Chapter 1

1 Unto Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land, 5 is shewed the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans. 12 He complaineth that vengeance should be executed by them who are far worse.

1. Burden. Heb. masЊsЊaХ, an “utterance” (see on Isa. 13:1).

Prophet. Of the other Minor Prophets, only Haggai and Zechariah claim for themselves the title “prophet.”

2. How long. The prophet was greatly distressed on account of his people’s sinfulness and the results certain to follow. From the language he employs it seems that Habakkuk had brought his perplexity to God for some time, and yet God did “not hear,” that is, He apparently did nothing to stop the evils in Judah. Habakkuk implies he is more interested in righteousness and justice than God appears to be.

Violence. Heb. chamas, wrongs in general, not necessarily involving the infliction of bodily harm upon another, as the English word “violence” suggests.

3. Spoiling. Heb. shod, “violence,” or “devestation,” often referring to destruction caused by plundering.

Violence. See on v. 2. The last clause of v. 3 in the LXX reads, “Judgment has gone against me, and the judge receives a reward.”

4. Law. Heb. torah (see on Deut. 31:9; Prov. 3:1).

Slacked. Heb. pug, “to grow numb.” The prophet attributed the paralyzing of the law’s effectiveness among the inhabitants of Judah to God’s failure to stop this iniquity. For “slacked” the LXX has “frustrated.” However, the Hebrew reading of the Masoretic text is confirmed by the reading of the Hebrew text quoted in the recently discovered Habakkuk Commentary of the Dead Sea scrolls (see p. 1047).

Compass. To surround with evil intent (see Ps. 22:12, 13). As a result the righteous are victimized by the wicked, and “judgment” is wrested and perverted in its relation to them.

Judgment. Or, “justice.”

5. Among the heathen. God proceeds to answer the prophet’s complaint. He charges Habakkuk to look among the surrounding nations for the one that God will use to punish His people for their sins. The LXX begins this verse with, “Behold, ye despisers,” which rendering Paul quotes in Acts 13:41.

Wonder marvellously. When God’s punishment comes suddenly, it will strike terror into hearts.

In your days. Since Habakkuk had asked “how long” (v. 2) this iniquity would be permitted to continue, the Lord assures him that the divine wrath will come in the time of those then living.

Not believe. An indication of the severity of the coming judgment.

6. Chaldeans. Heb. KasЊdim (see on Dan. 1:4). The nation of Babylon is now revealed as the agent of divine anger whom God will “raise up” to serve His purpose.

Hasty. Heb. nimhar, “impetuous.” This foretells the rapid movement of Babylonian conquests, aptly represented by the figure of the “eagle’s wings” of Daniel’s prophecy (see on Dan. 7:4).

7. Their judgment. So strong and self-confident were the Chaldeans that they acknowledged no power but their own, crediting their grand attainments to their own abilities (see Dan. 4:28–30).

8. The leopards. The swiftness of the leopard in catching his prey is proverbial (see on Dan. 7:6).

Evening wolves. Or, “evening jackals.” These animals are the most fierce at night, when they are prowling around for food (see Jer. 5:6; Zeph. 3:3).

Spread themselves. The context favors the LXX reading, “ride forth”; that is, advance to conquer.

Eagle. Heb. nesher, “a vulture,” or “an eagle.” Moses had prophesied that if Israel turned away from God, the people would be punished for their sins by a nation with horses so swift that they are fittingly compared to eagles (Deut. 28:47–50).

9. For violence. “Violence,” the previously mentioned sin of Judah (see on v. 2), will now be the punishment inflicted upon Judah by the Chaldeans.

Sup up. Heb. megammath, a word whose meaning is obscure. It occurs only here in the OT, and owing to the uncertainty of its definition, the whole clause has been translated in many different ways in the various versions.

East wind. See on Jer. 4:11; 18:17. The Hebrew word translated “east wind” may also be translated “eastward.”

As the sand. A figure indicating the large number of prisoners and the spoils that would be taken. This quite naturally agrees with the previous figure of the dreaded “east wind” with its columns of wind-blown sand.

10. Scoff. From the heights of their own self-esteem (see on v. 7), the Babylonians would look down on and laugh at foreign kings and princes.

Heap dust. An allusion to the making of a mound or embankment of earth to attack a city (see on 2 Sam. 20:15; see also illustration in Vol. II, facing p. 64). The LXX reads, “cast a mound.”

11. Pass over. Meaning either to pass on, or proceed forward, through the land, or to pass all bounds in pride.

Offend. God is “offended” because the Babylonians attribute their success to their own strength and skill, making their own might their god (see on v. 7). The prophet implies that the nation that is used to punish Judah will itself be punished for its own sins.

12. Art thou not? Habakkuk, speaking for his people, appeals to God for mercy that they do not perish (vs. 12–17). Looking beyond the forbidding prospects of the present, the prophet affirms, in faith, “We shall not die” (see PK 386).

Judgment. Here used in the sense of “punishment.”

Mighty God. Heb. Sur, “Rock” (see Deut. 32:31; 2 Sam. 22:3, 47). This title emphasizes the thought that God is a sure and unmoved support of His people. The final clause of the Hebrew text quoted in the Habakkuk Commentary of the Dead Sea scrolls (see p. 1047) reads, “O Rock as One chastising him hast Thou ordained him.”

13. Purer eyes. Since the sinless nature of God cannot tolerate “evil” (see Ps. 5:4–6) and cannot countenance “iniquity” (see Ps. 145:17), the prophet is perplexed as to why God should permit the Chaldeans to “deal treacherously” against His people. They are idolaters, and far worse—at least from Habakkuk’s point of view—than Judah. How, then, can God in justice use them to punish Judah?

Than he. That is, than the “wicked” man.

14. Fishes. The righteous man is often as dumb and helpless under a wicked oppressor as fish are in the nets of fishermen.

Creeping things. See Ps. 104:25.

No ruler. In the Habakkuk Commentary of the Dead Sea scrolls this last clause reads, “As a crawling thing over which to rule” (see Gen. 1:26).

15. They. Literally, “he,” that is, the “wicked” man (see on v. 13).

Take up. Here the prophet shows figuratively how the Babylonians conquer nations, the fishing tackle representing the Chaldean armies. However, this same figure could represent the activity of any wicked person.

16. They sacrifice. Literally, “he sacrifices.” A metaphorical way of indicating that the Chaldeans did not acknowledge the true God, but credited their success to their own skillful means (see on Hab. 1:7; cf. Isa. 10:12, 13).

17. They. Literally, “he” (see on vs. 13, 15).

Empty. The prophet asks whether the Chaldeans shall be allowed to go on conquering, to continue to “empty their net,” only to refill it again with the spoils of war. Verse 17 in the Hebrew text quoted in the Habakkuk Commentary of the Dead Sea scrolls (see p. 1047) reads, “He shall therefore draw his sword continually to slay nations without showing mercy.”

Ellen G. White comments

2–7PK 385

12   PK 386

13        Ed 255; FE 252; GC 310; PK 323; 2T 447; 7T 193