Habakkuk 1:6-11
Habakkuk 1:6
(KJB)
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty
nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the
dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
The Lord raised up the Chaldeans, as he did to destroy
Nineveh just a few years back but now they are going to be used to bring
judgment upon Judah. They are
called a bitter and hasty nation.
They are like an angry and discontented nation.
Jeremiah described it like this.
Jeremiah 6:23 (KJV) They shall lay
hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth
like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against
thee, O daughter of Zion. The word “hasty” carries with it the description
of a river which continues to flow and moves everything in its path.
This is what the Chaldeans will do, they will march through all the land
and begin to possess all the dwelling places which are not theirs.
They will take possession because they are going to take the inhabitants
of Judah back to Babylon. They will
leave only a small remnant behind so wild animals do not infest and take over
the place. They will invade towns,
houses, cities, and all areas of Judah.
Habakkuk 1:7
(KJB)
They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their
dignity shall proceed of themselves.
They are a terrible or frightening people because of the
fierceness of their army and because of the victories they have won.
They will cause dread in all of Judah especially because of their
reputation to be cruel wherever they conquered.
Their judgment will proceed not from any laws of God or man but they are
a law unto themselves and they do whatever pleases them without conscience.
Their dignity which is their sovereignty and majesty will emanate from
their arrogance and self-sufficiency.
They believe they will answer to no one for their actions so they will do
what pleases them.
Habakkuk 1:8
(KJB)
Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are
more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves,
and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth
to eat.
The leopard can reach a running speed of 30 mph (48
km/h) and the horse can reach 35 mph (56 km/h).
Just as their horses were lightning fast when they came against Nineveh,
Judah will experience the same thing.
Many times wolves don’t eat during the day so they will forage for food
when the evening time comes which means they are hungry and will not think twice
about attacking other animals because they know they will prevail.
The Chaldeans will be just like them, they will be seeking their prey and
will attack not even thinking about being challenged and defeated.
The horsemen will not only be stationed in one place but will be all over
the country ravishing Judah.
Jeremiah 5:15 (KJV) Lo, I will bring a
nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty
nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not,
neither understandest what they say.
Babylon was located about 500 miles (805 km) east of Jerusalem so in
those days, that was a long journey which would take close to a month, so that
would constitute a people far off.
When they arrive they will be like the eagle which hasteth to eat.
An eagle will see some prey and will swoop down from high up to get it.
By the time the captive animal knows what is happening, it will be too
late. The Chaldeans will be so swift in their raid, they will be all over Judah
before Judah knows what is happening.
Habakkuk 1:9
(KJB)
They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup
up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
The word violence carries with it the meaning of
“oppression, unjust gain, or cruelty.”
They will be coming for the sole purpose of “spoils and plunder.”
It states their “faces shall sup up as the east wind” which means they
will be as unified as the east wind which brings destruction on the land.
It is otherwise known as a sirocco which is a relentless east wind.
The Chaldeans shall be the same way as the sirocco because they will be
coming in one unified army to plunder Judah and as the wind gathers the sand,
they will gather up all the treasures of Judah without any concerns along with
all the people they will transport to Babylon.
Habakkuk 1:10
(KJB)
And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall
be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap
dust, and take it.
The Chaldeans will only laugh at the kings who attempt
to stop them or hold them at bay from invading.
They will not concern themselves of any effort to stop them by the
countries they invade. They took
both Jehoiakim and Zedekiah into captivity.
Those military leaders and princes that the people look to for peace and
safety will be just a joke to the invading Chaldeans since they will have no
power to stop them. The word “scorn” basically means “a laughing stock.”
They will also mock the strongholds that Judah has built because they
will be seen as nothing. I want to
repeat a statement made by General George Patton who stated “that fixed
fortifications are a monument to the stupidity of man.”
The dust is speaking of building a mound to be able to get to the top of
a city wall and get troops over the top for the invasion and they will conquer
the cities no matter what fortifications they construct.
Habakkuk 1:11
(KJB)
Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and
offend, imputing this his power unto his god.