Habakkuk 3

The 5th verse evidently refers to Nebuchadnezzar, who is brought in as a contrast to the humble believer in the preceding verses. The particle which introduces this verse, is very general and indefinite; we should render it, ‘‘But truly, he that transgresseth through wine; a proud man, and one who is never quiet; whose avarice and ambition are as insatiable as death and the grave; who grasps at the possession of all countries, and at the subjugation of the world; shall not all the people whom he has subdued take up a parable against him, saying, Wo to him that increaseth what is not his! How long will he lade himself with thick clay?’ &c. Such we take to be the general meaning of this passage, and such was the character of the Chaldean monarch, who

was himself, in his turn, to be subdued, reproached, insulted, and subjugated, partly in his own person, and partly in his immediate successors. The rest of the chapter goes on with exposing the other parts of this character, as a perfect contrast to the humble and pious believer in the true God and his Messiah. Chap. II. Ver. 1—19. An Ode of prayer and praise.—“The Prophet having seen the calamities which were to be brought on his country by the ministry of the Chaldeans, and the punishments which awaited the Chaldeans themselves, partly struck with terror, and partly revived with hope and confidence in the divine mercy, beseeches God to hasten the redemption of his people. Such a petition would naturally lead his thoughts to the astonishing deliverance which God vouchsafed to the same people of old; and the inference from it was obvious, that he could, with the same ease, deliver their posterity now.

But hurried on by the fire and impetuosity of his spirit, he disdains to wait the process of connecting these ideas, and bounds at once into the midst of his subject: “God came from Teman,” &c. He goes on to describe the majesty and might which God displayed in conducting his Bic to the land of promise; selecting the most remarkable circumstances, and clothing them in the most lofty language. As he goes along, his fancy becomes more glowing, till at length he is transported to the scene of action, and becomes an eye-witness of the wonders he describes: ‘‘I beheld the tents of Cushan in affliction.” After having touched on the principal circumstances of that deliverance which he celebrates, he returns to what passed before them in Egypt, his enthusiasm having led him to begin in the midst of his subject; and at last he ends the hymn as he began it, with expressing his awe of the divine judgments, and his firm trust in the mercy and goodness of God while under them; and that in terms of such singular beauty, elegance, and sublimity, as to form a very proper conclusion to this admirable piece of divine composition.

It would seem, from the title, et from the note annexed to the end, that it was set to music, and sung in the service of the temple.’ —Dr. J. Smith. This last idea receives confirmation from the repeated use of the term Selah in this Ode, which marked certain pauses in the music. (See note.) It is generally age that Habakkuk prophesied before the captivity, though but a short time; and it is probable that when Jehoiakim was carried off to Babylon, with all the chief people, ((2 Kings 24:14).) the musical establishment of the Temple was broken up; this prophecy was, in the re probably written and sung in the Temple before this.

Notes on the verses

Ver. 14, The earth shall be filled, &c.—This may refer primarily to the spread of the knowledge of the true God upon Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion. (Daniel 4:31-37), Compare (Isaiah 11:9). Ver. 17. Violence of Lebanon, &c.—In felling its trees, in stripping it of cattle, and perhaps of wild beasts, for show, and for skins. Ver. 18. The maker of his work.—See margin. The idol maker. Chap. III. Ver. 1. Shigionoth —See note on the title of (Psalms 7)Newcome agrees with those who take this for a musical instrument of great compass; but we know nothing of any such instrument; and had this referred to an instrument, it would doubtless have been connected with the last verse. We are satisfied that the sense given to the term in the above note, is just; namely, that of elegy, a grave and solemn poem.

Ver. 2. O Lord, I have heard.—Heb. “Hearing, I have heard (and) feared.” ——Make known—That is, ‘‘make (thyself) known.” Bishop Lowth explains ‘‘in the midst of the years,” to mean, “within a fixed time;” i.e. the time predicted. Ver. 3: God came from Teman.—The same able critic considers this as a sudden burst of poetic ardour, referring back to God’s wonderful appearances on the behalf of Israel. See (Deuteronomy 33:1), &c. and exposition. Teman was in Moab. See (Jeremiah 49:7), (Amos 1:12). Obad. 9.—Selah.—See note on (Psalms 3:2). Ver. 4. He had horns coming out of his hand.—The Hebrew verb signifies to shine, and the noun, ‘‘a pencil, or cone of rays, issuing from a point, and diverging into the shape of a horn.”

