trivial variation, gives nearly the rendering of the passage, as it stands in the Acts. The meaning is not materially different, on either reading.
In your days.] 'Hence it follows, that the Chaldeans invaded Judea, while those were living whom the prophet addressed." Bp . New combe .-As Jerusalem was destroyed within less than thirty years from the death of Josiah; and as the Chaldeans were not, till about that time, very formidable among the nations: it may be probably conjectured, that Habakkuk delivered this prophecy about the end of Josiah's reign, or soon after his death; and that the circumstance of the obscure Chaldeans, rather than the renowned Assyrians, being appointed
iniquitous decision. Such was wretched to accomplish it, conduced to harden the peo
condition of Judah: and it was the consequence
of ido
idolatry, impiety, or hypocrisy in religion. ( Marg . rg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , Ps . 12:1-4.13: 1-4.58:1,2. 73:2-14.83:2- 73:2-14. 83:2-5. 120:5-7. Is . 59:
3-15. Jer. 12: 1–4 . Lam . 3:2-9, v. 8. Mic . 3:1 -4.7:1-4
7:1-4.)
ple in unbelief. impetuous , bearing all down before them, and regardless of the miseries which they occasion- ed. ( Marg . and Marg. Ref. Notes , Deut . 38: 49-57, τυ . 49-52. 2 Chr . 36:17.)
V. 6. Bitter , &c.] That is,
V. 7. The decisions and regulations of the Chaldeans, would be framed entirely according to their own caprice, and to confirm their own authority, without any regard to the good of the conquered nations: they would regard their prosperity and dignity as proceeding from their own courage and conduct, and glory in them on that ground; and they would not consider themselves as accountable to any superior for the use which they made of them."The marginal reading does not seem to 'agree with the original.' 1.' Lowth . ( Marg . Ref . - Note , Dan . 5:18-24.)
V. 5. In answer to the prophet's com complaint, the Lord shewed him, that the Chaldeans would speedily execute vengeance on the Jews. They were, therefore, warned to give peculiar attention to the events, which were taking place among the heathen, by the victories of the Chaldeans; or to consider themselves as one of the nations which were to be scourged by them: or they were reminded, that they would wonder with great astonishment, when scattered among the heathen, at the accomplishment of those predictions which at present they disregarded.
For they would not believe that God would work such a work, at least in their days, and by the Chaldeans; though he himself informed them by his prophets, that he certainly would. (Marg. Ref. Note, Is. 29: 13-16.)-The application of this by St. Paul to the Jews in his days, evinces, that the destruc-east-wind blasts and withers the productions tion of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans was an of the earth. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .)-'Some
emblem, or anticipation, of the calamities that came on the nation for rejecting the gospel. (Note, Acts 13:38-41, v . 41.)-The apostle quoted the passage from the Septuagint, rather than from the original text: yet the quotation does not exactly accord to either. The Greek
translators seems to have read בגדים , despisers instead of בגוים among the heathen . This, with 820]
V. 8. Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , Is . 5:26 30. Jer. 4:11-13, v. 13. 5:3-6, v. 6. Hos . 8:1. Zeph. 3:1-4, v. 3. V. 9. Shall sup, &c.] That is, they would devour all before them, as the unwliolesome
'render the words, "Whatsoever they gather 'they shall carry it toward the east," meaning 'to Babylon.' Lowth.
V. 10. ( Marg . Ref .) 'The Hebrew uses the 'singular number as well here, as in the follow'ing
and to be understood of the
of Babylon, who conquers kings and princes, and treats them with scorn and and contempt. con So he shall pass over, and offend, this his power unto his god.
