A2 E 1. The Superscription.
F G 2. "I have heard." Consequent effect, "fear".
H 3-15. Salvation. Yahaveh's doings. The Giving of the Law.
F G 16. "I have heard." Consequent effect, "trembling".
H 17-19-. Salvation. Yahaveh's character. The Sending of Grace.
E -19. The Subscription.
518 B.C.
Habakkuk 3)
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth (= a crying aloud. Say it 1st so everyone can hear.).
2 O LORD, I have heard Your fame (see Num. 14:15. 1 Kings 10:1. Isa. 66:19), and was in awe (as in Ex. 14:31): O LORD, renew (in the sense of repeating, doing over again) Your work in the midst of the years (put for the afflictions suffered in them, or "wrath" manifested in them. See Dan. 9:27), in the midst of the years make [Yourself] known (stipulating a time we are approaching, and it is on the doorstep today!); in wrath remember compassion. [I will meditate on Your doings of old].
H J1 3-5. His comings.
K1 6-11. His doings.
J2 12,13. His going.
K2 14. His doings.
J3 15. His going.
3 GOD (Eloah) came from Teman (ref. Deut. 33:2), and the Holy One from mount Paran (embraces the whole district south of Judah, including Sinai. Cp. Gen. 21:21. Num. 12:16; 13:26). Selah (connecting His coming forth with the glorious effect of it). His glory (cp. Isa. 6:3) covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. (See 2:14.)
4 And His brightness was as the light; He had power (Heb. dual = two ray. the 2 sons of oil. Rev. 11:3) coming out of His hand: and there was the hiding (or concealing) of His [full] power. (Full power returns 3 days after death of these 2 in the streets of Jerusalem broadcast live around the world.)
5 [As He went forth to conquer for His People] before Him went the pestilence (see Ex. 23:27. Ps. 68:1,2), and burning coals (or lightning. Cp. Ps. 18:8; 76:3; 78:48) went forth at His feet. (There's a smoking path wherever He goes. Cp. Dan. 3:19-23.)
K1 e1 6. At, and after Creation.
f1 7. Among Israel's enemies.
e2 8. At the Exodus.
f2 9,10. In Israel's Deliverances.
e3 11. At The conquest of Canaan.
6 He stood, and measured the earth (or, caused the earth to tremble): He looked, and caused the nations to shake; and the everlasting mountains were shattered, the ancient (or primeval) hills did bow: His ways are everlasting.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan [brought low] by affliction: and the hangings (put for the tents formed by them) of the land of Midian did tremble.
8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was Your anger against the rivers? was Your wrath against the sea, that You did ride upon your horses [of power] and your chariots of salvation? (Ref. Deut. 33:26,27.)
9 [Nay] Your bow was made quite bare, according to the oaths of the tribes, even Your word. Selah (connecting the remarkable parenthetic statement with the continuation of the details of Israel's deliverances, which it interrupts, and might otherwise have disturbed. The oaths are the promises sworn to the fathers or the tribes [of Israel] when still in the loins of the patriarchs). You did cleave the earth [and the waters gushed out] with waters. (See Pss. 74:15; 78:15,16; 105:41.)
10 The mountains saw You (ref. Ex. 19:18. Cp. Ps. 114:4), and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by (referring to the Jordan. Cp. Josh. 3:15,16): the deep (ref. Ex. 14:22) uttered his voice (i.e. [at Your presence]), and lifted up its [walls like] hands [in amazement and submission] on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation (ref. Josh. 10:12,13): like light Your arrows flew, like lightning was Your glittering spear.
J2 g 12. For the subduing of Israel's enemies.
h 13-. For the salvation of Israel.
g -13. For the subduing of Israel's enemies.
12 You did march through the land in indignation, You did tread down the nations (i.e. the nations of Canaan) in anger.
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your People, even for salvation with Your anointed; (I.e. for the salvation of Yehovah's anointed People. See Ps. 105:15)
You dash in pieces the head from the house of the lawless one (looking forward to the final destruction of Israel's enemy in the person of Antichrist. "the kingdom of Babylon will not remain, nor exercise dominion over Israel. The Romans will be destroyed, and will not take tribute from Jerusalem; and therefore, on account of the marvelous deliverance which You will accomplish for Your Anointed, and for the remnant of Your People, they will praise the Lord"), by discovering the foundation to the neck (i.e. overturning the house from the top [the neck] so completely as to lay bare the foundations. Such will be the final overthrow of Israel's great enemy). Selah. (Connects this final overthrow and its magnitude, when contrasted with the enemy's previous proud boasting and exaltation in v.14. It connects Yehovah's doings also with Yehovah's goings)
14 You did pierce with his own weapons (cp. Judg. 7:22) the chief of his villages: when they came forth as a whirlwind to scatter me [who am Your People]: their rejoicing (cp. Ps. 10:8,9) was in very deed to devour the poor secretly.
15 You did walk through the sea with Your horses [of power], through the foaming of great waters.
16 When I heard, my body trembled; my lips quivered at the voice [saying]: decay entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself. O that I might find (or be at) rest in the day of trouble: when he (i.e. the invader) comes up against the people, he will overcome them with his troops.
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom (the edible fig, which is the blossom: i.e. the receptacle containing a large number of minute uni-sexual flowers growing to a succulent), neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail (fig tree...vines...olive. See Judg. 9:8-12), 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. (Cp. Pss. 18:46; 24:5; 25:5; 27:9. Isa. 17:10,&c.)
19 The LORD God (Yehovah Adonai) is my might (or force. Cp. Ps. 18:32), and He will make my feet like hinds' feet (cp. 2 Sam. 1:23; 23:24. 1 Chron. 12:8. Ps. 18:33), and He will make me to walk upon my high places. (Ref. Deut. 32:13; 33:29. Cp. Amos 4:13. Mic. 1:3)
To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. (Heb. neginoth. Referring to the smittings of Yehovah on the enemies of Israel)