Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
Thy bow was made quite naked - i:e., was drawn forth from its cover, in which bows usually were cased when not in use. (Compare Isaiah 22:6, "Kit uncovered the shield.") according To the oaths of the tribes, even thy word - i:e., according to thy oaths of promise to the tribes of Israel (Psalms 77:8, "His promise;" Luke 1:73-74, "The oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant us, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve, Him without fear"). Habakkuk shows that God's miraculous interpositions for His people were not limited to one time, but that God's oaths to his people are sure ground for their always expecting them. The mention of the tribes, rather than Abraham or Moses, is in order that they may not doubt that to them belongs this grace of which Abraham was the depositary (Calvin and Jerome). Maurer [reading sªbee`owt for shªbu`owt (H7621), with the Syriac version] translates, 'The spears were glutted (with blood), the triumphal song!' - i:e., no sooner did Yahweh begin the battle, by baring His bow, than the spears were glutted with blood, and the triumphal song sung. I prefer the English version, which gives good sense, and accords well with the Hebrew х shªbu`owt (H7621) maTowt (H4294) 'omer (H562)]. The Hebrew for tribes is literally the tribal rods, which are put for the tribes themselves, and not to be taken as, Maurer and Henderson, 'spears.' See the same Hebrew word in Habakkuk 3:14. "The oaths of the tribes" imply that these oaths of God, or promises of God, to their forefathers, belong to the tribes, as a precious heirloom: just as "the sure mercies of David" (Isaiah 55:3) mean the sure mercies of God, of old pledged to David, and so belonging to the literal and the spiritual Israel throughout all ages.
The foundation of all Thy favours (the prophet implies in addressing God) is Thy oath and promise of grace. "Even Thy word" is in apposition with God's "oaths" belonging to the tribes. Compare Psalms 68:11, "The Lord gave the word; great was the company," etc. - i:e., God gave the word, which was the efficient mean of the result desired). In the case of God, His word is as good as its fulfillment. God by oath had engaged to them the final and permanent possession of the Holy Land. The plural, "oaths," is used, because this promise on oath was again and again repeated by God. The expression "Selah!" rightly follows, in order to call on the pious hearer to pause and reflect with devout gratitude for, and assured hope of, God's interposition in behalf of His people against all their enemies.
Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers - the result of the earthquake caused by God's approach (Maurer). Grotius refers it to the bringing forth of water from the rock (Exodus 17:6, "the rock in Horeb," when the people chode Moses because of their want of water at Rephidim; Numbers 20:10-11, at Meribah, when Moses "smote the rock twice;" Ps. 67:15-16; Psalms 105:41). But the context implies, not the giving of water to His people to drink, but the fearful physical phenomena attending Yahweh's attack on Israel's foes.