CHAPTER III _The prophet, being apprised of 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, be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:2. _IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS_] בקרב שנים _bekereb shanim_, "As the years approach." The nearer the time, the clearer and fuller is the prediction; and the signs of the times show that the complete fulfilment _is at hand_. But as the judgments will be heavy, (and they are not greate... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:3. _GOD CAME FROM TEMAN_] Bp. _Lowth_ observes: "This is a sudden burst of poetry, in the true spirit of the ode; the concealed connection being that God, who had formerly displayed such power in delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, might succour their posterity in a lik... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 4. _HE HAD HORNS_ COMING _OUT OF HIS HAND_] קרנים _karnayim,_ _rays_. His _hand_ - his _power_ - was manifested in a particular place, by the sudden issuing out of pencils of rays, which diverged in coruscations of light, so as to illuminate the whole hemisphere. Yet "there was the hiding of h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _BEFORE HIM WENT THE PESTILENCE_] This plague was several times inflicted on the disobedient Israelites in the wilderness; see Numbers 11:33; Numbers 14:37; Numbers 16:46; and was always the proof that the _just God_ was then manifesting his _power among them_. _BURNING COALS EVENT FORTH... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _HE STOOD, AND MEASURED THE EARTH_] ארץ _erets, the land_; he divided the promised land among the _twelve tribes_. This is the allusion; and this the prophet had in his eye. God not only made a _general assignment_ of the land to the Hebrews; but he even _divided_ it into _such portions_ as... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _I SAW THE TENTS OF CUSHAN IN AFFLICTION_] _Cush_ is Arabia. The Arabians dwelt in _tents_, hence they were called _Scenitae_. When the Lord appeared on _Mount Sinai_, the _Arabs_ of the Red Sea abandoned their tents, being terror-struck; and the _Midianites_ also were seized with fear. See... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _WAS THE LORD DISPLEASED AGAINST THE RIVERS?_] _Floods_; here is a reference to the passage of the Red Sea. The Lord is represented as heading his troops, riding in his chariot, and commanding the sea to divide, that a free passage might be left for his army to pass over.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _THY BOW WAS MADE QUITE NAKED_] That is, it was _drawn out_ _of its case_; as the _arrows_ had their _quiver_, so the _bows_ had their _cases_. A fine _oriental bow_ and _bow-case_, with _quiver_ and _arrows_, are now before me; they show with what propriety Jehovah is represented as taking... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:10. _THE MOUNTAINS SAW THEE_] This is the continued answer to the questions in Habakkuk 3:8. These are figures highly poetic, to show with what ease God accomplished the most arduous tasks in behalf of his people. As soon as the _mountains_ saw him, they trembled, they were in _pang... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:11. _THE SUN_ AND _MOON STOOD STILL_] This was at the prayer of Joshua, when he fought against the Amorites. See Joshua 10:11-6, and the notes there. _AT THE LIGHT OF THINE ARROWS THEY WENT_] I think we should translate, - By _their_ light, thine arrows went abroad; By _their_ br... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:12. _THOU DIDST MARCH THROUGH THE LAND_] This refers to the conquest of Canaan. God is represented as going at the head of his people as general-in-chief; and leading them on from conquest to conquest-which was the fact. _THOU DIDST THRESH THE HEATHEN IN ANGER._] Thou didst _tread... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:13. _THOU WENTEST FORTH FOR THE SALVATION OF THY PEOPLE_] Their deliverance would not have been effected but through thy interference. _FOR SALVATION WITH THINE ANOINTED_] That is, with _Joshua_, whom God had _anointed_, or solemnly _appointed_ to fill the place of Moses, and lead... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:14. _THOU DIDST STRIKE THROUGH_] The Hebrew will bear this sense: "Thou hast pierced amidst their tribes the head of their troops," referring to Pharaoh and his generals, who came like a _whirlwind_ to fall upon the poor Israelites, when they appeared to be hemmed in by sea, and no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:15. _THOU DIDST WALK THROUGH THE SEA_] There was no occasion to _hurry_ across; all was safe, for God had divided the waters: and his _terrible cloud_ had removed from _before_, and stood _behind_ them, so that it was between them and the Egyptians. See Exodus 14:19-2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:16. _WHEN I HEARD, MY BELLY TREMBLED_] The prophet, having finished his account of the wonders done by Jehovah, in bringing their fathers from Egypt into the promised land, now returns to the desolate state of his countrymen, who are shortly to be led into captivity, and suffer the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:17. _ALTHOUGH THE FIG TREE SHALL NOT BLOSSOM_] תפרח _tiphrach_, "shall not flourish," shall _not put forth its young_ _figs_, for the fig tree does _not blossom_. The _young figs appear_ as soon as the _old ones_ are _ripe_, as I have often had occasion to observe. This verse most... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Habakkuk 3:19. _THE LORD GOD_ IS _MY STRENGTH_] This is an imitation, if not a quotation, from Psalms 18:32-19, where see the notes. _WILL MAKE ME TO WALK UPON MINE HIGH PLACES_] This last verse is spoken in the person of the people, who seem to anticipate their restoration; and that they sha... [ Continue Reading ]