[Practical Observations.]
imputing || tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
'they used Zedekiah and his princes, &c.' Lowth . (Ez. 25:-32:)
V. 11. The rapid and uninterrupted success of the king of Babylon, against the Jews and the adjacent nations, would intoxicate him with arrogance, and cause him to pass all bounds of reason, moderation, or decency, in his oppressions and impieties: and he would greatly offend the Lord who had prospered his undertakings, by imputing his success to his idol Belus, or Nebo. This may refer to the golden image, that Nebuchadnezzar set up; and to his extraordinary insanity, which was the punishment and cure of his pride: and perhaps Belshazzar's arrogance and blasphemy also might be alluded to, which preceded the ruin of the Chaldean monarchy, and the deliverance of the Jews from captivity. ( Notes , Dan . 3: 4:28-33. 5:1-4,18-24.)
14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
15 They take up all of them with the angle; they catch them in their net, and gather them in their || drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat "plenteous.
17 Shall they therefore empty their net, • and not spare continually to slay the nations?
horrence; and therefore he would by no means countenance injustice, treachery, or tyranny. Why then would he look on, and keep silence as an unconcerned spectator, while these wicked idolaters devoured those who were more righteous than themselves? ( Marg . and Marg. Ref . b-h . - Notes , Ps . 34:15–17. Is . 10:5,6. 27: 7-11, υυ . 9,10. 33:1.
Jer. 12:1-4.) Why did he so prosper the cruel and rapacious, as to enable them to prey on their inferiors, as the sea-monsters and large fishes do on the multitude of the smaller fishes; or as reptiles are destroyed by more powerful creatures, having none to rule over or protect them?-Indeed men became the prey of their own species, as fishes are taken by the fishermen, without being able to make any effectual resistance; whilst some were drawn out by the angle, others by the cast-net, or the draw-net.
Thus the victorious Chaldeans would prey upon the helpless Jews, and rejoice in their miseries and their own successful wickedness; and ascribe their victories to means and instruments, to their sword, courage, and conduct, by which they lived in plenty and luxury; and not to the living God, who alone giveth men power to grow rich and great.
And this would increase their propensity to vain-glory, or vain idolatry; in which they would act as absurdly, as if the fisherman should offer sacrifice, or burn incense, to his net, when he had taken a large draught of fishes, or grew rich by his ocсираtion. But would the Lord permit them thus to gather and hoard up wealth by fraud and rapine, and to destroy whole nations, (especially his own people) to aggrandize themselves? ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . i-o.- Notes , 2: 5-8. Is . 10:7-11. 14:16–20. Jer . 16:16. 50:11. Ez . 28:2-5. Dan . 4:28-33, v. 30. 5:25-28.)
V. 12-17. The prophet again poured out his complaints before God, in the prospect of the dreadful calamities which were coming on his people from the Chaldeans.
He had hoped, that the Lord would reform the nation by gentler corrections, or by raising up eminent instruments for that work: but when he understood the heavy judgments to be inflicted upon them, he was grieved, even as he had been by witnessing their crimes. ( Note , 2-4.) He was astonished, that God would punish his offending worshippers by so idolatrous and iniquitous a people as the Chaldeans; and he still hoped that he would not finally leave them in their bands.
As an Israelite, and as representing that nation, he addressed God, the everlasting JEHOVAH, as his God, his eternal and unchangeable Portion, and the glorious Object of his adoration; "his Holy One," who was perfect in justice, truth, goodness, and purity: he was therefore assured that he and his people should not die, or be utterly cut off by their enemies. (Marg. Ref . y-a.- Notes , 3:3-5, v . 3. Deut . 33: 27-29.90:1,2. 102:23-28. Is . 40,27-31. 43:14 -21, vr . 14,15.
Jer . 30:10,11.) The Lord had indeed ordained and established the Chaldean in power, to judge his people, to distinguish between hypocrites and believers, to punish the one, to correct the other for their good, and thus to reform the nation. But he was of purer eyes, than to behold iniquity without ab- ||
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-11.
