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Matthew Henry

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

We are told no more in the title of this book (which we have, Hab. 1:1) than that the penman was a prophet, a man divinely inspired and commissioned, which is enough (if that be so, we need not ask concerning his tribe or family, or the place of his birth), and that the book itself is the burden which he saw; he was as sure of the truth of it as if he had seen it with his bodily eyes already accomplished. Here, in these verses, the prophet sadly laments the iniquity of the times, as one... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:1

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. This prophecy is called a "burden", or something took up and carried, being what the prophet received from the Lord, and went with to the people of the Jews, and was a heavy burdensome prophecy to them; declaring the calamities that should come upon them by the Chaldeans, who would invade their land, and carry them captive; and Habakkuk, that brought this account, is called a "prophet", to give the greater sanction to it; and it was what he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:2

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear !.... The prophet having long observed the sins and iniquities of the people among whom he lived, and being greatly distressed in his mind on account of them, had frequently and importunately cried unto the Lord to put a stop to the abounding of them, that the people might be brought to a sense of their sins, and reform from them; but nothing of this kind appearing, he concludes his prayers were not heard, and therefore expostulates with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:3

Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance ?.... That is, wicked men, and such as give a great deal of trouble vexation, and grief to others, by their rapine and oppression; suggesting that he could not turn his eyes any where, but such persons presented themselves to his view; and that their wicked actions were performed by them openly and publicly, in the sight of all, without any shame or fear. So the Targum, "why do I see oppressors, and behold those that do the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:4

Therefore the law is slacked ,.... Is not put into execution against offenders: the civil magistrates, whose office it is to do justice according to law, are dilatory, and do not proceed with vigour and spirit against the transgressors of it, and in favour of honest and good men oppressed: or "it intermits" F18 תפוג "intermittitur", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius, Burkius; פוג "est, animi deliquium pati", Tarnovius. , or is "intermitted"; it is like a man whose pulse... read more

Adam Clarke

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

The burden - המשא hammassa signifies not only the burdensome prophecy, but the prophecy or revelation itself which God presented to the mind of Habakkuk, and which he saw-clearly perceived, in the light of prophecy and then faithfully declared, as this book shows. The word signifies an oracle or revelation in general; but chiefly, one relative to future calamities. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:2

O Lord, how long shall I cry - The prophet feels himself strongly excited against the vices which he beheld; and which, it appears from this verse, he had often declaimed against, but in vain; the people continued in their vices, and God in his longsuffering. Habakkuk begins his prophecy under a similar feeling, and nearly in similar words, as Juvenal did his Satires: - Semper ego auditor tantum? Nunquamne reponam? Vexatus toties rauci Theseide Codri? read more

Adam Clarke

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

And cause me to behold grievance - עמל amal , labor, toil, distress, misery, etc., the common fruits of sin. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:4

The law is slacked - They pay no attention to it; it has lost all its vigor, its restraining and correcting power, it is not executed; right judgment is never pronounced; and the poor righteous man complains in vain that he is grievously oppressed by the wicked, and by those in power and authority. That the utmost depravity prevailed in the land of Judah is evident from these verses; and can we wonder, then, that God poured out such signal judgments upon them? When judgment doth not proceed... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:1

Verse 1 The greater part of interpreters refer this burden to the Chaldeans and the monarchy of Babylon; but of this view I do not approve, and a good reason compels me to dissent from their opinion: for as the Prophet addresses the Jews, and without any addition calls his prophecy a burden, there is no doubt but that he refers to them. Besides, their view seems wholly inconsistent, because the Prophet dreads the future devastation of the land, and complains to God for allowing His chosen and... read more

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