1Unto Habakkuk, waiting for an answer, 2is showed that he must wait in faith. 5The judgment of the Chaldeans for insatiableness, 9ambition, 12cruelty, 15treacherous dealing, 18and idolatry.
1 Ia WILL 1stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what 2he will 3say 4unto me, and 5what I shall answer when I am reproved.
a Isa. 21:8.
1 This is spoken by way of similitude, as of a soldier or sentinel, standing guard; and this is the sense: I have been waiting and longing a great while to know what God would be pleased to reveal and answer me upon the complaint addressed to Him in chapter 1.
2 Namely, the Lord.
3 That is, what He would make known and command me by an inward revelation. Compare Hosea 1:2.
4 Or, by me, as 2 Sam. 23:2; that is, what the Lord would reveal to me.
5 Namely, what answer I would return to the people of God, upon the complaint, which I made in their behalf, Hab. 1:2, etc., where the prophet enters, as it were, in a dispute with God, complaining of His government, in regard it went so ill with the godly, and so well with the wicked.
2And the LORD answered me, and said, Writeb6the vision, and make it plain upon tables, 7that he may run that readeth it.
b Isa. 30:8.
6 That is, the prophecy of the destruction of the Babylonians, spoken of in the following verses.
7 Hebr. that he may run, that reads therein, that is, write it in such large characters, that he, who runs by it, may take notice of and read it as he runs. Compare Deut. 27:8.
3For 8the vision is yet for an appointed time, but 9at the end 10it 11shall 12speak, and 13not lie: though 14it tarry, wait for 15it; because 16it will 17surely come, 18it will not 19tarry.
8 That is, that, which is made known by this prophecy, shall be delayed for a good while yet.
9 That is, finally, at length; which end is determined by God.
10 Namely, the vision.
11 Namely, the Lord shall speak.
12 Hebr. shall blow it forth, that is, God shall pour out His judgments unto punishment to the wicked, compare Ezek. 21:31, and perform His promises to the comfort and deliverance of the godly.
13 He shall indeed prove and make it appear that He did not lie.
14 Or, he. If the Lord does not execute this prophecy forthwith, nor as soon as ye do wish for. Other, if it tarry, namely this vision or the execution of it. See Heb. 10:37.
15 Or him. Namely, the Lord. Or, for it, namely, the vision.
16 Or, he. Namely, to punish the enemies and persecutors of His people, and to deliver His people out of their hand.
17 Hebr. coming come, Heb. 10:37.
18 Or, he. Namely, the Lord, or, it, namely, the prophecy.
19 Or, delay, stay away, namely, beyond the day appointed by God.
4Behold, 20his 21soul which is 22lifted up is 23not upright in him: but 24the just shall 25live 26by his faith.
20 Namely, the soul of the Chaldeans, and under that name every unbeliever. Other, whose soul withdraweth itself, his (namely, of God) soul is not right with, (or, towards) him, namely, the one who is deviating. Compare Heb. 10:38, where the apostle explains the sense of these words.
21 That is, heart, mind.
22 Other, bubbles up. Though the wicked seems to be very stout and daring, yet he is but like a bubble, which seems indeed to be something, but is nothing in effect and soon perished.
23 But evil, base and perverse; thus we read: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment, Prov. 24:23, that is, it is very evil.
24 That is, who is righteous before God through Jesus Christ.
25 That is, he shall, being reconciled with God, find and feel comfort and joy through the Holy Spirit here in this life, and he shall inherit everlasting life hereafter.
26 Or, out of his faith, namely so far applying to himself the promises of God by faith, concerning the righteousness of Christ, John 3:36; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38.
5¶Yea also, because 27he 28transgresseth by wine, he is 29a proud man, 30neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire 31as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth 32unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:33
27 Namely, the Chaldean; whether Nebuchadnezzar or Belshazzar.
28 Or, becomes perfidious through the wine. Hebr. the wine is deceitful, that is, drunkenness renders him unfaithful.
29 Or, insolent.
30 Or, cannot stay at home. Hebr. inhabits nor, dwells not, that is, who does not content himself with the kingdoms and countries he has already, but seeks still for more, and is never satisfied with any. See Dan. 4:22. Other, therefore he shall not abide in his place, that is, therefore shall he himself be thrust out of his own habitation, and shall enjoy neither rest nor peace at all.
31 Or, as the grave, which is never filled or satisfied. Compare Isa. 5:14.
32 Being instigated thereto by his insatiableness of domineering. See Hab. 1:9.
33 The prophet seems to infer from what goes before, that, seeing this king has so many grand enormities in him, there was no doubt to be made, but God would shortly and most severely punish and ruin him.
