Habakkuk 2:5 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine - additional reason why the Jews may look for God punishing their Chaldean foe-namely, "because he transgresseth by wine."

He is a proud man - rather, this clause continues the reason for the Jews expecting the punishment of the Chaldeans, "because he transgresseth by wine (a besetting sin of Babylon, cf. Daniel 5:1-31, and Curtius 5: 1), being a proud man." Love of wine often begets a proud contempt of divine things, as in Belshazzar's case, which was the immediate cause of the fall of Babylon (Daniel 5:2-4; Daniel 5:30; cf. Proverbs 20:1, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise"). Prosperity also often leads to pride (Proverbs 30:9; Proverbs 31:5).

Who enlargeth his desire as hell - the grave, or the unseen world, which is "never full" (Proverbs 27:20; Proverbs 30:16; Isaiah 5:14). The Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar were filled with an insatiable desire of conquest. Another reason for their punishment.

Habakkuk 2:5

5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: