The Pulpit Commentary — Habakkuk — Section 32

Ver. 15.-Not only <lo tho Chnl<lenns op• band. Retributi1·e vengeance is often thn:s press an<l pilh,ge the peopleA, but they fi~nre<l (comp. Ps. lx. 3; lxxv. 8; Isa. Ii. 17, oxpose them to the vilest clerieion and con- 22; J er. :xxv. 15, etc.). Shall be turned tumely. The prophet uses figures takon unto thee. God himscl f shall bring round from the conduct procluced by intemperance. the cup of suffering and vengeance to thee That giveth his neighbour drink. The in thy turn, and thou s halt be made to Clmldeane behaved to the conquered nations drin~ it to the dreg~. so that ehameflll like one who gives hie neighbour intoxicat- spewing (foul •hame) shall be on thy glory. ing drink to stupefy his faculties o.nd The li1ra.c >..ey&µ,vov kikalon is reg.trtled expose him to shame (comp. ver. 5). The as an intensive eignifyint "the utmost literal drunkenness of the Chalcleans is ignominy" (d-r,µ(a, Septuagint), or as two not the point here. That puttest thy words, or a compound word, meaning vomitus bottle to him. If this translation is re- igrwminim (Vu Igate). It was probably used ceived, the clause is: merely a strengthened by the prnphet to suggest both ideas. repetition of the preceding with a sudden Ver. 17.-For the violence of Lebanon change of person. But it may be rendered, shall cover thee; LXX., a.ul{3«a. -rou Jl.,{3d.vov: "pouring out, or mixing, thy fury," or, as iniquitas Libani (Vulgate). It would be Jerome, "mittens fel suum," "adding thy plainer if translated, "the violence against," poison thereto." This last version seems or "practised on, Lebanon," as the sentence most suitable, introducing a kind of climax, refers to the devastation inflicted by the the "poison" being some drug added to Chaldeans on the forests of Lebanon ( comp. increase the intoxicating power. Thus: he Isa. :xiv. 8; :xxxvii. 24). Jerome confines gives bis neighbour drink, and this drugged, the expression in the text to the demolition and in the end makes him dr11Ilken also. of the temple at Jerusalem in the construc- For the second clause the Septuagint gives, tion of whioh much cedar was employed; clva.Tpo,rfi 80}1.eprj, subversione turbid.a, and others take Lebanon as a figure for Palestine the versions collected by Jerome are only generally, or for Jerusalem itself; but it is unanimous in differing from one another best understood literally. The same devasta- That thou mayest look on their nakedness. tion which the Che.ldeans me.de in Lebanon There seems to be an allusion to the case sball "cover," overwhelm, and destroy them. of Noah (Gen. i.x. 21, etc.); but the figure And the spoil of beasts, which made them is meant to show the abject state to which afraid. The introduction of the relative is the conquered ne.tions were reduced, when, not required, and the passage may be better prostre.ted by fraud e.nd treachery, they translated, And the deatruction of beasts were·mocked ucl "'purned: e.nd covered with made them (others read "thee") afraid. ignominy (coa>!). Bah. iii. 5, 11). So the Septuagint, "And the wretchedness of the mystic Babylon is said to have me.de the beasts she.II affright thee." Jerome, in his ne.tions drink of her cup (Rev. xiv. 8; commentary, renders," Et vastitas animalium :xvii. 2; :xviii. 3). opprimet te." The meaning is that the Ver. 16.-Just retribution fa.Ila on Be.by- wholesale destruction of the wild animals of lon. Thou art filled with shame for glory. Lebanon, occasioned by the operations of the Thou art se.tiated, indeed, but with shame, Cbaldeans, shall be visited upon this not with glory. Thou hast revelled in thy people. They warred not only against men, 11hameless conduct to the defenceless, but but against the lower creatures too; and for this redounds to thy dishonour, and will this.retributive punishment awaited them. only add to the disgrace of thy fall. The Bece.use of men's blood, etc. Tile rea.,;on Septue.gint joins this clause with part of rendered in ver. S is here repeated. Of the the following: " Drink thou also fulness of land, etc., means "toward " or " age.inst " shame for glory." Drink thou also the cup the lo.nd. of wrath and retribution. Let thy foreskin Vers. 18-20.-§ 12. The fifth woo: for be uncovered. Be thou in t.um treated with the some ignominy with whioh thou their idolatry. hast treated others, the figure in ver. 15 Ver. 18.-The final woe is introduced being here repeated (comp. Lam. iv. 21). It by an ironical question. The Che.ldeans is otherwise translated, "Be thou," or trusted in their gods, and attributed all their "show thyself, uncircumcised." This, in a success to the di vinil protection; the prophet Jew's eyes, would be the very ,climax of asks-What good is this trust? Wh~t degrade.tion. The Vulge.te has consopire, profiteth the graven image! (comp. Isa. xliv. from a slightly different reading. The 9, 10; Jer. ii. 11). What is the good of all LXX., Ka.pBla. ua.}I.Ev671T<, Ka.I e1.Cu671T1, "Be the skill e.nd care that the artist has !avislled tossed, 0 my hen.rt, and shaken." The on the idol? (For "gre.ven" or" molten," see present text is much more appropriate, noteonNah.i. 14.) Anda{eventl1e)teacher though the Syrino and Arabic follow the of lies. The idol is so termed because it Greek here. The oup of the Lord's right calls itself God and encournge~ its wor- 28 THE BOOK OF RABAKRUlt. [cB. n. l-20,