634Shall not 35all these take up a parable 36against him, and 37a taunting proverb against him, and 38say, Woe to him 39that increaseth that which is not his! 40how long? and to him that ladeth himself with 41thick clay!
34 Or, Should not all.
35 Namely, all these Gentiles and nations, whom king Nebuchadnezzar has subdued and brought under his power, verse 5.
36 That is, mock and scoff at him, namely, when God shall have brought him to shame.
37 That is, with which previously they upbraided him in a covert manner and as with disguised words, the same they shall afterwards do in plain and downright language. Compare Isa. 14:9, 10.
38 Namely, every one among the godly, of whom is mentioned in verse 4.
39 That is, who enriches himself with what is not his own, robbing other lords and people of their lands and goods.
40 Namely, shall this last, O Lord, how long wilt Thou forbear to punish him in this? The sense is: Thou art so righteous that Thou shalt not be able to let this go unpunished long. Other, how long? Namely, shall this insufferable taking, raking and ransacking of monies and countries persist?
41 Thus the prophet calls the silver and gold, together with all other earthly riches, which this king had raked and gathered together.
742Shall they not rise up 43suddenly that shall bite 44thee, and awake that shall 45vex thee, and thou shalt be for 46booties unto them?
42 This question strongly affirms, as if the prophet had said: Surely, they shall rise up, etc.
43 Or, unawares.
44 O king at Babel; if this is understood of Nebuchadnezzar, it implies that he shall soon die, and his dead body be bitten and eaten of worms in the grave, but if it is understood of Belshazzar, than the meaning is that the enemies shall suddenly come upon, and bereave him of his realm; for, he has perished quickly in one night, and the realm is taken away from him and from those belonging to him. See Daniel 5. See also Isaiah 13; 14; 21:2; Jeremiah 50; 51; so that to bite is here as much as to surprise and seize upon in a hostile way, even as lions and other fierce beasts do.
45 Or, remove thee, or, thrust out of, namely, from your throne. Other, that shall shake thee.
46 Or, mere plundering, prey, bereaving.
8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil 47thee; because 48of men’s blood, and for the violence of 49the land, of 50the city, and of 51all that dwell therein.
47 Joining themselves with the Medes and Persians, and understand here all those remaining nations, or (as the Hebrew words have it) all the remainder of these nations, which shall be left of the nations, whom he had spoiled, or who stood yet in fear to be spoiled by him.
48 Namely, which thou hast shed without any cause or reason. See verse 17; Isa. 33:1.
49 Inflicted upon either of the various countries almost everywhere or upon the land of the Jews in particular.
50 Namely, Jerusalem.
51 Compare Jer. 50:9, 10, 11, 17; 51:2, 24.
9¶Woe to him 52that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, 53that he may set his nest on high, 54that he may be delivered 55from the power of evil!
52 That is, who seeks or practices by all manner of base ways to enrich himself, in order to make rich his wife and children, and also his posterity. Compare Proverbs 1, and see at that place the annotation at Prov. 1 on verse 19; Jer. 22:13.
53 That is, that he and his family may rise and become great and famous here in this world, and live secure. A similitude taken from birds which build their nests in high places. Compare Obadiah verse 4.
54 This was indeed his aim, but he has been deceived by his opinion.
55 Hebr. from the palm of evil, that is, from the violence of evil. See Job 5 on verse 20.
1056Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by 57cutting off many people, and hast sinned 58against thy soul.
56 That is, setting all honor and honesty aside, you have raked riches together, and have raised great and stately palaces by them, and filled and adorned the same with all manner of precious furniture, yet all this speaks to your own shame and infamy. See verse 11.
57 To enrich yourself with their goods.
58 That is, against your own self.
11For 59the stone shall 60cry out of the wall, and 61the beam out of the timber shall answer 62it.
59 That is, the stones wherewith your palaces are built.
60 That is, testifies against you, namely, that you have built those palaces with stolen and unrighteous goods, which call vengeance before God.
61 Or, knot or knag, which is in the timber, or out of the wooden ceiling. The Hebrew word is not found anywhere but here, therefore it cannot be exactly said what it means.
62 Namely, the stone, that is, cries and testifies against the Babylonians, as the stones do.
12¶Woe to him that buildeth a town 63with blood, and 64stablisheth a city 65by iniquity!
63 Hebr. with bloods, that is, with murder, or with the goods of them who are slain or murdered; or with the sweat and blood of the subjects, Ezek. 24:9; Nahum 3:1.
64 Or, layeth the foundation of.
65 That is, with goods wrongfully raked together by rapine and violence. Compare Micah 3:10.
13Behold, 66is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall 67labour 68in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves 69for very vanity?
66 That is, does it not come to pass by the secret counsel of God?
67 Namely, in the building of houses and cities.
68 Or, for the fire, that is, in order that the houses and cities, which they build, come to be consumed by fire. See Jer. 51:58.
