Habakkuk 1

1 burden. “Oracle.” See Isa. xiii, 1; Nahum i. 1.

2 cry out unto Thee of violence. Some regard this as an anticipation of the dreadful oppressions of the Chaldeans: but it probably represents the tyranny and disorders prevailing in the kingdom of Judah, which were recompensed by a punishment resembling the crime: see vers. 6-11.

3 grievance. Or, “trouble.” Sept. has nóvos: Vulgate, “laborem.”

4 the law is slacked. “Benumbed” or paralysed.

5. Behold ye, etc. The prophet addresses the Jews, announcing a wonderful and fearful work of Jehovah which shall be accomplished in their own days—namely, the elevation of the Chaldean power, and its rapid and extensive conquests (6-10). The words are quoted by the Apostle Paul, Acts xiii. 40, 41, of the perverseness of the Jews in his day.

6. I raise up the Chaldeans. See note on Isa. xxiii. 13.

7. Their judgement and their dignity, etc. A slight variation in the reading gives, “Out of them goeth destruction.”

8 swifter than the leopards. See note on Dan. vii. 6.

shall spread themselves. i.e., they spread themselves over the country for plunder. The description throughout should be rendered in the present tense, a vivid description of Chaldean warfare.

9. Their faces shall sup up [as] the east wind. Rather, “The eagerness of their faces is [as] an east wind,” cp. R.V. G. A. Smith has “the set of their faces is forward.” Similarly The Speaker’s Commentary.

they shall gather the captivity. Rather, “they gather captives” (R.V.).

10 dust. Rather, “earth”; i.e., mounds: see Jer. xxxii. 24.

11. Then shall [his] mind change, etc. Rather, as R.V., “Then shall he sweep by [as] a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, [even] he whose might is his god.”

12 for judgement. i.e., as the instruments of Thy judgements for our “correction.”

O mighty God. Heb., “O Rock”: cp. Deut. xxxii. 4.

13 more righteous. Though the Jews were wicked, the Chaldeans were much more deeply sunk in guilt.

14 no ruler. No chief to guard or defend them.

16 they sacrifice unto their net, etc. The victims of the Chaldeans being called “fishes,” the “hook” and “net” are the policy and power by which their conquests were effected; and to which alone, instead of to God’s permission, they ascribed their success: see 11, and note.

17 empty their net. As fishermen do, in order to cast it again for a fresh draught.