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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 2:1-4

Here, I. The prophet humbly gives his attendance upon God (Hab. 2:1): ?I will stand upon my watch, as a sentinel on the walls of a besieged city, or on the borders of an invaded country, that is very solicitous to gain intelligence. I will look up, will look round, will look within, and watch to see what he will say unto me, will listen attentively to the words of his mouth and carefully observe the steps of his providence, that I may not lose the least hint of instruction or direction. I will... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 2:5-14

The prophet having had orders to write the vision, and the people to wait for the accomplishment of it, the vision itself follows; and it is, as divers other prophecies we have met with, the burden of Babylon and Babylon's king, the same that was said to pass over and offend, Hab. 1:11. It reads the doom, some think, of Nebuchadnezzar, who was principally active in the destruction of Jerusalem, or of that monarchy, or of the whole kingdom of the Chaldeans, or of all such proud and oppressive... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 2:15-20

The three foregoing articles, upon which the woes here are grounded, are very near akin to each other. The criminals charged by them are oppressors and extortioners, that raise estates by rapine and injustice; and it is mentioned here again (Hab. 2:17), the very same that was said Hab. 2:8; for that is the crime upon which the greatest stress is laid; it is because of men's blood, innocent blood, barbarously and unjustly shed, which is a provoking crying thing; it is for the violence of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him ,.... This and the following clause describe two sorts of persons differently affected to the Messiah, and the promise of his coming. Here it points at such as were "incredulous", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; that disbelieved his coming, and mocked and scoffed at the promise of it; as well as those that did not believe in him when he came, though he had all the characteristics of the Messiah; and damnation was the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:5

Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine ,.... Or rather, "how much less" or "more F15 ואף כי "quanto magis", Calvin, Drusius, Tarnovius, Cocceius, Van Till, Burkius. , wine dealing treacherously": or "a man of wine", as Aben Ezra supplies it; that is, a winebibber, as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it: and the sense in connection with the preceding verse Habakkuk 2:4 is, if a Jew, elated with his works of righteousness, his soul is not right in him, "how much less" a drunken,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:6

Shall not all these take up a parable against him ,.... A proverbial expression, a short sentence, a laconic speech, delivered in a few words, which contains much in them concerning the vices of these emperors, and imprecating judgments upon them for them; took up and expressed by the nations brought into subjection unto them, and especially by the Christians in those nations spoiled and persecuted by them: and a taunting proverb against him ; or, "whose explanation are riddles to him" ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:7

Shall not they rise up suddenly that shall bite thee ,.... Or, "thy usurers", or "creditors" F4 נשכיך "foeneratores tui, seu creditores tui", Cocceius, Van Till. , as some render it; the Christians, whose money, goods, and substance, they had spoiled them of, but now should be repaid with great usury and gain; these, that is, their princes and emperors, as Constantine and Theodosius, rose up suddenly, and conquered the heathen emperors, and took away their power and authority from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:8

Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee ,.... Those that survived the persecutions of the Roman emperors; those that were left of the great numbers put to death by them; those under Constantine rose up, and by just retaliation spoiled them of all their power and wealth: because of men's blood ; the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus, of those under the altar, whose blood cried for vengeance, Revelation 6:9 , which was shed under the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:9

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house ,.... The bishops of Rome, being enriched by the donations of Constantine, were not satisfied, but coveted more; these are the greedy dogs Isaiah speaks of, that could never have enough, Isaiah 56:11 but were still seeking and gaping after more for themselves and families, and for their own house or church; which, from the time of their apostasy, became their own house, in distinction from, and in opposition to, the house or true... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:10

Thou hast consulted shame to thy house ,.... Instead of bringing real honour and glory to their church, and that into the esteem of men, by such covetousness, ambition, and arrogance, they brought it into shame and disgrace, especially with all good men; and which they as effectually did as if they had studied it, and as if this was the thing they had in view in all their schemes and measures: this they procured by cutting off many people ; by making war with the saints, and killing... read more

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