Habakkuk 1:1
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. THE BURDEN - The prophetic sentence.... [ Continue Reading ]
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. THE BURDEN - The prophetic sentence.... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! O LORD, HOW LONG SHALL I CRY ... EVEN CRY OUT UNTO THEE OF VIOLENCE ... WHY DOST THOU SHOW ME INIQUITY? Similar language is used of the Chaldeans (Habakkuk 1:9; Habakkuk 1:13) as he... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. THEREFORE - because thou dost suffer such crimes to go unpunished. THE LAW IS SLACKED - is chilled [ taapuwg (H6313)]. It has no authority, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. BEHOLD YE AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND REGARD, AND WONDER MARVELOUSLY: FOR I WILL WORK A WORK. Here Yahweh replies to Habakkuk's complaint (Habakkuk 1... [ Continue Reading ]
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. FOR, LO, I RAISE UP - not referring to God's having brought the Chaldeans from their original seats to Babylonia (note, Isaiah 23:... [ Continue Reading ]
They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. THEIR JUDGMENT AND THEIR DIGNITY SHALL PROCEED OF THEMSELVES - i:e., they recognize no judge save themselves, and they get for themselves and keep their own "dignity," without needing others' help. It w... [ Continue Reading ]
Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. THEIR HORSES ALSO ARE SWIFTER THAN THE LEOPARDS. Oppian ('Cyneg.' 3:7... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. THEY SHALL COME ALL FOR VIOLENCE - the sole object of all is, not to establish just rights, but to get all they can by violence. THEIR FACES SHALL SUP UP AS THE EAST WIN... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. AND THEY SHALL SCOFF AT THE KINGS - as unable to resist them. THEY SHALL DERIDE EVERY STRONG HOLD; FOR THEY SHALL HEAP DUST, AND TAKE IT -... [ Continue Reading ]
Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god. THEN - when elated by his successes. SHALL HIS MIND CHANGE - he shall lose whatever of reason or moderation ever was in him, with pride. AND HE SHALL PASS OVER - all bounds and restraints: h... [ Continue Reading ]
Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. ART THOU NOT FROM OVERLASTING. In opposition to the impious deifying of the Chaldeans' power as their god (Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? THOU ART OF PURER EYES THAN TO BEHOLD EVIL - without being displeased at... [ Continue Reading ]
And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? AND MAKEST MEN AS THE FISH - i:e., and so, by suffering oppressors to go unpunished, "thou makest men as the fish ... that have no ruler" - i:e., no defender. All may fish in the sea with impunity; so... [ Continue Reading ]
They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. THEY TAKE UP ALL OF THEM - all kinds of fish - i:e., men, as captives, and all other prey that comes in their way. WITH THE ANGLE - i:e., the hook. THEY... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. THEREFORE THEY SACRIFICE UNTO THEIR NET - i:e., their arms, power, and military skill, wherewith they gained their victories; instead of to God. Compare , Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations? SHALL THEY THEREFORE EMPTY THEIR NET? - shall they be allowed without interruption to enjoy the fruits of their violence? THEREFORE - seeing that they attribute all their successes to themselves, and not to Th... [ Continue Reading ]