Newcome. Compare (Deuteronomy 33:2-3), and notes.—There (in his hand, or at his right hand, (Deuteronomy 33:3).) was the hiding of his power—That is, the infinity of his power is concealed from us by the immensity of his glory. c Ver. 5. And burning coals.—Newcome, “Flashes of fire went after him.” English readers should remember, that pit-coal (which we burn) was unknown to the Hebrews; when, therefore, we read of coals, we should understand flames, or flaming brands. Ver. 6. Scattered.—Newcome, ‘Broken;” namely, by fire and earthquake. Ver. 7. Cushan—Or the Arabian Cushites. Ver. 9. Thy bow has made quite naked (or bare.)—Bows were generally kept in cases, to preserve them from the weather. Ver.

11. At the light, &c—Newcome, “By their light,” and “by their shining;” i.e. of the sun and moon. Ver. 13. Unto the neck.—Newcome, ‘‘The rock.” Ver. 13. Build houses, &c.—(Deuteronomy 28:30, 39, 51). (Isaiah 5:8-9). (Amos 5:11). Ver. 17. Like blind men.—(Deuteronomy 28:28-29). (Isaiah 59:9-10). Cause. II. Ver. 1. Not desired—That is, hated. Newcome. Ver. 3. Hid, or hidden.—See (Isaiah 26:20). Ver. 4. Gaza, &c.—These were cities of the Philistines. ——At the noon-day.—This implies disgrace, as well as discomfiture. See (Jeremiah 6:4); xv. 8.—[There is here a fine paronomasia: ‘‘Gaza (azzah,) shall be forsaken, (azuvah,) and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at noon-day, and Ekron shall be rooted up, (teaker.)|—Bagster.

Ver. 5. Cherethites.—See (1 Samuel 30:14). Cherethites, or Cherethims were the Philistines who bordered on the Mediterranean. (Ezekiel 25:16). They are supposed to be a colony removed from Crete to Palestine. Ver. 7. The coast, &c.—{The Philistines, who had been greatly harassed by the kings of Egypt, were, with the other neighbouring nations, conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. Afterwards they fell under the dominion of the Romans, then under that of Alexander the Great, who destroyed Gaza, (Strabo, and Arrian;) and after the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, they were gradually subdued by the Maccabees, till Tryphon gave Jonathan the whole of their country from Tyre to Egypt. 1 Mac. xi. 57-59. (Josephus, Ant.) ——In the houses—That is, in their ruins.

Ver. 9. Moab and Ammon.—See (Amos 1:13).; ii. 1—3,—The breeding.—Lowth, ‘‘The possession” of nettles. Ver. 11. Famish all the gods—That is, by causing their sacrifices to be withdrawn. See (Deuteronomy 32:37-38). Ver. 12. Ye Ethiopians.—Heb. “‘Cushites.” Nebuchadnezzar subdued them, (Jeremiah 46:9). (Ezekiel 30:4, 10). Ver. 13. Assyria and Nineveh.—See the prophecy of Nahum, just consi- Ver. 14. The cormorant and the bittern.—Newcome, ‘‘The pelican and the porcupine.”"——A voice shall sing.—Newcome, “A cry shall resound” in the windows.—[So Milton, (Par. Lost, xi. 750.) ‘‘And in their palaces, Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped, And stabled.”}—Bagster.—Uncover—That is, lay bare.

Cush. Chap. III. Ver.1. Faithly.—Newcome, “Rebellious.” Ver. 3. They gnaw not—That is, they carry the prey into their dens, and prowl for more. Ver. 7. Punished.—Heb. “‘Visited.” Ver. 9. For then, &c.—Newcome, “Surely I will then pour out upon the people,’ &c.——With one consent.—See margin, “A metaphor taken (says Newcome) from the joint efforts of labourers, carrying timber trees.” It is, however, equally applicable to the united.

