Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

1:1 The word message (or oracle) identifies the book as God’s revelation through his prophet (cp. Nah 1:1; Mal 1:1).

Verse 2

1:2-4 To Habakkuk, God seemed indifferent to the evil permeating society in Judah (1:3-4) and unresponsive to his complaints about it (1:2).

1:2 call for help? . . . do not listen! The call/answer motif in Scripture often demonstrates the speaker’s trust in God as a refuge or guide (see Ps 102:1-2) and indicates intimate communion between the believer and God (Ps 145:18; Isa 65:24).

Verse 3

1:3 In Habakkuk’s day, destruction and violence permeated Judean society (see Habakkuk Book Introduction, “Setting”).

Verse 4

1:4 Habakkuk expresses his concern about the injustice and unrighteousness he saw all around him (see 1:12-13; 2:4, 9), even in the courts, where the law was no longer effective in maintaining justice.

Verse 5

1:5-11 God’s answer to Habakkuk’s question is startling. God would send a violent people—the Babylonians—to deal with the violence in Judah. The Babylonian army, well-trained and battle-hardened, was an unstoppable force.

1:5 Look . . . look: Two different Hebrew verbs, both of which are here translated look, are translated as see and watch in 1:3. This forms a literary link between Habakkuk’s questions in 1:3 and God’s reply in 1:5-11.

Verse 7

1:7 do whatever they like: No relief from injustice would come from the Babylonians. They were a law unto themselves, which added to the prophet’s perplexity at God’s decision to use them to punish Judah.

Verse 8

1:8 The vivid images of cheetahs, wolves, and eagles depict the speed, ferocity, and predatory nature of the Babylonian attacks against Judah (see Jer 4:13; 48:40; 49:22).

Verse 9

1:9 The Babylonians indeed took many captives from Judah into exile between 605 and 586 BC (see Dan 1:1-3).

Verse 10

1:10 The ancient battle tactic of building ramps of earth against the walls of cities under attack is widely attested in the ancient Near East (e.g., 2 Kgs 19:32; Nah 2:1).

Verse 11

1:11 their own strength is their god: The Babylonians worshiped many false gods. The arrogant confidence they placed on their military strength amounted to one more idol in the mix.

Verse 12

1:12–2:1 Habakkuk found it difficult to harmonize God’s answer (1:5-11) with what he understood about God’s character. How could a holy and just God chastise Judah by using a people more unrighteous than they were?

1:12 Despite his perplexity, Habakkuk did not renounce God. With the words my God, my Holy One, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Lord before asking serious questions about what God had revealed to him. • In light of God’s character and covenant relationship with Israel, Habakkuk was certain that God would not wipe his people out. • to correct us: Cp. Heb 12:5-11. • our Rock: A common image of God’s faithfulness and strength (see Deut 32:15; 1 Sam 2:2; Ps 18:2; 1 Cor 10:4; 1 Pet 2:6-8).

Verse 14

1:14-15 fish . . . hooks . . . nets: Habakkuk portrays the Babylonians as fishermen, drawing in conquered peoples.

Verse 16

1:16 See study note on 1:11; cp. 1 Jn 5:21.