Fourth Woe (Verses 15-17)

"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink." "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad." Jer. 51:7. Babylon is filled more with shame than with glory. Habakkuk, speaking for Jehovah, calls upon Babylon to drink as it had made others to drink, that it may be exposed as a nation of uncircumcised heathen, whose glory will be reviled and the kingdom taken from them. (Dan. 4:31, 32; Jet 25:26, 27.)
Jehovah holds Babylon responsible for the violence done to Lebanon, the destruction of beasts, and for the violence done to the land, to the city, and all that dwell there. The king of Babylon squandered the forests of Lebanon. He cut down the cedars to make forts against the cities he attacked (Isa. 14:6-8). Nimrod is the prototype of all tyrants, and Nebuchadnezzar followed in his steps.
As to Lebanon, on May 22, 1991, a treaty of friendship between Syria and Lebanon was concluded. It is called the Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination. In effect, Syria has "annexed" Lebanon, and is presently using a Lebanese Arab army to consolidate control. The domain of the future "king of the north" is expanding after the pattern of pretended peace (Dan. 8:21-25).