Book of Habakkuk

Books of the Hebrew Bible

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1–2 Samuel 1–2 Kings 1–2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel other Minor Prophets

Tanakh Torah | Nevi'im | Ketuvim Books of Nevi'im
First Prophets
1. Joshua
2. Judges
3. Samuel
4. Kings
Later Prophets
5. Isaiah
6. Jeremiah
7. Ezekiel
8. 12 minor prophets Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

The Book of Habakkuk is the eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible. It is attributed to the prophet Habakkuk. A copy of most of the book was found included in the Habakkuk Commentary among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Authorship and context

The prophet Habakkuk is a largely enigmatic figure, discernable only through the oblique hints offered by the text itself. The evidence, as manifested by correspondences between prophetic laments and known historical occurences, allow the text (and thereby the prophet) to be dated to "Judah in the first part of the Babylonian crisis, from around 608 to 598 B.C.E."

In terms of Habakkuk's station, many scholars suggest that he was a temple prophet, a representative of the organized Hebrew cult of the day. Koch summarizes the evidence for this position:

Habakkuk is one of the few literary prophets who is actually introduced as nabi [prophet] in the book's title. This probably means that he was an institutionalized cultic prophet. This fits in with remarks scattered throughout the book — for example that Habakkuk went up to a watchtower (in the temple?) in order to keep a look-out for a vision, and that Yahweh answered him there (2.1); or that his whole body trembled during his ecstatic reception of the word (3.16). In addition, the essential components even of his social criticism suggest that this belonged within a liturgical framework (cf. 1.2-11).

In addition, the prophet Habakkuk is also a secondary character in the story of Bel and the Dragon, a deuterocanonical postscript to the Book of Daniel. In it, God is utilizes the prophet as an instrument of his will, miraculously commanding him to offer sustenance to the book's beleaguered titular character:

Now there was in Judea a prophet called Habacuc [Habakkuk], and he had boiled pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl: and was going into the field, to carry it to the reapers.

And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc: Carry the dinner which thou hast into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the lions' den.

And Habacuc said: Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the den.

And the angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon over the den in the force of his spirit.

And Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take the dinner that God hath sent thee.

And Daniel said: Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast not forsaken them that love thee.

And Daniel arose and ate. And the angel of the Lord presently set Habacuc again in his own place (Daniel 14: 32-38).

In the superscription of the Septuagint version of this account, Habakkuk is called "the son of Yeshua [Joshua/Jesus] of the tribe of Levi." However, given the relatively late composition of this apocryphal tale, there is no reason to assume the veracity of any biographical information contained in it.

Overview

Within the context of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament), the Book of Habakkuk in one of the twelve minor prophets—prophetic texts characterized by both their brevity and their diversity of styles. Within that subsection of the Bible, it follows Nahum and precedes Zephaniah, texts that can also be dated to the kingdom of Judah in the early part of the Babylonian period (ca. 650-598 B.C.E.).

The book itself is composed in three disparate styles: the "oracle of woe," 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 judgment. 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[1])

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[2])

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[3])

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.

<BE SURE TO DISCUSS (2:4) —> IB 623, Koch 83>

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Bandstra, Barry L. Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Second Edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999. ISBN 0534527272.
• Barber, Cyril J. Habakkuk and Zephaniah. Chicago: Moody Press, 1988. 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. ISBN 0826701418.
• Gowan, Donald E. The Triumph of Faith in Habakkuk. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1976. ISBN 0804201951.
• Habakkuk: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Translated by Francis I. Andersen. New York: Doubleday, 2001. ISBN 0385083963.
• Hailey, Homer (1972). A Commentary on The Minor Prophets. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. ISBN 0-8010-4049-3
• Koch, Klaus. The Prophets: The Babylonian and Persian Periods. Philidelphia: Fortress Press, 1982. ISBN 0800617568.
• Lang, Bernhard. Monotheism and the Prophetic Minority: An Essay in Biblical History and Sociology. Sheffield, England: Almond Press, 1983. ISBN 0907459307.
• LaSor, William, David Allen Hubbard, Frederic Bush. Old Testament Survey Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1996. ISBN 0802837883.
• Marks, Herbert. "The Twelve Prophets" in The Literary Guide to the Bible. Edited by Robert Alter and Frank Kermode. Cambridge, MS: The Belknap Press of Oxford University Press, 1987. ISBN 0674875303.
• McComiskey, Thomas Edward. The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1993. ISBN 0801063078.
• The New Interpreter's Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994-2004. ISBN 0687278201.
• Nogalski, James D. and Sweeney, Marvin A. (editors). Reading and Hearing the Book of the Twelve. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2000. ISBN 0884140210.
• Peckham, Brian. History and Prophecy: The Development of Late Judean Literary Traditions. New York: Doubleday, 1993. ISBN 0385423489.

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Habakkuk

• Jewish translations:
  • Chavakuk - Habakkuk (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org - Retrieved July 24, 2007.

• Christian translations:
  • Biblegateway.com (Over 20 English language editions of the Bible (including KJV, NIV, NLT)) - Retrieved July 24, 2007.
• A Brief Introduction to The Prophecy of Habakkuk for Contemporary Readers (Christian Perspective) - Retrieved July 24, 2007.

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