Habakkuk 2:8 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The prophet proceeds to give account of the reasons on which the Divine nemesis moves in this affair, and these may convince and confirm us in it. Thou hast spoiled many nations; slain their people, sacked their cities, robbed their treasuries, led captive the subjects, and deposed kings, and done this to many nations, whose cry is come up to heaven. Jeremiah 25:9, and Jeremiah 27:3, recounts some six or seven nations. It is likely all the nations that lay round about this kingdom were spoiled by it. Now shalt thou be paid in thine own coin. The remnant of the nations unspoiled by thee, shall combine against thee, and execute the Lord's just sentence, and spoil the spoiler. Thee, O Babylon. Because of men's blood; either shed by private murders which cried to Heaven for vengeance, or shed by ill application of the sword of justice, or continual needless wars upon her neighbours. And for the violence, injustice and oppressions, of the land; of the whole land of Chaldea, if you understand it actively, or else, if passively taken, it is the violence done by Babylon to the land of Judea especially. Of the city; either Babylon, which oppressed Jerusalem, or Jerusalem, oppressed by Babylon. And all that dwell therein: this also, as understood actively or passively, is applicable to either Babylon's or Jerusalem's citizens and inhabitants.