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON “ZEPHANIAH and Jeremiah resemble each other so much in those parts where they treat of the idolatries and wickedness that prevailed in their time, that Issidore asserts, that Zephaniah was the abbreviator of Jeremiah; but he apparently prophesied before Jeremiah; and the latter seems to speak of abuses as partially removed, which the former describes as present. Based on the assertion of Epiphanius, Babylon, during the captivity, did and was one of the Jews who returned with Zerubbabel in consequence of the edict of Cyrus.

‘The building of the temple having been interrupted for about fourteen years, in consequence of the ill offices of the neighbouring satraps, who prejudiced the mind of the Persian monarch, in the second year of his reign, renewed permission formerly granted by Cyrus; and Haggai was sent to encourage his countrymen to proceed with the work. The prophet reproves the delay of the people; Haggai reproveth the people for neglecting the building of the house. 7 He inciteth them to the building. 12 He promiseth assistance to them being forward. By the second year of Darius the king, in Chap. I. Ver. 1—15. Haggai excites and encourages the Jews to build the house of God.—The prophet reproves them for their delay, and want of zeal in erecting the house of God while they were diligent and active in erecting elegant and commodious dwellings for themselves; and admonishes them etc.

Chap. 1. Ver. 1. Sixth month.—{Elul, the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year, answering to a part of September.|—Bagster. B Haggai.—Heb. “By the hand of Haggai.””—Shealtiel.—[Shealtiel is exactly the same in the original.] Ver. 11. In that day thou shalt not be ashamed, &c.—The author begs leave to suggest the propriety of this sentence being read interrogatively—In that day shalt thou not be ashamed?” &c. See (Ezekiel 16:61).; xx. 43. Ver. 16. Slack—That is, in God’s service. Ver. 17. He will rest.—Heb. “Be still,’ or silent, in his love. Ver. 19. I will get them praise, &c.—Heb. “I will set them for a praise.’’——Where they have been put to shame.—Heb. “In every land of their shame.” THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH.

the most flagitious extent. Compare (Zephaniah 1:4, 5, 9), with (Jeremiah 2:5, 20, 32). Zephaniah conspired with Josiah in his righteous design of bringing back the people to the worship and obedience of the true God. The style is poetical; but it is not distinguished by any peculiar elegance or beauty, though generally animated and impressed.” —Gray’s Key. THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. them to proceed; they obey the prophet’s message, and receive encouragement from God; the prophet comforts the old men, who wept at the diminished magnificence of the second temple, telling them that its glory should be greater than that of the first by the presence of the Messiah; he shows that their sins had deprived them of God’s blessing, and promises them fruitful harvests from that day forward, and predicts the prosperity of the Messiah’s kingdom, under that of Zerubbabel, his ancestor and type.—The style of this Prophet is, generally, plain and prosaic; interspersed, however, with some passages of a highly poetic character.

The prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the high priest, or captain. [Shealtiel is called the son of Jechoniah, king of Judah, in (Matthew 1:12).—Joshua the son of Josedech—Which Josedech was the son of Seraiah, who was high priest when Jerusalem was taken, and was slain at Riblah. (2 Kings 25:18).]—Bagster. Ver. 4. Ceiled houses.—Such, it appears, were a luxury at this period. —And this house lie waste.—Its foundation had been laid nearly fifteen years before. (Ezra 3:8). Ver. 9. Blow upon it.—Heb. “Snuff at it,” as animals when they refuse their provender. Newcome. [They had used all proper means in the cultivation of their lands, and had “sown much;” but, when they rationally entertained the most sanguine expectations of a large increase, they were strangely disappointed; and even what they had brought home was unaccountably wasted, as if the Lord had blown “upon it,” and driven it away! And the reason was, because they neglected the temple and left it in ruins, whilst they eagerly employed themselves in building and decorating their own houses; therefore they were visited by drought and famine, and by various diseases on man and beast.]—Bagster.