The servants of God cannot but be greatly afflicted, by witnessing the prevalence of ungodliness, iniquity, violence, and contention; especially among those who profess to worship the true God, according to his word. This will excite their earnest cries: and it will often cause them to complain, that the Lord delays to hear their prayers and to prosper
about the
by iniquitous judg
their labors, and constrains them to stand by, while his law is despised and trampled on, the laws of men are slacked or perverted, perverted, and the wicked are allowed to "compass abo righteous," and to ruin him by iniqu ments. But sometimes their prayers and com- plaints are answered in a way, of which they were not aware: and the Lord lifts up a stan- dard against the incursions of impiety, by meeting them with desolating esolating judgments. Even when he gives warning that this is his purpose, few to whom it is told will believe it. Most men presume upon continued prosperity, or that calamities will not come in their days: so that, when predicted judgments overwhelm
said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, & wait for it; because h it will surely come, it will not tarry.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is
c Deut, 27:8. 31:19,22. Is. 8:1. 30:8. Jer. 36:2-4,27-32. Dan. 12:4. Rev. 1:18,19. 14:13. 19: 9. 21:5-8.
d John 16:28,29. 1 Cor. 14:19. 2 Cor. 3:12.
e Jer. 27:7. Dan. 8:19. 9:24 27. 10:1,14. 11:27,35. Acts 1: 7. 17:26. Gal. 4:2. 2 Thes. 2:6-8.
f Ex: 12:41. Ps. 102:13. Jer. 25:12,&c. Heb. 10:36,37,
g 2 Kings 6:33. Ps. 27:14. 130: 5,6. Is. 30:18. Lam. 3:25,26. Mic. 7:7. Luke 2:25. Jam. 5: 7,8.
h Luke 18:7,3. 2 Pet. 2:3. i Job 40:11,12. Dan. 4:30,37. 5: 20-23. Luke 18:14. 2 Thes. 2:4. 1 Pet. 5:5.
which devour each other, and are "made to be taken and destroyed." destroyed." The havoc of the human species by by mighty conquerors and cruel tyrants, and nations that delight in war, to enrich and aggrandize themselves; and the constant re-acting of this same bloody tragedy, on one stage after another, all over the earth, through successive generations, with the loud plaudits of the numerous and admiring spectators; form one of the most mortifying and distressing reflections imaginable to the pious and humane observer. Yet the Lord has wise reasons for permitting these things: though he abhors, not only the injustice and cruelty of the actors, but also their impiety and self-ad
guilty nations or individuals, "they marvel-miration, whilst they ascribe their greatness
lously wonder," as if no intimation had been given them that it would be so. But when the Lord has work of this kind to do, he can soon raise up "bitter and hasty" instruments, to desolate countries, and seize upon dwelling places that are not theirs; men whose pride and arrogance are as terrible as their cruelty and fierceness. Their valor, speed, and success are from God: but their barbarity, rapacity, and treachery, and the abuse of their power and dignity, are of themselves. These influ
and prosperity to their own policy, courage, good fortune , or idols, and rejoice in their fleeting riches and fading glories: and he will soon end their successful and splendid robberies. Death and judgment shall make them cease to prey on others, and they themselves shall be preyed upon. But let us remember, whatever temporal or spiritual advantages we possess, by whatever means, instruments, or endeavors; to give all the glory of them to God with humble thanksgivings and praises. Thus all things
ence them to ravage nations, to destroy or en-will be sanctified to us, lead our thoughts to
slave millions, to deride and scorn princes, and to take pleasure in mischief and devastation. And, whilst the Lord employs and prospers them in executing his judgments, they grow more intoxicated by success, and more hardened in impiety, infidelity, and idolatry; and thus ripen themselves for destruction. ( Note , 2 Kings 19:25.)
V. 12-17.
The everlasting and holy LORD God of Israel, while he ordains the basest of men for correction and judgment, continues the invariable Friend of his people; and though he "chasten them sore, he will not give them over unto death." He is "of purer eyes than to behold iniquity:" and as he will not connive
the great Source of felicity, and help to prepare us for the enjoyment of his favor for ever. ( Note , 1 Chr . 29: 10-20 . )
NOTES.