Book of Habakkuk

Habakkuk’s First Complaint

1. The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
2. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
3. Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
4. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

God’s Response

5. Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
6. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
7. They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
8. Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.
9. They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
10. And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
11. Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12. Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
14. And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
15. They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
16. Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
17. Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Habakkuk’s Prayer

1. A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.

2..Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

God’s Power Displayed

3. God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
4. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
5. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
6. He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
7. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

The Lord’s Wrath on Creation

8. Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
9. Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
10. The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
11. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
12. Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
13. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
14. Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
15. Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

Habakkuk’s Faith and Praise

16. When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
17. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

The Chaldeans are frequently depicted in the Bible as a fierce and warlike nation, known for their conquests and brutal tactics. Particularly in the books of Habakkuk and Isaiah, they are portrayed as a tool of God’s judgment against sinful nations, including Judah. Though they were initially a small tribe in southern Babylon, the Chaldeans rose to power, forming a dominant empire under Nebuchadnezzar II.

Their rise to prominence highlights their military prowess and strategic brilliance. The Chaldeans’ swift and relentless conquests instilled fear across the ancient Near East. However, despite their strength, they were warned of inevitable divine judgment for their arrogance and cruelty.

Date and Context of the Chaldeans’ Rise

The Chaldeans' rise as a military power occurred during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC. Their greatest military successes came during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562 BC), when they conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem, and carried its people into exile.

Historical Context of the Chaldeans

• Role: Conquerors and military aggressors, responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites.
• Setting: The height of the Chaldean Empire occurred during Babylon’s dominance, with its capital becoming a symbol of power and grandeur.
• Biblical Mentions: The Chaldeans are prominently mentioned in Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Daniel, often as instruments of God’s judgment.

Archaeological Evidence of Chaldean Warfare

Excavations of ancient Babylonian sites reveal evidence of advanced Chaldean warfare, including siege engines and fortified walls. Clay tablets and inscriptions detail their military campaigns and the tribute they exacted from conquered peoples.

Description of Chaldean Military Tactics

• Tactics: Known for their use of swift cavalry, brutal sieges, and psychological warfare.
• Weapons: Bronze swords, spears, and bows, along with advanced siege machinery.
• Fortifications: Built massive walls and fortresses, many of which have been discovered in modern-day Iraq.

King Nebuchadnezzar II (circa 634–562 BC) was the reigning monarch of the Babylonian Empire during the events prophesied by Habakkuk. Known for his military strength and ambition, Nebuchadnezzar played a central role in fulfilling God’s judgment on Judah as foretold by Habakkuk. His campaigns led to the conquest of Jerusalem and the exile of its people in 586 BC, a pivotal moment in biblical history.

Nebuchadnezzar’s actions, as described in the Book of Habakkuk, showcase the Chaldeans as a fierce and swift-moving force, feared by nations across the ancient Near East. Though he rose to great power, Nebuchadnezzar is later humbled by God, as recorded in the Book of Daniel, highlighting God’s ultimate control over even the most powerful rulers.

Date and Context of Nebuchadnezzar’s Reign

Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon from 605–562 BC, coinciding with the prophetic ministry of Habakkuk. His rise marked the transition of Babylon from a regional power to a dominant empire, eventually overtaking Assyria and threatening smaller nations, including Judah.

Historical Context of Nebuchadnezzar in Habakkuk

• Role: Leader of the Chaldeans, the nation used by God to judge Judah for its corruption.
• Setting: Babylon during its rapid expansion, becoming a center of wealth, learning, and military might.
• Biblical Significance: Nebuchadnezzar is a key figure in the fulfillment of Habakkuk’s prophecy, representing both divine judgment and the frailty of human power before God.

Archaeological Evidence of Nebuchadnezzar’s Era

Numerous inscriptions and artifacts from Babylon confirm Nebuchadnezzar’s rule and his extensive building projects. The ruins of Babylon, including the Ishtar Gate, stand as a testament to his legacy as a builder and conqueror.

Description of Nebuchadnezzar’s Campaigns

• Conquest of Judah: Nebuchadnezzar led multiple invasions of Judah, resulting in the eventual destruction of Jerusalem.
• Use of the Chaldean Army: Known for their speed and ferocity, the Chaldean forces under Nebuchadnezzar were described by Habakkuk as “bitter and hasty” (Habakkuk 1:6).
• Symbol of Judgment:  Though Nebuchadnezzar achieved great power, his story ultimately reflects God’s sovereignty over nations and rulers. 
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