Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk 3:1

UPon Sigionoth] Or, according to variable songs, or tunes, called in Hebrew, Shigionoth. A tearme of musick, the meaning not known. See Psalms 7:1. Heb. wandrings. The Prophet instructeth his people to pray unto God, not only for their great sinnes, but also for such as they had committed of ignorance.

Habakkuk 3:2

thy speech] Heb. thy report, or thy hearing. Namely, the precedent prophecie concerning the ruine of Babylon: wherefore in all humble reverence I submit my selfe to thy will: onely I pray thee that thou wouldest continue thy work of grace in thy Church, during the seventy years of captivitie; which is the midst of years, between two equall compasses of foure hundred and ninetie: So many being before the seventy, from Samuel and Saul the first King, and so many after the seventy till Christs death and resurrection; who is that Prophet, Priest and King eternall of his Church.

revive] Or, preserve alive.

Habakkuk 3:3

God] Deuteronomy 33:2. Judg. 5. 4. Psalms 68:8. He describes the glorious bringing in of Gods people into the land of Canaan under Joshua: inferring thereby, that as God had miraculously brought his people into that countrey, so he might bring them in againe, notwithstanding all lets and hinderances.

from Teman] Or, the south. Of Idumea, within whose territories lay a great part of that wildernesse, through which the people passed, Judges 5:4.

Paran] A place in the wildernesse, Numbers 10:12.

Selah] See Psalms 3:3.

full of his praise] Of his noble acts, worthy to be praised in all ages, and at all times. Others, of his brightnesse.

Habakkuk 3:4

he had horns coming out of his hand] Or, bright beams out of his side. Whereby is meant a power, that was joyned with his brightnesse, which was hid to the rest of the world, but was revealed in mount Sinai to his people, Psalms 31:16.

Habakkuk 3:5

Before him went] These scourges went before him and behind him, as his officers and executioners of his vengeance.

burning coals] Or, burning diseases.

Habakkuk 3:6

He stood and measured] As it were in the frontier to mete out the countrey for his people.

the nations] Namely, the Canaanites. See Exodus 15:15. Joshua 2:9. and Joshua 5:1.

mountains were scattered] All worldly heights, which seemed immutable, melted before him.

perpetuall hils] Which have never changed either place or forme, since their creation: See upon Genesis 49:26. Deuteronomy 33:15.

his wayes are everlasting] To him onely belongeth to move everlastingly, in the actuall exercise of his power, to do whatsoever he pleaseth.

Habakkuk 3:7

I saw the tents] That is, all the neighbouring nations, as the Arabians dwelling in tents, were terrified at the peoples passage through the wildernesse. See Exodus 15:15. Num. 22. 3, 4. Others think he hath relation to the discomfiture of Cushan-Rishathaim by Othniel, Judg. 3. 10. and of the Midianites by Gideon, Judg. 7. 21, 22.

Cushan] Or, Ethiopi.

in affliction] Or, under affliction, or vanitie.

Habakkuk 3:8

the rivers] Meaning, that God was not angry with the waters of the Red Sea nor Jordan; but that by this means he would destroy his enemies, and deliver his Church, Psalms 114:5.

thou didst ride] And so didst use all the elements as instruments for the destruction of thine enemies. Others, every time that thou hast shewed thy selfe, as it were, in battle array, it hath alwaies been for the deliverance of thy people.

thy chariots of salvation] Or, thy chariots were salvation.

Habakkuk 3:9

Thy bow was made quite naked] A figurative terme: taken from that that in those countreys the archers did use to carry their bows in certaine cases; and it signified that Gods power was manifested.

oathes of the tribes] For he had not onely made a covenant with Abraham, but renewed it with his posteritie. Others by oathes understand, terrible curses and threatnings against the enemies.

Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers] Or, thou didst cleave the rivers of the earth. A Poeticall hyperbole. That is, thou didst cleave the earth, and causedst waters, and streames to come forth every where.

Habakkuk 3:10

The mountains saw thee] Psalms 114:4.

the overflowing of the water] Thou powredst downe from heaven a strong and fierce raine, Psalms 77:17.

uttered his voyce] A Poeticall representation: as if the Sea had required mercy and pardon of God, feeling it selfe strucken by his hand.

Habakkuk 3:11

The sunne] This may be referred to that which was done by Joshua, Josh. 10. 12, 13. Or it is a continuation of the fore-going representation.

stood still] Joshua 10:12.

at the light, &c.] Or, thine arrowes walked in the light, &c.

arrowes they went] Joshua 10:11. Namely, of thy lightnings.

Habakkuk 3:13

with thine anointed] Moses, and Aaron; or Joshua, persons consecrated by God to be instruments of his peoples deliverances and victories. See Psalms 77:20. Isaiah 63:11. Signifying, that there is no salvation but by Christ, typified by those anointed ones.

thou woundedst the head] Thou destroyedst Pharaoh, King of that wicked Countrey, Egypt, with all his armie, even as a house which was overthrown to the very ground. Or from the top to the bottome thou hast destroyed the enemies.

discovering] Heb. making naked.

Habakkuk 3:14

with his slaves] Causing his enterprise, and the preparation which he made to follow thy people, to be the occasion of his own ruine.

villages] Namely, of all the land of Egypt, inhabited, as the most part of Africk is, in castles, and villages. See Isaiah 18:2.

came out as a whirlwind] Heb. were tempestuous.

to devoure the poore secretly] Being farre from any relief, or, assistance: A terme taken from highway robbers, Psalms 10:8.

Habakkuk 3:15

Thou didst walk through the sea] Or, Thou didst tread upon the sea.

with thine horses] Whereby are meant the winds, or the clowds, as Psalms 104:3. Or, the host of Angels, who are Gods horsemen, Psalms 68:17.

heap] Or, mud.

Habakkuk 3:16

I heard] The denunciation of thy horrible judgements upon thy people, so different from those thy ancient deliverances, hath quite dismayed me.

rottennesse entred into my bones] My spirit is gnawen and consumed therewith.

rest in the day of trouble] The faithfull can never have true rest, except they feele before the weight of Gods judgements: they feare before trouble, that they may be quiet when it comes.

invade them] Or, cut them in pieces.

Habakkuk 3:17

Although the fig-tree] That is, although the countrey shall be brought into extreme desolation.

fail] Heb. lie.

Habakkuk 3:18

I will joy in the God of my salvation] He declareth wherein standeth the comfort and joy of the faithfull, though they see never so great afflictions prepared, namely, in Gods most certaine promises of deliverance, Chap. 2. 4.

Habakkuk 3:19

he will make my feet] He will at last do his people that favour, as to let them scape, and save themselves in the Church under Gods protection: as the hinde, hunted, and followed by the huntsmen, retireth into her covert.

hinds feet] 2 Samuel 22:34. Psalms 18:33.

To the chief finger] See Psalms 4:1. The chief finger upon the instruments of musick shall have occasion to praise God for this great deliverance of his Church.

stringed instruments] Heb. neginoth.