AUTHOR

Habakkuk was a prophet of the late seventh century BC, contemporary to Jeremiah. One explanation has his name based on a root meaning “to embrace.” The Greek Old Testament spelling “Hambakoum” suggests a root meaning “plant” or “vegetable.” Other than his work as a prophet, nothing for certain of a personal nature is known about Habakkuk. Tradition makes him a priest of the tribe of Levi. The apocryphal work, Bel and the Dragon, tells a story about Habakkuk being taken to Babylon by an angel to feed Daniel while he was in the lions’ den. Habakkuk must have prophesied shortly before the Babylonians brought Judah under their control. The Babylonians were already notable as a force that other nations feared (1:7), but they had not yet made Judah a vassal of their empire. Since the first foray of Nebuchadnezzar into Judah took place in 605 BC (Dn 1:1-2), Habakkuk must have prophesied before then. He made no reference to the Assyrians, so it is likely that he preached after the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC.

Habakkuk was concerned about divine justice but faced a dilemma. God was prepared to judge the violence in the southern kingdom of Judah through the Babylonians, but what about the Babylonians? Weren’t they even more violent and wicked than the Judeans? Habakkuk was not afraid to question the purposes of God and to “watch to see” how God would respond (2:1).

Habakkuk’s book contains an “oracle” (1:1) and a “prayer” (3:1). In the oracle Habakkuk pronounced judgment against both the wicked in Judah and the Babylonians. The prayer is called Shigionoth, a reference to a tune for singing or to the style in which it was composed (see Ps 7). Other musical terms in Habakkuk’s prayer include Selah (3:3,9,13) and a comment about “stringed instruments” (3:19). The prayer also has a dedication to “the choir director” (3:19). Clearly the third chapter was meant for liturgical worship with instrumental music.

THE MEANING OF HABAKKUK’S MESSAGE

Habakkuk 2:4 summarizes the prophet’s message from the Lord: “Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith.” In other words, those who trust in themselves and have no concern for others will perish in divine judgment, but those who trust in the Lord and obey his laws will live. While this verse does not explicitly mention judgment, the rest of the chapter develops the consequences of the sin of pride (2:6-20). Also, the chapter lays out what it means to be righteous. The righteous person is not a drunkard, is not deeply in debt, is not given to violence, is not a robber, is not sexually immoral, and is not an idolater. Instead, the righteous person trusts completely in the Lord, pleading for mercy and waiting patiently for him to bring about salvation in the day of judgment.

The prayer of chapter 3 describes the awesome character of God as Judge in powerful and moving imagery. The closing lines where Habakkuk speaks of his resolve to wait patiently for the Lord despite all the signs of disaster around him are a classic expression of faith and are much quoted.