69 Or, unto, for vanity, that is, in vain, to no purpose, seeing it comes so soon to be destroyed and ruined what they build.
14For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of 70the glory of the LORD, 71as the waters cover the sea.
70 Which the Lord shall manifest in punishing the Chaldeans. See Isa. 11:9.
71 That is, so abundantly, as the waters cover the bottom or ground of the sea. See the annotation on Isa. 11 on verse 9.
15¶Woe unto him that giveth 72his neighbour 73drink, that puttest thy 74bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, 75that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
72 His companion, his friend.
73 Namely, unto drunkenness.
74 That is, brings in bottle after bottle to commit excess. Other, thou joinest or mixest thy poison to, or, among it.
75 Understand herewith: and make them to become a scoff and derision, when thou shalt have beguiled them and made them bare and destitute of all their means and power. It is a similitude taken from the lewd practice of drunkards.
1676Thou art filled with shame for glory: 77drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: 78the cup 79of the LORD's right hand 80shall be turned unto thee, and 81shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
76 The sense is: O thou Babylonian, because of these and similar base and vile practices, thou shalt get far more shame than before thou hadst honor, by reason of thy wealth and power.
77 Even go on still in your lewd practices, but expect what is sure to follow.
78 That is, the punishment of the Lord. See the annotations at Jer. 25 on verse 15, and on verse 27.
79 That is, which is in the right hand of the Lord.
80 That is, the time is now come that the cup of God’s wrath, almost having gone around, and has now come to you, you shall now also have your turn and drink your share from it; yes, you shall drink so much from it, that, instead of your glorying, a shameful vomit shall follow upon it.
81 That is, you shall be reduced to such dishonor and base condition, that everyone shall abhor and loath your excellence, as one does of a drunken wretch so full of alcoholic drink, that he must disgorge all.
17For the violence 82of Lebanon 83shall cover thee, and 84the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.85
82 Which you have committed against Lebanon. Lebanon here signifies the Jewish people, dwelling at mount Lebanon, as Isa. 14:8; 37:24. See also Ezek. 17: on verse 3, the 7th annotation. Yet some do here understand by Lebanon the temple, which was built of the wood of Lebanon.
83 That is, overtake, fall upon you unawares; as you dealt with the Jews and others, so shall it likewise happen to yourself. See further verse 8, and the annotation there.
84 The sense is: The spoil or the desolation of the beasts upon mount Lebanon shall affright the Chaldeans; understand by the beasts or wild beasts here the Jews of whom the Chaldeans made no more regard than as beasts, carrying them away captives, and slaying them, sometimes in their anger, sometimes for their pleasure. Others understand by the spoil of the beasts, those desolations, which were made and caused by large beasts; and may signify tyrants.
85 Namely, this shall therefore come upon you, O Chaldean.
18 ¶ 86What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, 87and a teacher of lies, 88that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
86 Here the prophet reproves the idolatry of the Chaldeans, who relied themselves on their idols and images; of which see further Isaiah 40; 44; 46; Jer. 2:8, 11; 16:19, and more elsewhere.
87 Or, that is the teacher of lying, or lies, Jer. 10:8, 14; Zech. 10:2.
88 That is, that he is so senseless and foolish as to hold that for his god, and trust in it as god, which he made himself with his own hands, and which has no life, no speech, nor motion.
19Woe unto him that saith 89to the wood, 90Awake; 91to the dumb stone, 92Arise, 93it shall 94teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is 95no breath at all in the midst of it.
89 That is, to the image made of wood. The sense is: Woe to him who calls upon or worships the idols or their images.
90 That is, get up, to help us in this our distress.
91 That is, to the image made of stone, which is dumb.
92 Thus David speaks unto the true God, Psalm 35:23.
93 Namely, the wooden or stony image, Isa. 44:9.
94 Could it teach someone any good?
95 Or, no spirit, neither human, nor that of any beast, much less any divinity.
20But 96the LORD is in 97his holy temple: let 98all the earth 99keep silence before him.
96 The true, living and everlasting God.
97 Hebr. in the temple of his holiness, that is, in heaven, as Psalm 11:4, from where He sees all things; or, in His church, which He, through His presence, sanctifies by the communication of His Spirit in Christ, and which is the spiritual temple of the Lord. Some do here likewise understand the temple at Jerusalem, which the Lord had chosen for His habitation, to be worshipped and served there according to His laws.
98 That is, all ye inhabitants of the earth.
99 That is, subject yourselves to Him with all submission and humility, and acknowledge the righteousness of His Divine judgments. Compare Job 21:5; 29:9; 40:4; Amos 6:10; 8:3; Zeph. 1:7; Zech. 2:13.