View Habakkuk 2 in the note window.
God answers, that the Chaldeans themselves shall at length be a
prey, ver. 1 - 8.
A woe denounced against the covetous, the oppressive, the drunkards,
and idolaters, ver. 9 - 12.
1: Upon my watch - I will stand as a watchman on my watch - tower.
He - The Lord. Reproved - Called to give an account of the
mysteriousness of providence; either to satisfy doubters, or to
silence quarrellers.
2: Upon tables - What was of publick concern, and therefore to
be published, was anciently written or engraven upon tables, smooth
stones, or wood, and then hung up in a publick place to be read.
May run - That none may need to stop, but every one may plainly and
clearly discern what is written.
3: At the end - When the period appointed of God shall come.
Shall speak - Be accomplished, and not disappoint your expectation.
4: Which is lifted up - That proudly contests with the justice and
wisdom of the Divine Providence, and provides for his own safety by
his own wit. The just - The humble and upright one, who adores the depth
of divine providence, and is persuaded of the truth of divine promises.
Shall live - Supports himself, by a firm expectation of the deliverance of
Zion.
5: He - The king of Babylon. Wine - Hereby Belshazzar, his
city and kingdom of Babylon fell a prey to Darius and Cyrus.
At home - Is ever abroad warring upon some or other. Unto him - To his
kingdom. All nations - That are round about him.
8: Of the land - Of the whole land of Chaldea.
The city - Babylon.
9: To his house - His family which he would enrich, and raise high.
Delivered - Kept secure and out of danger from all below him.
10: Thou - Nebuchadnezzar.
11: Shall cry out - As if it had a voice, it cries to God for
vengeance. Answer it - Confirm the charge against thee.
13: Is it not of the Lord - Is it not a judgment from God?
Shall labour - That men go thro' the most painful labour.
For very vanity - For nothing; without any reward of their labour.
16: Thou - O king of Babylon. Shall be turned - They turned the
cup of pleasure about, God will carry the cup of indignation about
also, and make them drink deep of it. Shameful spewing - Thou shalt
be as much loathed as a shameful drunkard is in his vomit.
17: The violence - The violence thou hast done to Judea shall
overwhelm thee. The spoil of brass - Such spoil as by hunters is made
among wild beasts, when they endeavour to destroy the whole kind.
20: The Lord - He is Jehovah, the fountain of being, life, power,
and salvation to his people. Keep silence - Fear, submit, and depend
on him; let his enemies be silent, reverence, hope, pray and wait for
him, who will arise and have mercy on them, who will make it to be
well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked, who will fully and
satisfactorily solve the doubts, and unfold the riddles of his providence.
