Habakkuk 1 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

The burden — The prophet seems to speak of these grievous things, as a burden which he himself groaned under.

Therefore — Because the wicked go on with impunity. The law — The whole law, moral, ceremonial, and judicial. Is slacked — Is slighted, and not observed. Go forth — From magistrates, judges, and public officers. Doth compass about — As it were besieges, with design to oppress and ruin.

Behold ye — Here God begins to answer the prophet. Among the heathen — See what judgments have been executed upon the heathen for like sins.

Bitter — Cruel, and without mercy. Hasty — Speedy in executing their merciless purposes.

Their judgment — The law they observe, is their own will. Their dignity — Their authority is all from themselves, without respect to any other law or rule whatever.

The evening wolves — Which with fasting in the day, came out in the evening, fierce and ravenous. Shall spread — All over the land.

For violence — To enrich themselves by making a prey of all. Their faces — Their very countenances shall be as blasting as the east — wind.

At the kings — Which opposed their designs. And take it — By mighty mounts cast up.

Shall not die — Be utterly destroyed. Ordained — Set up, and designed. Them — The Chaldean kingdom. For judgment — To execute this judgment, which is tempered with mercy. For correction — To chastise, not to destroy.

And makest — Not infusing cruel appetites, but permitting them to act according to such appetite which was already in them. As the fishes — Of which the greater greedily devour the smaller. Creeping things — Which in the waters are food for the lesser fry; so the world, like the sea, is wholly oppression. No ruler — None to defend the weak, or restrain the mighty.

They — The Chaldeans draw out all alike, good or bad. In their net — Destroying many together. And gather — As if they could never have enough, they drive men into their nets.

They sacrifice — Ascribe the praise of their victories. Their net — To their own contrivances, diligence, and power.

Empty their net — As fisher — men empty the full net to fill it again.