The book of habakkuk is composed of two complaints or laments by habakkuk 1. The prophet, waiting for a return to his expostulation, is answered by god that the time for the destruction of the jewish polity by the chaldeans is not only fixed in the divine counsel, but is awfully near. Writing as his land and his fellow israelites were being invaded and plundered by the chaldeans, habakkuk questions gods actions with a passion equal to jobs. An exegetical and expository commentary, thomas edward mccomiskey the minor prophets. Habakkuk 2 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Tom meyer combines research, memorization and his higher education in the land of the bible to reveal fascinating insights, explanations, and cultural comments on the book of habakkuk. Kjv bible verses from habakkuk offer free, online access, for those of the christian faith, to study scriptural passages for biblical studies, contained in. As it now stands in the masoretic text, the first part is in the form of a dialogue.
Habakkuk 2 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this versebyverse commentary contain gems of information found nowhere outside the ancient jewish writings hi, sign out. He succeeded nahum in the line of prophecy in the year 3254 and became a link in the chain of tradition which reaches back to moshe rabbenu habakkuks main prophecy was directed against the kingdoms of. Bible commentary on nahum, habakkuk and zephaniah in easy. Listen to pastor robert furrow as he begins his commentary on habakkuk picking up today in chapter 1, verse 1. This vision, the accomplishment of which is so long waited for, will be such an exercise of faith and patience as will try and discover men what they are. In this chapter we have an answer expected by the prophet, and returned by the spirit of god, to the complaints which the prophet made of the violences and victories of the chaldeans in the close of the foregoing chapter. Habakkuk 12 commentary on habakkuk calvary tucson church.
Habakkuk 2 commentary john gills exposition on the. We dont know much about the prophet habakkuk from any other book in the bible. The message that the just shall live by his faith plays an important role in christian thought. The historical setting dates around 520 bc before the temple has been rebuilt. The book of habakkuk offers us a picture of a prideful people being humbled, while the righteous live by faith in god hab 2. It is attributed to the prophet habakkuk, and was probably composed in the late 7th century bc of the three chapters in the book, the first two are a dialog between yahweh and the prophet. The prophet reads the doom of all proud and oppressive powers that bear hard upon gods people. Oct 31, 2010 habakkuk protests that gods act of judgment is even more unjust than the injustice god is supposed to be punishing.
The book of habakkuk is accepted as canonical by adherents of the jewish and christian faiths. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 1200 word vocabulary on the books of nahum, habakkuk and zephaniah. This chapter begins with the salutation habakkuk 1. That after god has served his own purposes by the prevailing power of the chaldeans, has tried the faith and patience of his people, and. First, god allays some of the prophets fears by implying that what he has told him is not necessarily a revelation of doom and despair. Giesebrecht was the first to point out this problem in 1891. Habakkuk 2, new living translation nlt the bible app.
Many think that habakkuk ministered sometime during the reign of king johoiakim, perhaps around the year 607 b. Habakkuk 2 commentary old testament matthew henry st. The book betrays the influence of liturgical forms, suggesting that either habakkuk was a cult prophet or that those responsible for the final form of the book were cult personnel. Habakkuk protests that gods act of judgment is even more unjust than the injustice god is supposed to be punishing. A hope the promise of god verse 5 in the middle of habakkuks despair, god reveals to his prophet that he is already working in a way that will in. Passages from habakkuk are quoted by authors of the new testament, and its message has inspired modern christian hymn writers. It is reprinted with permission from the jewish publication society. Book of habakkuk overview insight for living ministries. Commentaries for habakkuk chapter 2 habakkuk must wait in faith. In 1893 budde published a new theory that the oppressor of judah in 1. In this chapter we have an answer expected by the prophet v. The sense, in maurers view, which accords better with the context habakkuk 2. It is a short book, consisting of only two chapters. You can find the best commentary on habakkuk for you using the tools on the right side.
Judah is on the brink of disaster judahs new king at this time, jehoiakim, aka eliakim, is a relatively young man. That he may run that readeth it that he who attentively peruses it may speed to save his life from the irruption of the chaldeans, by which so many shall be cut off. This truth is reconfirmed on the festival of shavuot, when the community of israel stands before the spiritual reality of sinai and renews it in these years habakkuk 3. He succeeded nahum in the line of prophecy in the year 3254 and became a link in the chain of tradition which reaches back to moshe rabbenu. Habakkuk 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. This commentary has been through advanced checking. In hebrew, the important part of the verse has only three words. Habakkuk 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The books of nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah new international commentary on the old testament o.
