Habakkuk 3
DOYLYHabakkuk 3:7
- I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: &c.] I saw
the neighbouring nations of the Arabians and Ethiopians in great distress; and the Midianites trembling
under the expectations of his judgments, which He was ready to bring on them, in the behalf of his people. Bp. Hall. — the curtains of the land of Midian] The coverings of their tents.] Abp. Newcome.
Habakkuk 3:8
- Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? &c.] When God dried up the channel of the Red sea, Exod. xiv. 22, and afterward that of the river Jordan, Josh. iii. 16, 17, it was not out of any displeasure against the waters, but for the safety of his people, for whose deliverance He appeared in as illustrious a manner, as if He had been seen riding in the clouds, and carried upon the wings of the wind, as in a chariot: compare Isa. xix. 1; Ps. lxxviii. 4; civ. 3; Deut. xxxiii. 20. W. Louth. 9. Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word.] Thou didst draw forth and bend the bow of thy mighty power among thine enemies, according to the oaths, which Thou swarest to the tribes of Israel, even the word of promise, which Thou gavest them to settle them in that good land. Bp. Hall. The question asked in a very bold and poetical manner, ver. 8, is here answered: that God displayed his power to deliver his people according to his faithful word. Abp. Newcome. The Oriental bows were wont to be carried in a case, hung to the girdle: hence the phrase of making the bow naked. Sir J. Chardin. — Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.] Thou didst cleave the hard rocks and the earth about them, and make the waters run down in a great stream or channel. Ps. lxxviii. 15, 16; cv. 41. W. Louth. The passage through the Red sea having been beautifully mentioned in an indirect manner, ver. 8, the Prophet continues his magnificent description of the Deity, ver. 10—12, and adds the reason, why such power was displayed, in the former part of the thirteenth verse. Abp. Newcome.
Habakkuk 3:10
- The mountains saw thee, and they trembled:] Mount Sinai, and the adjoining hills, felt the effects of thy presence. W. Lowth. — the overflowing of the water passed by:] The water came out of the neck in such quantity, that it ran along like an overflowing river. Dr. Wells. Or, the overflowing streams of the Red sea and the Jordan passed backward in their channels. Bp. Hall.
Habakkuk 3:11
- at the light of thine arrows they went, &c.] The instruments of destruction, which God employed, are metaphorically called his arrows and spear. Abp. Newcome. 13. — thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked.] The ardour of the Prophet having led him to begun in the midst of his subject, ver. 3, he here returns to what passed in Egypt before the dividing of the Red sea, the mention of which astonishing miracle he repeats, ver. 15. In this verse he refers to the destruction of the firstborn in Egypt. Abp. Newcome. — by discovering the foundation unto the neck.] By undernitting them from bottom to top. W. Lowth. The death of the firstborn is figuratively called the utter overthrow of the Egyptian houses. Abp. Newcome. 14. Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages.] The Prophet amplifies the former benefit of God, that for the preservation of his Church He destroyed the firstborn of the Egyptians, not only in the cities and towns, but also in the country: because that the inhabitants of the country, as well as those in the cities, raged against the people of God with deceit and violence, and would have delighted to devour and consume them. Therefore with the same “staves,” that is, with the same instruments of cruelty, with which they would have destroyed the people of God, they were themselves justly punished by God. Danaus.
Habakkuk 3:16
- — that I might rest in the day of trouble: &c.] The easiest sense of the latter part of this verse is given in the following translation: “Yet I shall rest in the day of trouble, when he shall come up against the people, even he who shall invade them with his troops.” The Prophet speaks in the person of the pious man: I shall rest secure under the Divine protection, when the Chaldeans shall come to invade Judea. See the two following verses. W. Lowth. The confidence of his faith. Before CHRIST 626.
Habakkuk 3:19
- — To the chief singer] Or, musician. This hymn was designed to be sung in the temple service; see ver. 1; and for that purpose was delivered to the chief musician, to be set to musical notes; compare the title of the fourth Psalm. The direction “to the chief singer on my stringed instruments” might probably be given by order of king Josiah. W. Lowth. The following Chapter from Habakkuk is appointed as a Proper Lesson: CHAP. II. … 21st Sunday after Trinity … Morning.