Bible Commentary

For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places [that are] not theirs. 6. raise up the Chaldeans ] The reference in “raise up” can hardly be to the first entrance of the Chaldeans upon the stage of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 1:6”

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for [I] will work a work in your days, [which] ye will not believe, though it be told [you]. 5. behold ye among the heathen ] among the nations. For “among the nations” Sept. read “ye despisers” ( bgdm for bgym), and part of the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 1:5”

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. 4. law is slacked ] lit. numbed, rigid, i.e. motionless, paralysed and ineffectual. The term “law” ( torah) means properly divine instruction given orally at the mouth of the priest (Jer 18:18; … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 1:4”

Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention. 3. shew me iniquity ] cause me to see iniquity. God by His interposition might have checked the iniquity; by His refraining the continuance of it is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 1:3”

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save! 2 4. The Prophet’s complaint that he has long cried out against evils unheard 2. how long shall I cry ] lit. shall I have cried? Exo 10:3; Exo 16:28; Psa … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 1:2”

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 1. The burden ] the oracle. Comp. Hab 2:6 “take up” a proverb. Num 23:7; Isa 14:4. See Nah 1:1. did see ] Comp. Isa 2:1 “ the word that Isaiah saw”; Isa 13:1 “the oracle which Isaiah did see.” Amo 1:1; Mic 1:1. In the early … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Habakkuk 1:1”

[There is] no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? 19. no healing of thy bruise ] Lit. thy breach, a favourite word of Jeremiah, e.g. Jer 6:14, Jer 8:11; Jer 8:21, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:19”

Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell [in the dust]: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth [them]. 18. Thy shepherds slumber ] i.e. the leaders and rulers. It is most suitable to the connexion to take slumber (which is the ordinary word for sleep) to mean, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:18”

Thy crowned [are] as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, [but] when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they [are]. 17. The idea at the end of Nah 3:16 is amplified. Thy crowned ] The word … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:17”

Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away. 16. spoileth ] lit. strips off, i.e. probably its skin or shard, which confines its wings. If this be the sense Tennyson’s lines finely express it To-day I saw the dragon-fly Come from the wells where he did lie. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nahum 3:16”