Book of Habakkuk

The Prophet

There is not much biographical information on the prophet Habakkuk; in fact less is known about this prophet than any other. Due to the liturgical nature of the book of Habakkuk, there have been some scholars who think that Habakkuk may have been a temple prophet. Temple prophets are described in 1 Chronicles 25:1 as using lyres, harps and cymbals. Some feel that this may be echoed in Habakkuk 3:19b. His name comes either from the Hebrew word חבק habhak meaning "embrace" or else from an Akkadian word hambakuku for a kind of plant.

The prophet Habakkuk is also mentioned in the apocryphal book Bel and the Dragon. In the superscription of the Old Greek version Habakkuk is called the son of Joshua of the tribe of Levi. In this book Habakkuk is lifted by an angel to Babylon to provide Daniel with some food while he is in the lion's den.

Historical Context

It is unknow when Habakkuk lived and preached, but the reference to the rise and advance of the Chaldeans in 1:6-11 places him in the last quarter of the 7th century BC. One possible period might be during the reign of Jehoiakim, from 609-598 BC. The reasoning for this date is that during his reign that the Babylonians were growing in power. The Babylonians marched against Jerusalem in 598 where Jehoiakim was killed and there is a sense of an intimate knowledge of the Babylonian brutality in 1:12-17.

Overview of Contents

The book of Habakkuk is a book of the Bible Old Testament and stands eighth in a section known as the 12 Minor Prophets in the Masoretic and Greek texts. It follows Nahum and precedes Zephaniah, who are considered to be his contemporaries.

The book consists of three chapters and the book is neatly divided into three different genres:

A discussion between God and Habakkuk
- An Oracle of Woe
  - A Psalm

A breakdown of the book's structure looks this way:
I. Title (1:1)
II. The Problem of Unpunished wickedness (1:2 – 4)
III. God's first response (1:5 – 11)
IV. The problem of excessive punishment (1:12 – 17)
V. Awaiting an Answer (2:1)
VI. God’s second response (2:2 – 20)

A. A vision (2:2 -5)

i. Announcement (2:2 -3)

ii. Life and Death (2:4 -5)

B. Taunting woes (2:6 – 20)

i. The pillager (2: 6 -8)

ii. The plotter (2:9 – 11)

iii. The promoter of violence (2:12 -14)

iv. The debaucher (2:15 -17)

v. The pagan idolator (2:18 -20)

VII. Habakkuk’s Psalm (3:1 -19)

A. Musical notes (3:1, 19b)

B. Petition (3:2)

C. God’s powerful presence in history (3:3 – 15)

i. God’s coming (3:3 -7)

ii. God’s combat (3:8 – 15)

D. Fear and Faith (3:16 – 19a)

Themes

The major theme of Habakkuk is trying to grow from a faith of perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust in God. Habakkuk addresses his concerns over the fact that the punishment for Judah's sins is going to be executed by what was thought to be a sinful nation in Habakkuk's eyes.

Habakkuk is unique among the prophets in that he openly questions the wisdom of God. In the first part of the first chapter, the Prophet sees the injustice among his people and asks why God does not take action. "1:2 Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save?" - World English Bible.

In the middle part of Chapter 1, God explains that he will send the Chaldeans to punish his people. 1:5 “Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you. 1:6 For, behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. (World English Bible)

In the final part of the first chapter, the prophet expresses shock at God's choice of instrument for judgement. 1:13 You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously, and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he, (World English Bible^*)

In Chapter 2, he awaits God's response to his challenge. God explains that He will also judge the Chaldeans, and much more harshly. 2:8 Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you, because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it. 2:9 Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, (World English Bible^*)

Finally, in Chapter 3, Habakkuk expresses his ultimate faith in God, even if he doesn't fully understand. 3:17 For though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: 3:18 yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (World English Bible^*)

Because of the final chapter of his book, which is a poetic praise of God, it has been assumed that Habakkuk was likely a member of the Levitical choir in the Temple. Contemporary scholars point out, however, that this chapter is missing from the Dead Sea Scrolls and has some similarities with texts found in the Book of Daniel. They therefore suggest that it is a later interpolation which influenced the authors of Daniel, and that it is impossible to make the assumption of Habakkuk's background based on it.

References

Baker, David W. (1988). Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press.
Barber, Cyril J. (1988). Habakkuk and Zephaniah. Chicago: Moody Press. ISBN 0-8024-2069-9
Clark, David J., Howard A. Hatton. A Translator’s Handbook on The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah. (New York: United Bible Societies. 1989.)
Gowan, Donald E., The Triumph of Faith in Habakkuk. (Atlanta: John Knox Press. 1976.)
Hailey, Homer (1972). A Commentary on The Minor Prophets. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. ISBN 0-8010-4049-3
Henderson, Ebenezer. The Twelve Minor Prophets. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. 1980.)
The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (1962). Ed. by George Arthur Buttrick, et al. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press) ISBN 0-687-19271-4
LaSor, William, David Allen Hubbard, Frederic Bush,Old Testament Survey (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans. 1996.)
McComiskey, Thomas Edward, The Minor Prophets. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.1993.)
Smith, Ralph L., Word Biblical Commentary. (Waco: Words Books. 1984.)

External links

Jewish translations:
- Chavakuk - Habakkuk (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org

Christian translations:
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Habakkuk at Wikisource (Authorised King James Version)

Nevi'im | Old Testament books