A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. This sublime ode begins with an exordium Habakkuk 3:1), then follows the main subject, then the peroration (Habakkuk 3:16), a summary of the practical truth which the whole is designed to teach (Deuteronomy 33:2 and Psalms 77:13 are parallel odes)... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. O LORD, I HAVE HEARD THY SPEECH - thy revelation to me concerning the coming chastisement of the Jews (Calvin), and the destruction o... [ Continue Reading ]
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. GOD - singular in the Hebrew [ 'Elowah (H433)], 'Eloah,' instead of 'Elohiym (H430), plural, usually employed. The singular is not found in any other of the minor p... [ Continue Reading ]
And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. AND HIS BRIGHTNESS WAS AS THE LIGHT - namely, of the sun (Job 37:21, "The bright light which is in the clouds" - i.e., the light of the sun; Proverbs 4:18). HE HAD HORNS COMING OUT... [ Continue Reading ]
Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. BEFORE HIM WENT THE PESTILENCE - to destroy His people's foes, as He smote the Philistines with emerods, so that they said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel ... that it slay us not. For there was a deadly destructio... [ Continue Reading ]
He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. HE STOOD, AND MEASURED THE EARTH. Yahweh, in His advance, is represented as stopping suddenly, and measuring the earth wit... [ Continue Reading ]
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. I SAW THE TENTS - i:e., the dwellers. OF CUSHAN - the same as Gush, made Cush-an, to harmonize with Midian in the parallel clause. So Lotan is found in the Hebrew of Genesis for Lot. Bochart therefore c... [ Continue Reading ]
Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? WAS THE LORD DISPLEASED AGAINST THE RIVERS? - `Was the cause of His dividing the Red Sea and Jordan His displeasure... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. THY BOW WAS MADE QUITE NAKED - i:e., was drawn forth from its cover, in which bows usually were cased when not in use. (Compare Isaiah 22:6, "Kit uncovered the shield... [ Continue Reading ]
The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. THE MOUNTAINS SAW THEE - even as God, with his, all-searching glance, "beheld" and "measured" them. AND THEY TREMBLED - repetition, with increased emp... [ Continue Reading ]
The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. THE SUN AND MOON STOOD STILL - at Joshua's command (Joshua 10:12-6). Maurer wrongly translates, 'stand' (withdrawn, or hidden from view, by the clouds which cover... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. THOU DIDST MARCH - implying Yahweh's majestic and irresistible progress before His people (; . "Thou wentest forth b... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. THOU WENTEST ... EVEN FOR SALVATION WITH THINE ANOINTED - with Messiah; of whom Moses, Joshua, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. THOU DIDST STRIKE THROUGH WITH HIS STAVES - "his," with the "wicked" (Habakkuk 3:13) foe's own sword. Maurer translates [maTeym] 'sp... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters. THOU DIDST WALK THROUGH THE SEA WITH THINE HORSES - () No obstacle could prevent Thy progress, when leading Thy people in safety to their inheritance, whether the Red Sea, Jordan, or the figurative waves of foes... [ Continue Reading ]
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. WHEN I HEARD, MY BELLY TREMBLED - namely, at the judgments... [ Continue Reading ]
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: ALTHOUGH THE FIG TREE SHALL NOT BLOSSOM, NEITHER, SHALL FRUIT B... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. YET I WILL REJOICE. The prophet speaks in the name of his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my THE LORD GOD ... WILL MAKE MY FEET LIKE HINDS' FEET ... TO WALK UPON MINE HIGH PLACES. Habakkuk has here before his mind Psalms 18:33-19, "He maketh... [ Continue Reading ]