John Calvin Commentary Habakkuk 2:8

"Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men`s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein." — Habakkuk 2:8 (ASV)

The Prophet here expresses more clearly why the Babylonians were to be so severely dealt with by God. He shows that it would be a just reward for them to be plundered in their turn, as they had previously given themselves up to plunder, violence, and cruelty. Since, then, they had exercised so much inhumanity towards all people, the Prophet intimates here that God could not be considered as treating them cruelly by inflicting on them so severe a punishment. He also confirms the former truth and recalls the attention of the faithful to the judgment of God as a main principle to be remembered.

For when things in the world are in a state of confusion, we despair, and all hope vanishes, unless this comes to our mind: that as God is the judge of the world, it cannot be otherwise than that eventually all the wicked must appear before His tribunal and give an account there of all their deeds. Scripture, also, is accustomed to present God before us as a judge whenever the purpose is to alleviate our troubles. The Prophet now does the same thing, for he says that robbers would soon come upon the Babylonians, who would plunder them, because God, the judge of the world, would not in the end allow so many acts of plunder to go unpunished.

But it was everywhere known that the Babylonians had, beyond all bounds and moderation, given themselves up to plunder, so that they spared no nations. Therefore, he says, because thou hast plundered many nations; and on this he elaborates, because the Babylonians had not only done wrong to a few men, or to one people, but had marched through many countries. Since, then, they had taken for themselves so much liberty in doing evil, the Prophet draws this conclusion: that they could not escape the hand of God, but that they were eventually to find by experience that there was a God in heaven who would repay them for their wrongs.

He also says, Spoil thee shall the remnant of all people. This allows for two interpretations; it may mean that the people who had been plundered by the Chaldeans would take revenge on them. He calls them a remnant because they were not whole, but he still intimates that they would be sufficient to take vengeance on the Babylonians.

This view may be accepted, and yet we may suppose that the Prophet includes other nations who had never been plundered, as if he had said: “You have indeed plundered many nations, but there are other nations in the world whom your cruelty could not have reached. All the people then who remain in the world will strive to outdo one another in attacking you; and can you be strong enough to resist so great a power?” Either of these views may be accepted; that is, that in the wasted and plundered countries there would still be a remnant who would take vengeance, or that the world contained other people who would willingly undertake this cause and execute vengeance on the Babylonians. For God, by His secret influence, would fulfill His purpose of punishing them through these means.

He then adds, on account of man’s blood; that is, because you have shed innocent blood and because you have committed many acts of plunder; for you have not only injured a few men, but your daringness and cruelty have also extended to many nations. He indeed mentions the earth and also the city. Some confine these words to the land of Judea and to Jerusalem, but not correctly, for the Prophet speaks here generally; and to the land, he joins cities and their inhabitants.

But this verse contains a truth which applies to all times. Let us then learn, during the licentious success of tyrants, to lift up our minds to heaven’s tribunal and to nourish our patience with this confidence: that the Lord, who is the judge of the world, will recompense these cruel and bloody robbers, and that the more licentious they are, the heavier judgment is near them. For the Lord will awaken and raise up as many to execute vengeance as there are men in the world, who by shedding blood will inflict punishment, though they may not intend to fulfill His purpose.

God can indeed (as has often been observed) execute His judgments in a wonderful and sudden manner. Let us therefore also learn to restrain our evil desires, for no one who allows themselves to injure their brethren will go unpunished. Though they may seem to be unpunished for a time, yet God, who is always the same, will in the end return upon their heads whatever they have devised against others, as we will soon see again. He now adds—