Bible Commentaries
Habakkuk 2

Verse 1

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

Upon my watch — I will stand as a watchman on my watch-tower.

He — The Lord.

Reproved — Called to give an account of the mysteriousness of providence; either to satisfy doubters, or to silence quarrellers.

Verse 2

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Upon tables — What was of publick concern, and therefore to be published, was anciently written or engraven upon tables, smooth stones, or wood, and then hung up in a publick place to be read.

May run — That none may need to stop, but every one may plainly and clearly discern what is written.

Verse 3

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

At the end — When the period appointed of God shall come.

Shall speak — Be accomplished, and not disappoint your expectation.

Verse 4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Which is lifted up — That proudly contests with the justice and wisdom of the Divine Providence, and provides for his own safety by his own wit.

The just — The humble and upright one, who adores the depth of divine providence, and is persuaded of the truth of divine promises.

Shall live — Supports himself, by a firm expectation of the deliverance of Zion.

Verse 5

Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

He — The king of Babylon.

Wine — Hereby Belshazzar, his city and kingdom of Babylon fell a prey to Darius and Cyrus.

At home — Is ever abroad warring upon some or other.

Unto him — To his kingdom.

All nations — That are round about him.

Verse 8

Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

Of the land — Of the whole land of Chaldea.

The city — Babylon.

Verse 9

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

To his house — His family which he would enrich, and raise high.

Delivered — Kept secure and out of danger from all below him.

Verse 10

Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

Thou — Nebuchadnezzar.

Verse 11

For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

Shall cry out — As if it had a voice, it cries to God for vengeance.

Answer it — Confirm the charge against thee.

Verse 13

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

Is it not of the Lord — Is it not a judgment from God? Shall labour - That men go thro’ the most painful labour.

For very vanity — For nothing; without any reward of their labour.

Verse 16

Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

Thou — O king of Babylon.

Shall be turned — They turned the cup of pleasure about, God will carry the cup of indignation about also, and make them drink deep of it.

Shameful spewing — Thou shalt be as much loathed as a shameful drunkard is in his vomit.

Verse 17

For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

The violence — The violence thou hast done to Judea shall overwhelm thee.

The spoil of brass — Such spoil as by hunters is made among wild beasts, when they endeavour to destroy the whole kind.

Verse 20

But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

The Lord — He is Jehovah, the fountain of being, life, power, and salvation to his people.

Keep silence — Fear, submit, and depend on him; let his enemies be silent, reverence, hope, pray and wait for him, who will arise and have mercy on them, who will make it to be well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked, who will fully and satisfactorily solve the doubts, and unfold the riddles of his providence.