Habakkuk 2:10 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Woe! it is a general and comprehensive threat against all tyrants and oppressors. To him; every one that is guilty of the sin. That coveteth an evil covetousness; or driveth a trade of oppression, to gain by what means soever, right or wrong. This is evil of sin, and will end in evil of trouble. To his house; his family, which he would enrich and greaten by raising it on the ruins of oppressed innocents. That he may set his nest on high; a proverbial speech, in allusion to birds of prey, which build their nests in the greatest heights, Ob 4. Greatness and an advanced estate gotten by rapine and prey may seem, but never can be, a security to any monarch. On high; higher than God and justice set him. That he may be delivered; kept secure, and out of danger from all below him. Thou, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, hast consulted shame; hast mistaken thy measures, thoughtest to advance thy glory, and to illustrate thy name; but it is in very deed the shame of thy reign that it hath been bloody. To thy house; or family, thy royal family. By cutting off many people; destroying and impoverishing multitudes of men and cities. Hast sinned; it was thy sin, whatever thou didst think of it. Against thy soul; or life of thy person, and posterity, this blood and cruelty will surely ruin thy house. From the power of evil, Heb. from the palm of the hand of evil, that no evil may fasten on, though it may attempt against them. Woe! it is a general and comprehensive threat against all tyrants and oppressors. To him; every one that is guilty of the sin. That coveteth an evil covetousness; or driveth a trade of oppression, to gain by what means soever, right or wrong. This is evil of sin, and will end in evil of trouble. To his house; his family, which he would enrich and greaten by raising it on the ruins of oppressed innocents. That he may set his nest on high; a proverbial speech, in allusion to birds of prey, which build their nests in the greatest heights, Ob 4. Greatness and an advanced estate gotten by rapine and prey may seem, but never can be, a security to any monarch. On high; higher than God and justice set him. That he may be delivered; kept secure, and out of danger from all below him. From the power of evil, Heb. from the palm of the hand of evil, that no evil may fasten on, though it may attempt against them.