A commentary on the first two chapters of the book was found among the dead sea scrolls at qumran. This is clear if you read the chapters together as a unit. It may seem that way, but ultimately, the vision is encouraging, hopeful, and glorious. Most modern scholars agree that reference to the rise of the chaldeans hab. The book of habakkuk one of the twelve minor prophets is an intensely personal testimonyplayed out against a highly political backdrop. Habakkuk 2 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. The prophet does not mean that the words are to be made so plain, that a man running by. Obadiah, jonah, micah, nahum, and habakkuk volume 2 of expositional commentary volume 2 of minor prophets series volume 2 of the minor prophets. The multitude of their gods which they set up, and take so much pains to support, cannot thrust out our god. The prophet micah was a contemporary o f the prophets isaiah in jerusalem see micah 1. Make it plain upon tables write it in a full plain, legible hand. Habakkuk 1 habakkuk 2 habakkuk 3 it is a very foolish fancy of some of the jewish rabbin that this prophet was the son of the shunamite woman that was at first miraculously given, and afterwards raised to life, by elisha 2 kings iv. This prince may have been the son or grandson of manasseh.
But contrary to the usage in other prophetical books, it is not stated against what people the prophecy is spoken. Bible commentary on nahum, habakkuk and zephaniah in easy english. Habakkukpivotal prophet of judah christian messianic. Ralph smiths commentary on the last seven books of the minor prophets is not nearly as helpful as douglas stuarts commentary on the first five minor prophets in the same commentary series, but it is still worth consulting. Apr 18, 2009 ralph smiths commentary on the last seven books of the minor prophets is not nearly as helpful as douglas stuarts commentary on the first five minor prophets in the same commentary series, but it is still worth consulting. Introduction to habakkuk historical context setting taken at face value habakkuks short prophecy is set in a time of national upheaval characterized by gross social injustice 1. Habakkuk introduction old testament matthew henry st. Baker nahum, habakkuk, zephaniah tyndale old testament commentaries, 1988. Palmer robertson the books of nahum, habakkuk, and zephaniah. Having prophesied in the region of jerusalem, most of his prophesies, that continued along 50 years, concerned zion and. The results of toms own careful, personal bible study and lengthy exposure to jewish thought and practice while living in israel. After this second lament, habakkuk vows to wait and hear what he will answer concerning my complaint 2. The opening words of chapter 3 are, a prayer of habakkuk, the prophet, set to victorious music,which leads some scholars to believe that chapter 3 was added by another.
This is why he instructs him to write it down plainly so people will understand it and be encouraged by itand thus run. A burden the silence of god verses 24 gods silence to habakkuks prayers in the face of such wickedness was confusing and frustrating for the prophet and this was a burden. The book of haggai, also known as the book of aggeus, is a book of the hebrew bible or tanakh, and has its place as the thirdtolast of the minor prophets. It will not tarry, for god is not slack, as some count slackness 2 pet. Habakkuk 2 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. These two verses really form one thought, which is that god allows man to labor in futility, in vain, to prove a greater point and to show the tremendous contrast between mans way and his way. Determining the date of the book of habakkuk is quite a bit easier than dating most books. Verse 14 supplies the reason for this vast difference, as well as making a wonderful promise. The prophet habakkuk lived at the time of the exile of king jechoniah, eleven years before the destruction of the first beth hamikdosh in the year 3328 after creation. For i will work a work in your days which you would not believe.
There are a number of other helpful commentaries on the book of habakkuk. The book of habakkuk one of the twelve minor prophets is an intensely personal testimony played out against a highly political backdrop. Translators could also find the translated bible text useful, as the writer translated from the hebrew tex t. The midrash tells us that, while in captivity as a persian queen, when esther prays for jewish redemption she reminds gd that she has kept the torah, and particularly the jewish womans mitzvot of family purity, shabbat candle lighting and challah baking. The book of habakkuk is the eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the bible. Habakkuk then receives a second answer from the lordan answer in which the lord promises a vision 4. But habakkuk had a problem with regard to the inherent justice of god who would use the wicked babylonians against a people. Accordingly evangelical commentators have opted for a preexilic setting that antedates. This article is excerpted from the jps bible commentary. He succeeded nahum in the line of prophecy in the year 3254 and became a link in the chain of tradition which reaches back to moshe rabbenu habakkuk s main prophecy was directed against the kingdoms of babylon, persia and. When tossed and perplexed with doubts about the methods of providence, we must watch against temptations to be impatient. The book of habakkuk, the eighth of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets.