Habakkuk 2:8-14 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:9-11

Corrupt ambition. Ambition may be pure and lofty, and when this is the case it cannot be too highly commended. It is "the germ from which all growth of nobleness proceeds." "It is to the human heart what spring is to the earth, making every root and bud and bough desire to be more." Headway cannot be made in life apart from it, and destitute of this spirit a man must be outstripped in the race. Ambition, however, may take the opposite form, and it is to ambition corrupt and low in its... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:9-11

National wrongs ending in national woes. No. 2. "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! Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul. For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it." Notice— I. THE NATIONAL WRONGS HERE INDICATED . 1 . Coveting the possessions of others. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:10

The very means he took to secure his power shall prove his ruin. Thou hast consulted shame to thy house. By thy measures thou hast really determined upon, devised shame and disgrace for thy family; that is the result of all thy schemes, By cutting off many people ( peoples ). This is virtually correct. The verb in the present text is in the infinitive, and may depend upon the verb in the first clause. The versions read the past tense, συνεπέρανας , concidisti. So the Chaldee and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:11

Even inanimate things shall raise their voice to denounce the Chaldeans' wickedness. The stone shall cry out of the wall. A proverbial expression to denote the horror with which their cruelty and oppression were regarded; it is particularly appropriate here, as these crimes had been perpetrated in connection with the buildings in which they prided them. selves, and which were raised by the enforced labour of miserable captives and adorned with the fruits of fraud and pillage. Compare another... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12

The Chaldeans are denounced for the use they make of the wealth acquired by violence. That buildeth a town with blood ( Micah 3:1-12 :19, where see note). They used the riches gained by the murder of conquered nations in enlarging and beautifying their own city. By iniquity. To get means for these buildings, and to carry on their construction, they used injustice and tyranny of every kind. That mercy was not an attribute of Nebuchadnezzar we learn from Daniel's advice to him ( Daniel... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

§ 10. The third woe: for founding their power in blood and devastation. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

A parable of woes: 3. Woe to the ambitious! I. THE CRIMINALITY OF THEIR AMBITION . 1 . The object aimed at. To build towns and establish cities. Not necessarily a sinful project, unless the motive or the means be bad. City building may have originated in a spirit of defiance against Jehovah ( Genesis 4:17 ), though this is not certain; but cities may be, as they often are, centres and sources of incalculable blessing to mankind. If they help to multiply the forces of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

The two kingdoms: a contrast. Reference is made in these verses to two kingdoms—the kingdom of Babylon and the kingdom of God; and this association serves to indicate several points of contrast. I. THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD IS MATERIAL ; THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS SPIRITUAL . The glory of Chaldea centred in its magnificent city of Babylon, so grand in its situation, its edifices, it defences, and in the stores of treasure it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

National wrongs ending in national woes. No. 3. "Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! 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? For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Notice— I. THE NATIONAL WRONGS INDICATED IN THESE VERSES . The great wrong referred to in these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:13

Is it not of the Lord of hosts? Hath not God ordained that this, about to be mentioned, should be the issue of all this evil splendour? That the people shall labour in the very fire; rather, that the peoples labour for the.fire; i.e. that the Chaldees and such like nations expended all this toil on cities and fortresses only to supply food for fire, which, the prophet sees, will be their end ( Isaiah 40:16 ). Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 51:58 ) applies these and the following words to the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:9-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:9-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:12-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 2:13

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