The Pulpit Commentary — Habakkuk — Section 5

(Gen, xlv. 26), is no longer of e.ny force give credit to it; tho punishment itself and or efficacy, is be<-.ome a dead letter. Jl.1atr1<hi- its executors a.re both unexpected (oomp. atr-ra,, "is dispersed" (Septne.gint); laoerata Lam. iv. 12). e~t (Vulge.te). .Tudgment doth never go Ver. 6.-The executors of the Divine forth ; i.e. right is powerless, as if it he.d vengeance aro now plainly annouuoed. I never been ; justice never shows itself in raise up. God does it; he uses the power suoh a ce.se. Septue.gint, oii 61•fcf-y..ra, ••s and passion of men to work out his designs -r,/\os, "proceedeth no~ effe<ltually ;," so the (l Kings xi. 14, 23; Amos vi. 14). The Vnlgate. The rendenng, "goeth not forth Che.ldee.ns; Kasidim. By this appellation unfo Yictory," given by the Syriac, is not so the prophets signify the soldiers or inha- suitable; "unto truth" is a mistake arising bitants of Babylon, whioh won its iudepen- from referring the word to a wrong root. denoo and commenood its wonderfully rapid Doth oompe.ss about. In e. hostile sense, career of conquest after the fall of Nineveh, with threats and treachery (Judg. xx. 43; between B.O. 626 and 608. At the time Ps. x:i.ii. 13). Septuagint, 1<a.-a.6uvatr.-e6«, when He.be.kkuk wrote the Chaldeans had "prevails;" Vulgate, pra!valet adversus. not appeared in J udree., and no apprehension Therefore. Because the righteous are un- of danger from them was entertained. Bitter able to act as tbey desire, being opposed by and hasty. The former epithet refers to tbe wicked. Wrong judgment proceedeth; their cruelty and ferocity (comp. Isa. xiv. 6; rather, judgme'Tii; goeth forth perverted. Jer. vi. 23; 1. 42). They are called" hasty," Right, or what is -so called, when it does e.s being vehement end impetuous in attack come forth, is distorted, wrested, so e.s to be and rapid in movement. Which shall right no more. maroh through the breadth of the land ; Vera. 5-11.--§:3. To this appeal God which marcheth through the breadths of the earth. The ste.t.ement explains the general answers that he will send the Ohaldeans to che.racter of the Chaldeans, and points to punish the euil-doers with a terriole 'Dengeance; the foreign conquests of N ebuohadnezze.r. but theM, his instruments, shall themsel'Dea LXX., To 7ropev&µ.,vov ,.,,2 .-a 71'Al%T7/ -rfjs ')'71S offend by pride and impiety. (comp. Rev. xx. 9). Ver. 7.-They. The Hebrew is singular Ver. 5.-Behold ye among the heathen ; throughout. The disposition of the people, tke nations. God, in answer, bids the as of one man, is depicted. Terrible ; prophet and his people look e.mong the exciting terror, e.s Cant. vi. 4, 10. Their nations for those who shall pnni.sh the ini- jndgment and their dignity shall proceed of quities of which he oomple.ins. I will use e. themselves ; his judgment and his eminence heathen nation, he says, as my instra.ment are from himself. The UXX. translates the to chastise the sinners in Judma ; and yon two nouns 1<plµ.a e.nd 11.fjµ.µ.a.: Vnlgate, judi- shall see that I he.ve not disrege.rded the cium e.nd onus. The meaning is that the evil that is rife among you. Some commenta- Ohe.ldeans own no master, have no rule of tors suppose that the impious are addressed ; right but their own will, attribute their but Habe.kknk spoke in the name and person glory and superiority to their own power and of the righteous, and to them the answer skill (comp. Dan. i:v. 3()). They are like mnst be directed. The LXX. gives, "16,.-,, Achilles in Horaoo, 1 Ep. e.d Pison.,' 121, at ,ca-racppoV1/-rai, "Behold, ye despisers," etc.- which is justifiable. St. Paul quotes the " Impiger, ire.cundUB, inexorabilis, acer, Greek Version, Acts xiii. 41, in his sermon Jura neget sibi no.ta, nihil non arroget at Antioch in the Jewish synagogue, warn- a.rmis.'' ing those who despised the gospel This was sufficiently close to the Hebrew for Hitzig quotes 1Eschyl., 'Prom.,' 186, nap', hie purpose. And regard, and wonder iav-rrj -r& 1il1<a.wv fX"'"• "Holding as justioe marvellously. They are to wonder because what he deemeth so." the work is as terrible as it is unexpected. Ver. 8.-Their horses, eto. Jeremiah The LXX. (quoted by St. Paul, we. cit.) (iv. 13) oompe.res their horses to eogles adds, ,cal a;cpa.v[,r/!71n, "and perish," or (comp. Job :u:xix. 19, eto.). The punish- rather, " be stupefied by astonishment," die ment predicted in Deut. xxviii. 49, eto., is of amazement. I will work ; I 'II/Ork. The to come upon the Jews. We often ree.d of prononn is not expressed, but must be the cavalry e.nd chariots of the Obe.ldee.ns 11upplioo. from ver. 6. It is God who sends (Jer. iv. 29; vi. 23; Ezek. xxiii. 23, 24). the e.rnngers. In your days. The prophet Evening wolves. Wolves that prowl for had asked (ver. 2), "How long?" The food in the evening, and are then: fiercest answer is that those now living should see (Jer. v. 6; Zeph. iii. 3). Septuagint (with the chastisement (!lee Introduction,§ III.). e. dift'erent pointing), "wolves of Arabie.." Which ye will not believe. If ye hee.rd of Their horsemen shall spread themselve■. It u happening elsewhere, ye would not The verb is also rendered, "bear themeelve1 OH, I. 1-17.] THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. 3