Charles Ellicott Commentary Habakkuk 1
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Habakkuk 1
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Habakkuk 1
"The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see." — Habakkuk 1:1 (ASV)
The prophet. —This title (han-nâbî) is applied only to Habakkuk, Haggai, and Zechariah. In the later historical books it is used to designate the members of those prophetical colleges which were founded by Samuel, and kept up, in any case, until the time of Elisha.
It is uncertain whether in these three minor prophets it has a similar force, or merely, as in the Pentateuch, indicates a chosen minister whom God inspires to reveal His will. On the term burden, or sentence, see Isaiah 13:1.
"The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save. Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up. Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted." — Habakkuk 1:1-4 (ASV)
Habakkuk complains of the apparent triumph of wickedness among his countrymen.
"O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save." — Habakkuk 1:2 (ASV)
Even cry out. —The latter half of the verse is best rendered “Even cry to you, ‘Violence!’ and you will not save.” The single word “violence!” (châmâs) occurs elsewhere, as an appeal for assistance, used as we use the cry “murder!” “fire!” etc., among ourselves. (See Jeremiah 20:8, Job 19:7.)
"Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up." — Habakkuk 1:3 (ASV)
Why dost thou shew me iniquity? ... —Better, Why dost thou show me distress and look upon grievance; oppression and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention exalts itself." The question, "Why dost thou ... look upon grievance?" is illustrated by Habakkuk 1:13, Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil. Grievance, or "trouble willfully caused." Heb. âmâl, associated again with âven, a term of similar import, in Psalms 10:7; Psalms 55:11.
"Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted." — Habakkuk 1:4 (ASV)
The law—the Mosaic tôrâh—which ought to be a bond of security and social welfare is “slacked” or “paralyzed”; and is, therefore, unable to do its work. “Judgment” (mishpât, i.e., “redress of evils”) “doth never go forth,” for the wicked have hemmed the righteous in; and, therefore, there are no judicial sentences, except those that favour the wicked.
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