Hab 3:16-19 | JFB | STEP | 16. When I heard ... trembled-- namely, at the judgments which God had declared ( ) were to be inflicted on Judea by the Chaldeans. belly-- The bowels were thought by the Hebrews to be the seat of yearning compassion ( ). Or "heard" may refer to , "When I heard as to Jehovah's coming interposition for Israel against the Chaldeans being still at some distance" ( ); so also the voice" [Maurer]. at the voice-- of the divine threatenings ( ). The faithful tremble at the voice alone of God before He inflicts punishment. Habakkuk speaks in the person of all the faithful in Israel. trembled in myself-- that is, I trembled all over [Grotius]. that I might rest in the day of trouble-- The true and only path to rest is through such fear. Whoever is securely torpid and hardened towards God, will be tumultuously agitated in the day of affliction, and so will bring on himself a worse destruction; but he who in time meets God's wrath and trembles at His threats, prepares the best rest for himself in the day of affliction [Calvin]. Henderson translates, "Yet I shall have rest." Habakkuk thus consoling his mind, Though trembling at the calamity coming, yet I shall have rest in God ( ). But that sentiment does not seem to be directly asserted till , as the words following at the close of this verse imply. when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade-- rather (as English Version is a mere truism), connected with the preceding clause, "that I might rest ... when he (the Chaldean foe) cometh up unto the people (the Jews), that he may cut them off" [Calvin]. The Hebrew for "invade" means, to rush upon, or to attack and cut off with congregated troops.

‏ Habakkuk 3:16-19

16. When I heard ... trembled--namely, at the judgments which God had declared (Ha 1:1-17) were to be inflicted on Judea by the Chaldeans.

belly--The bowels were thought by the Hebrews to be the seat of yearning compassion (Jr 31:20). Or "heard" may refer to Ha 3:2, "When I heard as to Jehovah's coming interposition for Israel against the Chaldeans being still at some distance" (Ha 2:3); so also the voice" [Maurer].

at the voice--of the divine threatenings (Ha 1:6). The faithful tremble at the voice alone of God before He inflicts punishment. Habakkuk speaks in the person of all the faithful in Israel.

trembled in myself--that is, I trembled all over [Grotius].

that I might rest in the day of trouble--The true and only path to rest is through such fear. Whoever is securely torpid and hardened towards God, will be tumultuously agitated in the day of affliction, and so will bring on himself a worse destruction; but he who in time meets God's wrath and trembles at His threats, prepares the best rest for himself in the day of affliction [Calvin]. Henderson translates, "Yet I shall have rest." Habakkuk thus consoling his mind, Though trembling at the calamity coming, yet I shall have rest in God (Is 26:3). But that sentiment does not seem to be directly asserted till Ha 3:17, as the words following at the close of this verse imply.

when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade--rather (as English Version is a mere truism), connected with the preceding clause, "that I might rest ... when he (the Chaldean foe) cometh up unto the people (the Jews), that he may cut them off" [Calvin]. The Hebrew for "invade" means, to rush upon, or to attack and cut off with congregated troops.

17. Destroy the "vines" and "fig trees" of the carnal heart, and his mirth ceases. But those who when full enjoyed God in all, when emptied can enjoy all in God. They can sit down upon the heap of ruined creature comforts, and rejoice in Him as the "God of their salvation." Running in the way of His commandments, we outrun our troubles. Thus Habakkuk, beginning his prayer with trembling, ends it with a song of triumph (Job 13:15; Psa 4:7; 43:3, 5).

labour of the olive--that is, the fruit expected from the olive.

fail--literally, "lie," that is, disappoint the hope (Is 58:11, Margin).

fields--from a Hebrew root meaning "to be yellow"; as they look at harvest-time.

meat--food, grain.

cut off--that is, cease.

18. yet I will rejoice--The prophet speaks in the name of his people.

19. hinds' feet ... walk upon ... high places--Habakkuk has here before his mind Psa 18:33, 34; De 32:13. "Hinds' (gazelles') feet" imply the swiftness with which God enables him (the prophet and his people) to escape from his enemies, and return to his native land. The "high places" are called "mine," to imply that Israel shall be restored to his own land, a land of hills which are places of safety and of eminence (compare Ge 19:17; Mt 24:16). Probably not only the safety, but the moral elevation, of Israel above all the lands of the earth is implied (De 33:29).

on my stringed instruments--neginoth. This is the prophet's direction to the precentor ("chief singer") as to how the preceding ode (Ha 3:1-19) is to be performed (compare Psa 4:1; 6:1, titles). The prophet had in mind a certain form of stringed instrument adapted to certain numbers and measures. This formula at the end of the ode, directing the kind of instrument to be used, agrees with that in the beginning of it, which directs the kind of melody (compare Is 38:20).