1.
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
Shigionoth. The pl, of Shiggaion (compare Psalms 7 ), a crying aloud. See App-65 .
2.
O 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.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
heard Thy speech = heard Thy hearing. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .
speech = hearing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for what was heard. Here = Thy fame, as in Numbers 14:15 . 1 Kings 10:1 .Isaiah 66:19 .
afraid. = In awe; as in Exodus 14:31 .
revive = renew, in the sense of repeating, doing over again.
work. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "works": i.e. doings.
years. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for the afflictions suffered in them, or "wrath" manifested in them.
in the midst, &c. Out of 273 occurrences, this is the only place where it refers to time. Had Habakkuk learnt, like Daniel? Note the Figure of speech Anadiplosis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
make known = make [Thyself] known. The Hebrew accent places the logical pause on this verb: i.e. by repeating nowwhat Thou hast done in the past.
wrath. As manifested in present affliction; showing what is meant by "years", above.
mercy = compassion. Supply here the logical Ellipsis "[I will meditate on Thy doings of old: ]".
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.
GOD. Hebrew Eloah. App-4 . Occurs in the prophets only here, and Isaiah, and Daniel.
came from Teman. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 33:2 ). App-92 .
Teman . . . Paran. Embraces the whole district south of Judah, including Sinai. Compare Genesis 21:21 .Numbers 12:16 ; Numbers 1:13 , Numbers 1:26 . Deuteronomy 33:2 . App-92 .
Selah. Connecting His coming forth with the glorious effects of it. See App-66 . Note the three "Selahs" in verses: Habakkuk 3:9 , Habakkuk 3:13 .
His glory. Compare Isaiah 6:3 .
4.
And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
horns = power. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the power put forth by them. Hebrew dual = two rays.
coming out of = from: i.e. power from [His] hands [is] His.
the hiding, &c. = hiding (or concealing) of His [full] power.
5.
Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
Before Him went, &c. Supply the logical Ellipsis : "[As He went forth to conquer for His People] before Him went", &c. See Exodus 28:27 . Psalms 68:1 , Psalms 68:2 .
burning coals: or, lightning Compare Psalms 18:8 ; Psalms 76:3 ; Psalms 78:48 .
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.
measured the earth: or, caused the earth to tremble. So the Targum and the requirement of the "correspondence" with the next line.
beheld = looked.
drove asunder the nations = caused the nations to shake, or start.
scattered = shattered.
perpetual = ancient, or primeval.
7.
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
in affliction = [brought low] by affliction.
curtains = hangings. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the tents formed by them.
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?
Was . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. Rightly supplied in following clauses.
Thou didst ride. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 33:26 , Deuteronomy 33:27 ).
horses = horses [of power].
and. Some codices, with three early printed editions (one Rabbinic), Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this "and" in the text.
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.
Thy bow = [Nay] Thy how, &c.
naked = bare.
according to the oaths of the tribes . . . Selah. This second "Selah" (see App-66 ) is to connect the remarkable parenthetic statement with the continuation of the details of Israel's deliverances, which it interrupts, and might otherwise have disturbed. The text of this clause is not "corrupt", as alleged by some modern critics. The oaths are the promises sworn to the fathers or the tribes [of Israel] when still in the loins of the patriarchs.
with rivers = [and the waters gushed out] with rivers. See Psalms 74:15 ; Psalms 78:15 , Psalms 78:16 ; Psalms 105:41 .
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.
The mountains saw Thee . Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:18 ). App-92 . Compare Psalms 114:4 .
the overflowing, &c. Referring to the Jordan. Compare Joshua 3:15 , Joshua 3:16 .
the deep, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:22 ). App-92 .
uttered his voice, i.e. [at Thy presence].
lifted up, &c. = lifted up his hands [in amazement and sub-mission]. Not a "corruption", but the Figure of speech Prosopopoeia ( App-6 ). "The walls" of Exodus 14:22 compared to its hands.
his hands = its [walls like] hands.
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.
The sun and moon, &c. Reference to Joshua 10:12 , Joshua 10:13 .
at the light, &c. = like light Thine arrows flew.
and at the shining, &c. = like lightning was Thy glittering spear.
12.
Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
thresh = tread down. Compare Judges 5:4 .Psalms 68:7 .
heathen = nations: i.e. the nations of Canaan
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.
anointed: i.e. for the salvation of Jehovah's anointed People (sing). See Psalms 105:15 .
woundedst = dashest in pieces.
out of = from.
the wicked = [the] lawless one. Hebrew. rasha' . App-44 . Looking forward to the final destruction of Israel's enemy in the person of the Antichrist. The Targum (or Paraphrase) of Jonathan is remarkable: "the kingdom of Babylon will not remain, nor exercise dominion over Israel. The Romans will be destroyed, and not take tribute from Jerusalem; and therefore, on account of the marvelous deliverance which Thou wilt accomplish for Thine Anointed, and for the remnant of Thy People, they will praise the LORD".
by discovering, &c .: i.e. overturning the house from the top (the neck) so completely as to lay bare the foundations. Such will he the final overthrow of Israel's great enemy.
Selah. This third Selah connects this final overthrow and its magnitude, when contrasted with the enemy's previous proud boasting and exaltation in Habakkuk 3:14 . It connects Jehovah's doings also (Habakkuk 3:14 ) with Jehovah's goings (Habakkuk 3:15 ). See App-66 .
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.
strike through = pierce.
his staves = his own weapons. Compare Judges 7:22 .
head = chief.
villages = leaders. Hebrew text = "leader"(singular); but margin "leaders" (plural), with some codices and five early printed editions.
they came out, &c. = = [when] they came forth. me: i.e. me [who am Thy People].
rejoicing. Compare Psalms 10:8 , Psalms 10:9 .
as = in very deed. Kaph (K) veritatis.
poor. Hebrew. 'anah. See note on "poverty", Proverbs 6:11 .
15.
Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
heap = foaming.
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.
When I heard. See the Structure (p. 1269).
belly = body.
voice = voice [saying].
rottenness = decay. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "restlessness".
myself. Place a full stop here, and commence a new sentence.
that I might = O that I might find (or be at) rest, &c.
he: i.e. the invader.
unto = against.
he will invade = he will overcome. Heb gud. Occurs only here, and Genesis 49:19 .
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:
Although. Hebrew. ki, as in 2 Samuel 23:5 ; but must be understood not as being hypothetical, but as bringing out the antithesis with Habakkuk 3:18 (compare Job 8:7 ).
fig tree . . . vines . . . olive. See note on Judges 9:8-12 .
blossom. The edible fig, which is the blossom: i.e. the receptacle containing a large number of minute unisexual flowers growing to a succulent. The Hebrew text therefore and the Authorized Version rendering are both scientifically correct.
18.
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
God of my salvation. Compare Psalms 18:46 ; Psalms 24:5 ; Psalms 25:5 ; Psalms 27:9 .
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.
God. Hebrew Adonai. App-4 .
strength = might, or force. Compare Psalms 18:32 .
will make, &c. Compare 2 Samuel 1:23 ; 2Sa 23:24 . 1 Chronicles 12:8 . Psalms 18:33 .
He will make me, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:13 ; Deuteronomy 33:29 ). App-92 . Compare Amos 4:13 .Micah 1:3 .
To the chief singer. See App-64 . The same word here.
my stringed instruments. Hebrew. neginoth. Referring to the smitings of Jehovah on the enemies of Israel (Habakkuk 3:16 ). See App-65 .