Habakkuk 1

Chap. I. Ver. 2. I will utterly consume.—See margin. Heb. ** Consuming I will consume,” all things; i. e. man and beast, ver. 3. Ver. 3. The stumbling-blocks with (Newcome, “of") the wicked—That is, their idols. pene;. Ver. 4. Cut off the remnant. “This probably refers in the first instance to the reformation which Josiah effected, and also to the final extirpation of the devotees of Baal, with the priests of the tribe of Levi who united with them in their worship, by the Chaldeans.” —Bagster ——Chemarims.—Newcome, “Sacrificers;” i. e. to Baal. See (Hosea 10:5), and now. The name implies that they were clothed in black, which was generally the case with the idolatrous priests. See Orient. Lit. No.

1097. A; 2; Ver. 5. Malcham—Or “Malchom,” or “Moloch;” i. e. “the king,” the same idol, probably, as Baal, both pointing to the sun, the king, or lord of heaven.; Ver. 7. He hath bid (or bidden) his guests.—(The Babylonians, whom he had commissioned to destroy them. ‘There is here a beautiful allusion to the custom of inviting guests to a festival sacrifice.]—Bagster. See (Revelation 5)xix, 17, 18., Ver. 8. Strange apparel.—The idolaters appear to have worn a peculiar dress in their worship. See (2 Kings 10:22).: ‘:. Ver. 9. Leap on (or over) the threshold—That is, to invade their neighbour’s premises: but query? May not this refer to some idolatrous or superstitious rite now unknown.—[Or, “that leap over the threshold,”

by which is probably meant the Philistines, who, after the time that Dagon fell before the ark and was broken on the threshold, leaped over it when entering his temple.]—B. Ver. 10. Crashing.—Newcome, “Breach;” Ver. 11. Maktesh.—“Lower city,” houses in the valleys, between the hills, where the lower order of tradesmen dwelt.— They that bear silver—That is, the money-changers. Newcome. e: Ver. 12. With candles.—Newcome, “Lights,” perhaps “torches;” implying a strict search. Settled on their lees.—Heb. “Curdled,” like wine not cleared. See (Jeremiah 48:11).