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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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:13

Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts ?.... That which follows; the judgments of God upon the bloody city, which they that labour to prevent labour in vain. So the Targum, "lo, strong and mighty blows or judgments come from the Lord of hosts;' the mighty God, the Lord of armies, whose hand when stretched out none can turn back; he does what he pleases, and none can hinder him; when the decree is gone forth from him, it is in vain to attempt to stop it: that the people shall labour... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 2:13

The people shall labor in the very fire - All these superb buildings shall be burnt down. See the parallel passage, Jeremiah 51:58 ; (note), and the note there. Shall weary themselves for very vanity? - For the gratification of the wishes of ambition, and in buildings which shall be brought to naught. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 2:13

Verse 13 Then he adds, Shall it not be, behold, from Jehovah of hosts? (38) Some give a wrong version, “Is not this,” as though הנה, ene, were put here instead of a pronoun demonstrative; but they extenuate and obscure the beauty of the expression; nay, they pervert the meaning of the Prophet: for when he says, הנה, ene, behold, he refers not to what he had said, nor specifies any particular thing, and yet he shows, as it were by the finger, the judgement of God, which he bids us to expect; as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

§ 10. The third woe: for founding their power in blood and devastation. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

A parable of woes: 3. Woe to the ambitious! I. THE CRIMINALITY OF THEIR AMBITION . 1 . The object aimed at. To build towns and establish cities. Not necessarily a sinful project, unless the motive or the means be bad. City building may have originated in a spirit of defiance against Jehovah ( Genesis 4:17 ), though this is not certain; but cities may be, as they often are, centres and sources of incalculable blessing to mankind. If they help to multiply the forces of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

The two kingdoms: a contrast. Reference is made in these verses to two kingdoms—the kingdom of Babylon and the kingdom of God; and this association serves to indicate several points of contrast. I. THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD IS MATERIAL ; THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS SPIRITUAL . The glory of Chaldea centred in its magnificent city of Babylon, so grand in its situation, its edifices, it defences, and in the stores of treasure it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

National wrongs ending in national woes. No. 3. "Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Notice— I. THE NATIONAL WRONGS INDICATED IN THESE VERSES . The great wrong referred to in these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:13

Is it not of the Lord of hosts? Hath not God ordained that this, about to be mentioned, should be the issue of all this evil splendour? That the people shall labour in the very fire; rather, that the peoples labour for the.fire; i.e. that the Chaldees and such like nations expended all this toil on cities and fortresses only to supply food for fire, which, the prophet sees, will be their end ( Isaiah 40:16 ). Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 51:58 ) applies these and the following words to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Habakkuk 2:13

Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that (the) people (nations) shall labor - oIn (for) the very fire - literally, to suffice the fire? By God’s appointment, the end of all their labor is for the fire, what may suffice it to consume. This is the whole result of their labor; and so it is as if they had toiled for this; they built ceiled palaces and gorgeous buildings, only for the fire to consume them.And the peoples shall weary themselves for very vanity - They wearied themselves, and what... read more

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