Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Habakkuk 2:4-5
2. The Lord’s indictment of Babylon 2:4-5Having prepared the prophet for His answer, the Lord now gave it. What follows must be that revelation. read more
Habakkuk-2:1-4,-habakkuk-2:14-niv
Thomas Constable
John Dummelow
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 2:1-20
Faith Triumphant1-4. The view from the watchtower.1. The prophet climbs his tower, for he must reach a vantage point, if he is to contemplate with real understanding and insight the confusion about his feet, i.e. occasioned by Chaldean aggressiveness and indifference to right. The tower is not, of course, a literal tower—some high and lonely place to which the prophet may retire; it simply suggests the inner light of revelation, by the aid of which he contemplates the perplexing situation. The... read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Habakkuk 2:1
(1) The Tower.—The practice of ascending a high place to secure an extensive view suggests the figure here. (See 2 Kings 9:17; 2 Samuel 18:24.) In a yet bolder metaphor Isaiah represents himself as appointing a watchman, who brings reports from his tower. We need not suppose that Habakkuk literally betook himself to a solitary height to wait for a revelation. Balaam, the heathen soothsayer, did so (Numbers 23:3), but his conduct throws no light on the customs of the Jewish prophets.What he will... read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Habakkuk 2:2
(2) On tables.—Better, on the tables. The definite article probably indicates certain well-known tables on which the prophets were wont to inscribe their utterances for public edification. These tables may have been hung up in the Temple (Calvin) or market-place (Luther and Ewald).That he may run that readeth it—i.e., the prophecy is to be inscribed plainly and legibly, so that the reader may “run his eye” quickly through it. read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Habakkuk 2:3
(3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time . . .—Better, For the vision is to have its appointed day, and it pants for the end. and it shall not disappoint, i.e., it pants for the day of completion, which shall do it justice. It longs to fulfil its destiny.It will not tarry.—This translation is unfortunate. The prophet has just said that it will tarry. Nevertheless, he adds, men are to wait for it, because “it will surely come, and shall not be behindhand,” seil, on its appointed day. This... read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Habakkuk 2:4
(4) Behold his soul. . . .—Better, Behold his soul within him is puffed up, it is not upright. The soul of the Chaldæan invader is inflated with pride, self-dependence ousting from his mind all thoughts of God. It is therefore unsound and distorted. Habakkuk leaves the inference “and therefore it shall die” to be imagined, and hastens to the antithesis, “But the righteous man shall live by his faith.” The word live is emphatic. The reward promised to patient waitings on God is life—deliverance... read more
William Nicoll
Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Habakkuk 2:1-20
The Free-thinker Among the Prophets Habakkuk 2:1 Tradition has much to tell of Habakkuk the Prophet, but history has nothing. He belongs to a class who have made history; he is the kind of man whom God sends to usher in new stages, and launch new epochs of knowledge and action. Look at the spirit of his questioning. I. It was a temper which, with all its daring, was always reverent, and in its utter frankness was completely sincere. This man never rails against God; he is never irreverent,... read more
William Nicoll
Expositor's Bible Commentary - Habakkuk 2:1-4
7Habakkuk 1:1-17Habakkuk 1:2-17; Habakkuk 2:1-4 (or 8)Yet it is the first piece which raises the most difficult questions. All admit that it is to be dated somewhere along the line of Jeremiah’s long career, c. 627-586. There is no doubt about the general trend of the argument: it is a plaint to God on the sufferings of the righteous under tyranny, with God’s answer. But the order and connection of the paragraphs of the argument are not clear. There is also difference of opinion as to who the... read more
Arno Clemens Gaebelein
Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Habakkuk 2:1-20
CHAPTER 2 The Ungodliness of the Chaldeans and Their Destruction 1. The waiting prophet and the message he received (Habakkuk 2:1-4 ) 2. The five-fold woe upon the Chaldeans (Habakkuk 2:5-20 ) Habakkuk 2:1-4 . It seems there was no immediate answer to the plea of the prophet. He then speaks to himself and expresses his attitude. “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and I will wait to see what He will say to me, and what I shall answer as to my complaint.” He watches like... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Habakkuk 2:4
Proud Babylon was not right in doing what she did but was puffed up with pride and evil passions. In contrast, the righteous one will live by his faith (cf. Genesis 15:6). By implication, Babylon, the unrighteous one, would not live because she did not live by faith (trust in God) but by sight and might. She sought to gratify her ambitions by running over other people rather than by submitting to God’s sovereignty.This verse appears three times in the New Testament. Paul quoted it in Romans... read more