Charles Ellicott Commentary Habakkuk 2:15-16

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Habakkuk 2:15-16

1819–1905
Anglican
Charles Ellicott
Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott Commentary

Habakkuk 2:15-16

1819–1905
Anglican
SCRIPTURE

"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, [to thee] that addest thy venom, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Thou art filled with shame, and not glory: drink thou also, and be as one uncircumcised; the cup of Jehovah`s right hand shall come round unto thee, and foul shame shall be upon thy glory." — Habakkuk 2:15-16 (ASV)

Woe to him: it is possible that wanton outrages committed by the depraved Babylonian soldiery in the hour of triumph are meant here. And this is in accordance with the mention of drunkenness as their special sin in Habakkuk 2:5. But we much prefer to treat the language as figurative. The invader has made his neighbors drink the cup of his cruel anger until they have reached the depths of shameful degradation. He, too, will drink of the cup of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God (Revelation 16:19; see also Psalm 76:8, Jeremiah 25:26, Lamentations 4:21); and then foul shame, like that of a man stupefied with drink, will take the place of glory and dignity.

You put your bottle: it is possible to interpret this as, you pour out your wrath, and this reading makes the metaphor less obscure.