John Calvin Commentary Habakkuk 1:8

"Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour." — Habakkuk 1:8 (ASV)

The purpose of these figurative expressions is the same. The Prophet had spoken of the cruelty of those enemies whom the Jews despised: he now adds that they would be so active as to surpass in speed both leopards and eagles, or at least to be equal to them.

He then says first, that their horses would be swifter than leopards. The Jews might have eluded his threats, or at least have cherished their complacency by a vain confidence, as we see how this vice prevails in the world. For they might have thought this within themselves, “The Chaldeans are far away, and the danger of which the Prophet speaks cannot be so near.” Therefore, he declares that their horses would be swifter than leopards.

He then adds that they would be fiercer than the evening wolves. The wolf is a rapacious animal; and when he roams about all day in vain seeking what he may devour, then in the evening hunger kindles his rage. There is, therefore, nothing more dreadful than hungry wolves. But, as I have said, unless they find some prey around evening, they become even more furious. We shall meet with the same simile in Zephaniah 3:1. We now see the meaning of the Prophet’s words.

He adds that their horsemen would be numerous. He now presents their power, so that the Jews would not resort to vain hopes, because they might obtain some help either from the Egyptians or other neighbors. The Prophet shows that all such hopes would be entirely vain; for had they gathered reinforcements from all directions, still the Chaldeans would exceed them in power and number.

Later, he says that their horsemen would come from a distance. Even if they had a long journey, weariness would not hinder and delay them in coming from a distant place. The toil of traveling would not weaken them until they reached Judea.

How so? Because it will fly, he says (speaking throughout of the nation itself), as an eagle hastening to devour. This metaphor is also very suitable for this purpose, for it means that wherever the Chaldeans saw prey, they would instantly come, like an eagle to any carcass it may observe.

Let the distance be what it may, as soon as an eagle sees prey, it takes a rapid flight and is soon present to devour, for the speed of eagles, as is well known, is astonishing.

We now see that what we learn from the Prophet’s words is essentially this: first, that God’s judgment should have been feared, because He intended to employ the Chaldeans as His servants, whose cruel disposition and inhumanity would be dreadful. Second, he also shows that the Chaldeans would be far superior in power and number. And third, he makes it known that they would possess astonishing speed; even if the length of the journey might be considered a hindrance, they would still be like eagles, which come like an arrow from heaven to earth whenever they observe prey.

And eagles are not only rapid in their flight, but they also possess sharpness of sight, for we know that the eyes of eagles are remarkably keen and strong. It is said that they reject their young if they find that they cannot look steadily at the sun, for they regard them as unworthy.

The Prophet then suggests that the Chaldeans would observe their prey from a distance. Just as eagles, who are endowed with incredible sharpness of vision, see from mid-air every carcass lying on the ground, so also would the Chaldeans quickly discover prey and come upon it instantly. Let us proceed.