Habakkuk 3:1-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:9

Thy bow was made quite naked ,.... It was took out of its case, and arrows out of their quiver, and these made use of against the enemies of his people: this is put for all weapons of war; the sword was unsheathed, and all military weapons employed, and the power of the Lord was exerted; or, as the Targum, "the Lord was revealed in his power;' fighting the battles of his people, as in the times of Joshua: according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah . That is, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:10

The mountains saw thee, and they trembled ,.... At the power and presence of God, as Sinai of old; See Gill on Habakkuk 3:6 by which are signified mighty people and nations, kings and great men, struck with terror at the amazing providence of God in the world, on the behalf of his own people, and against their enemies; see Revelation 6:14 , the overflowing of the water passed by ; which is usually referred to the overflowing of the river Jordan at the time of the passage of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:11

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation ,.... This is generally thought to refer to the miracle in the times of Joshua, Joshua 10:12 but a different word is there used, especially of the standing still of the sun; nor are the sun and moon said there to stand in their habitation; nor will the series of the history of times past, or the thread of prophecy of things to come, admit of this reference; nor do the words express the clear shining of the sun and moon at their standing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:12

Thou didst march through the land with indignation ,.... Not the land of Canaan, fighting against the inhabitants of it, dispossessing them to make room for the Israelites, whatever allusion may be to it; but the antichristian land, the whole Romish jurisdiction, and all the states of it, through which the Lord will march in wrath and fury, when he pours out the vials of it upon them; or this is desired, and prayed for; for it may be rendered, "do thou march through the land" F18 תצעד ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:13

Thou wentest forth for the salvation of that people, even for salvation with thine anointed ,.... Or, "thy Messiah"; which Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret of Messiah the son of David; and read and give the sense of the words thus, "as thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, by bringing them into the land of Canaan, so do thou go forth for salvation with thy Messiah.' God of old went forth in his power and providence for the salvation of his people, whom he chose above all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:14

Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages ,.... Of his warriors, mighty men, princes; so the Vulgate Latin, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions; or of his armies, as Jarchi and Kimchi; which some interpret of Pharaoh and his host, who were destroyed by the steps and methods which they themselves took, going into the sea of themselves, and so were struck through with their own staves: others of the princes and armies of the Canaanites, who destroyed one another... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 3:15

Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses ,.... And as thou didst of old, so do again; as Jehovah walked through the Red sea in a pillar of cloud and fire, which were his horses and chariots, and destroyed the Egyptians; so may he walk through another sea by his instruments, and destroy the enemies of his church and people; See Gill on Habakkuk 3:8 . The "sea" here signifies the world, compared to it for the multitude of its people; the noise, fluctuation, and uncertainty of all... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:1

A prayer of Habakkuk - upon Shigionoth - See the note on the title of Psalm 7 (note), where the meaning of Shiggaion is given. The Vulgate has, pro ignorantiis , for ignorances, or sins committed in ignorance; and so it is understood by the Chaldee. The Syriac has nothing but merely, A prayer of Habakkuk. And the Septuagint, instead of Shigionoth, have μετα ῳδης , with a hymn, which is copied by the Arabic. I suspect that the title here given is of a posterior date to the prophecy. It... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 3:2

In the midst of the years - שנים בקרב 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 fulfillment is at hand. But as the judgments will be heavy, (and they are not greater than we deserve), yet, Lord, in the midst of wrath - infliction of punishment - remember mercy, and spare the souls that return unto thee with humiliation and prayer. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 succor their posterity in a like wonderful manner." Hence the prophet selects the most striking facts of that first deliverance; and to decorate and render them impressive, brings forth all the powers of his genius, in all the strength and elegance of... read more

Group of Brands