Habakkuk 1:6-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Habakkuk 1:5-11

We have here an answer to the prophet's complaint, giving him assurance that, though God bore long, he would not bear always with this provoking people; for the day of vengeance was in his heart, and he must tell them so, that they might by repentance and reformation turn away the judgment they were threatened with. I. The preamble to the sentence is very awful (Hab. 1:5): Behold, you among the heathen, and regard. Since they will not be brought to repentance by the long-suffering of God, he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:6

For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans ,.... A people still of late mean and low, famous only for their soothsaying, divination, and judicial astrology; but now become a powerful and warlike people, rising up under the permission of Providence to universal monarchy, and who would quickly add Judea to the rest of their dominions: that bitter and hasty nation ; a cruel and merciless people in their temper and disposition: "bitter" against the people of God and true religion, and causing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:7

They are terrible and dreadful ,.... For the fierceness of their countenances; the number and valour of their troops; the splendour of their armour; the victories they had obtained, and the cruelty they had exercised; the fame of all which spread terror wherever they came: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves ; they will not be directed and governed by any laws of God and man, but by their own; they will do according to their will and pleasure, and none will be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:8

Their horses also are swifter than the leopards ,.... Creatures remarkable for their swiftness: these are creatures born of the mating of a he panther and a lioness, and not of a lion and a she panther, as some have affirmed; and which adultery is highly resented by the lion; nor will he suffer it to go unrevenged, as Pliny F21 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 16. and Philostratus F23 De Vita Apollonii, l. 2. c. 7. observe: those thus begotten differ from common lions in this, that they have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 1:9

They shall come all for violence ,.... Or, "the whole of it" F19 כלה "illa teta", Junius & Tremellius; "sub. gens", Pagninus, Piscator; "totus exercitus", Vatablus; "populus", Calvin. ; the whole army of the Chaldeans, everyone of them; this would be their sole view, not to do themselves justice, as might be pretended, or avenge any injuries or affronts done to them by the Jews; but purely for the sake of spoil and plunder: their faces shall sup up as the east wind : their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:6

That bitter and hasty nation - Cruel and oppressive in their disposition; and prompt and speedy in their assaults and conquests. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:7

Their judgment - shall proceed of themselves - By revolting from the Assyrians, they have become a great nation. Thus, their judgment and excellence were the result of their own valor. Other meanings are given to this passage. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:8

Their horses also are swifter than the leopards - The Chaldean cavalry are proverbial for swiftness, courage, etc. In Jeremiah, Jeremiah 4:13 , it is said, speaking of Nebuchadnezzar, "His chariots are as a whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles." Oppian, speaking of the horses bred about the Euphrates, says, "They are by nature warhorses, and so intrepid that neither the sight nor the roaring of the lion appals them; and, besides, they are astonishingly fleet." The leopard, of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:9

Their faces shall sup up as the east wind - This may be an allusion to those electrical winds which prevail in that country. Mr. Jackson, in his overland journey from India, mentions his having bathed in the Tigris. On his coming out of the river one of those winds passed over him, and, in a moment, carried off every particle of water that was on his body and in his bathing dress. So, the Chaldeans shall leave no substance behind them; their faces, their bare appearance, is the proof that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:6

Verse 6 This verse is added by the Prophet as an explanation; for it was not enough to speak generally of God’s work, without reminding them that their destruction by the Chaldeans was nigh at hand. He does not indeed in this verse explain what would be the character of that judgement which he had mentioned in the last verse Habakkuk 1:5; but he will do this in what follows. Now the Prophets differ from Moses in this respect, for they show, as it were by the finger, what he threatened... read more

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