Habakkuk 1:16

16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his seine; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.

Habakkuk 1:16 Meaning and Commentary

Habakkuk 1:16

Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense
unto their drag
Either to their idols, to fortune and the stars, as Aben Ezra; imagining they gave them success, and prospered them in the arts and methods they used: or to their arms, as the Targum; nor was it unusual with the Heathens to worship their spears, sacrifice to them, and swear by them F7. So Justin says F8, originally the ancients worshipped spears for gods, in memory of whose religion spears are still added to the images of the gods. Lucian F9 asserts that the Scythians sacrificed to a scimitar; and Arnobius F11 says the same; and Ammianus Marcellinus F12 reports, that the Quadi worship their swords or daggers instead of gods; and that it was usual to swear by the spear is evident from others F13. Or else the sense is, they sacrificed to their own valour and courage, skill and conduct. Because by them their portion [is] fat, and their meat plenteous:
that is, by their angle, net, and drag; or by those things signified by them, the arts and methods they used to subdue nations, conquer kingdoms, and bring them into subjection to them; they enlarged their dominions, increased their riches and revenues, and had plenty of everything that was desirable for food and raiment, for pleasure and profit; or to gratify the most unbounded ambition, having everything that heart could wish for and desire: the allusion is to making sumptuous feasts, and rich banquets, on occasion of victories obtained.


FOOTNOTES:

F7 Vid. Doughtaei Analect. Sacra, p. 494, 495.
F8 E Trogo, l. 43. c. 3, 4.
F9 In Jupiter Tragoedus.
F11 Adv. Gentes, l. 6. p. 232.
F12 Hist. l. 17.
F13 (omnusi d'ouicmhn) , Aeschylus.

Habakkuk 1:16 In-Context

14 For thou makest men like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler.
15 He brings all of them up with a hook, he drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his seine; so he rejoices and exults.
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his seine; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich.
17 Is he then to keep on emptying his net, and mercilessly slaying nations for ever?
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.