The Pulpit Commentary — Habakkuk — Section 59

he11d," just above, h~~ ,led the prophet to rendering," I watched." If the former part use the term "neck rn orcln to express is the piet1n of the congregation, tbe pre- tbe utter destruction of tho whole body. sent is the prophet's own utterance ex- Selah. Another solemn pause onsncs. pressive of hie dismay at the prospect Ver. 14.-Thou didst strike through with before him. My belly trembled. My hie staves; thou didst pierce with his O'Wfl, inmost part, my inward self, tremblt>d 8pears. Thou dost turn on the Chaldeans with fear (comp. Isa, xvi. 11). llly Ii~ and all thine enemies the destmction which quivered at the voioe. My lips quivered thoy intended for others. The people meet with fear at the voice of God that sounded with the s11,me fote ns the royal ho•JHe (ver. in me ~eh. ii. 1), proclaiming these awfnl 13); Vulg11te, maledixisti sceptri• ejus, which judgmente. The word rendered" quivered" seems to be a mistranslation. The head of (tsalal) is applied to the tingling of the ears hie villages (c•11!l ). There is o. difficulty (1 Sam. iii. 11 ; 2 Kings xxi. 12), and in arriving at the meaning of this last implies that the prophet's lips so trembled word. The LXX. renders it," mighty men;" tbat he was scarcely able to utter speech. Jerome," warriors;" Chaldee, "army;" De- The LXX. renders, "from the voice of the litzsch and many modern critics, "hordes" prayers of my lips." Rottennees entered or" inhabitants of the plain; " others a.gain, into my boues. 'fhis is an hyperbolical "rulers" or "judges." The most probable expression, denoting that the firmest, version is either " warriors" or "hordes." strongest parts of his body were relaxed and The head, i.e. colleolively the heads of his weakened with utter fee.r, as if his very warlike troops. They came out ( or, who boues were cankered and corrupted, e.nd rush) as a whirlwind to scatter me (see the there we.a no marrow in them. And I description of the Chaldees, eh. i. 6, etc.). trembled in myself. The last word (tachtai) The prophet ideutifies himself with his is rendered variously: "under me," accord- people. (For the figure of the whirlwind, ing to the Greek and Latin Versions, i.e. in comp. Isa. xii. 16; Jer.. xiii. 2-l; Hos. xiii. 3.) my knees and feet, so that I reeled and Dr. 'Ilriggs renders, "Thou dost pierce with stumbled; or, " in my place," on the spot his rods the chief, when his rulers are rusl1- where I stand (as Exod. xvi. 29). That I ing in to scatter me." Their rejoioing was might rest in the day of trouble; better, as to devour the poor secretly; or, as in I who shall rest in the day of tribulation. ambush, to devour the helpless. They exult Tbe prophet suJJenly expresses his con- in noting the pa.rt of robbers e.nd murderers, fidence tho.t he 1ho.ll have rest in this who lurk for the defenceless and afflict the affliction; amiJ this terror and 11,we he is poor (Ps. x. 8, etc.). As is equivalent to sure that there rema.iueth a rest for the •• o.s it were." Vulgate, Sicut ej1lB qui. people of God. This sentiment leads natur- " The poor" a.re primarily the Israelites, o.lly to tho beautiful expression of hope in and then e.11 meek worshipper~ of God. the concluding paragraph (ver. 17, etc.). Ver. 15.-The Exodus is the type of the Keil and others render, "tremble that I delivernnce of G°'l's people. Thou didst o.m to wnit quietly for the day of tribnle.- walk through (didst t,·ead) the sea with thine tion;" that I am to sit still and await the horses ; literully, thou treadest the sea, thy day of affliction. But Pusey denies tbo.t ho,·ses, the horeee being explanatory, The the verb (nuach) ever meo.ns "to wait prophet takes hie imagery from Exod. xv. patiently for," or "to he silent about;" 1-19. He represents God as e. wa.l'l'ior in its uniform signification is •• to rest" frnw hie cha.riot, lea.ding the wny through the labour or from trouble. Thus tbe Septua- waters to the destruction of hi8 enemies giut, 'Ava.1r:a.6<1'aµu., ,v ,'1µ•p~ 611.l,j,ews, "I Rnd to the ea.I ve.tion of his own people. will rest iu the dt1y of affiiction;" Vul- Through the heap of great waters; or, ge.te, Ut requiescam in <lie trib1tlatio1'ia. upon the surge of mighty waters. The When he oometh up unto the people, he verse may also be rendered, Thou treadest will invade them with his troops. This the sea-thy horses (tread) the heap of should. be, When he that ·i11vades unth bnnds great waters (Pe. l.xxvii. 19). Past mercies comes up against the people; i.e. in tbe day and delivernnces arc types aud pledges of when the Chaldeans attack the Israelites future. (comp1 2 Kings xxiv. 2, where tlie wonl "ba.uCls" is also used). Septuugint, Toii Vora. 16, 17.-§ 4. The contemplation of c\vm,8,jva,, Elr Ac~v -;ra.pouda.s µou: '' To go up the Divine juclgments produces in the peopu, ngainst the people of my sojourniug; " Vul- of God at first, fear and trembling at the gate, Ut ascemlmn ad populum accinctu,n pmspect of chastisement. nostrum, which is thus explained: "I will bear all things patiently, even death itself, Ver. 16.-When I heard. " Whon" is thnt I may attain to the happy comp,my of better omitted. "I heard" the report of those blessed heroes who fought for their thoo (vcr. 2). 'l'he LXX. refers to eh. ii. 1, country aD<l their God." It is obvious to  SS THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. [ou. 1u. 1-19,