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Book of Habakkuk – Survey of the Holy Scriptures Study: YouTube
Messianic Apologetics editor John McKee surveys the Book of Habakkuk from a Messianic perspective.
reproduced from A Survey of the Holy Scriptures for the Practical Messianic
Approximate date: 640-612 B.C.E. (Right, conservative-moderate, some Left); 400s-200s B.C.E. (some Left)
Time period: immediately before the judgment on the Southern Kingdom via Babylon
Author(s): Habakkuk exclusively (Right, some conservative-moderate); Habakkuk and/or anonymous other(s) (some conservative moderate, some Left); Habakkuk and anonymous redactors (some Left)
Location of prophet/author(s): somewhere in Judah (Right, conservative-moderate, Left)
Target audience and their location: Southern Kingdom Israelites
Not much is known about the Prophet Habakkuk himself, other than that he was probably a contemporary of Jeremiah. The meaning of the name Chavaqquq is elusive, as it may be similar to an Akkadian word meaning “plant,” although others have suggested that it means “to clasp,”[1] “to embrace,”[2] or “wrestler.”[3] Some have tried to link Habakkuk to the priesthood.[4] Given the prediction of Babylon’s invasion (Habakkuk 1:6), Habakkuk likely lived in Judah sometime near the end of Josiah’s reign (640-609 B.C.E.) or the beginning of Jehoiakim’s reign (609-598 B.C.E.). It has been speculated that the prophecy of Judah’s fall was probably given after the Egyptians were defeated in battle by Babylon (cf. Jeremiah 46). Habakkuk, like Jeremiah, could have probably witnessed the fall of Judah to Babylon.
While a small text, the Book of Habakkuk is debated because of various historical-critical issues, and with the interpretation of some passages in both Jewish and Christian theology.[5] It is not agreed whether or not Habakkuk wrote the entire text, or that the entire text originates with him. The concentrated debate largely concerns Habakkuk ch. 3, and whether or not it was appended by another hand,[6] particularly because of some stylistic differences. It is notable, though, that these discussions are modern, and there were no major ancient debates surrounding the text.[7] Ancient Hebrew and Greek witnesses do include Habakkuk ch. 3. The dialogue which ensues between the Prophet Habakkuk and the Lord was considered to be Divine revelation, possibly via a similar process to how various psalms were considered canonical.[8]
Conservatives generally argue for some kind of unified composition of the Book of Habakkuk, dating it to the Seventh or Sixth Centuries B.C.E. Support is derived from the facts that the Temple was depicted as still standing (Habakkuk 2:20; 3:19), and the Babylonians were depicted as a rising power (Habakkuk 1:5-6).
Some liberals favor a pre-exilic composition of Habakkuk, and some liberals favor a post-exilic composition. Liberals assert that perhaps some part of the text is authentic to Habakkuk, but the prophet’s original oracles may have been appended. A few have suggested that the Chaldeans are to be interpreted as not being the actual Chaldeans/Babylonians, but instead as representing the Greeks. If this is how Habakkuk is to be viewed, then the text is indeed post-exilic,[9] but all conservatives discount this. Liberals will often argue for Habakkuk ch. 3 being appended at a later date,[10] but can also stress Habakkuk being a literary masterpiece.
The Hebrew MT of Habakkuk is not always clear, and sometimes the Greek LXX must be consulted. There is no agreement between conservatives and liberals as to how much or how little the MT has been preserved, with conservatives[11] favoring a higher degree of preservation than liberals.[12] A commentary on Habakkuk found among the DSS only includes remarks made on chs. 1-2,[13] where some find support for Habakkuk chs. 1-2 only being authentic to the prophet. It is notable that Habakkuk ch. 3 is found in all complete copies of the LXX and in Hebrew texts dating to the Second Century C.E.[14] Harrison is a conservative who sits between the liberal and significant conservative view of preservation, noting that the Hebrew text has not been preserved that well, and that the LXX should be consulted for some verses (Habakkuk 1:6; 3:10).[15] He does, however, consider Habakkuk ch. 3 to be authentic to Habakkuk.[16]
Habakkuk is rooted in the history of the perilous political times either before or during Jehoiakim’s reign, which was pro-Egyptian and not pro-Babylonian.[17]
The Book of Habakkuk is a unique text which includes no oracles delivered by God to the people, but rather is largely a dialogue between the prophet and God. The Prophet Habakkuk is seen arguing with God over ways he perceived to be unfair or unjust (Habakkuk chs. 1-2). God replied, and Habakkuk confessed his faith in Him (Habakkuk ch. 3). Habakkuk does not just compose a “personal journal” between a prophet and God, but was composed to teach a very important lesson. Certainly some Southern Kingdom Israelites would have wondered why God would not have just intervened, when wickedness and corruption had manifested themselves in Judah.[18] Ultimately, it is seen how those used to judge Judah would themselves be judged (Habakkuk 2:8), as evil is a universal human problem (Habakkuk 2:9-10).
A major thrust seen in Habakkuk is to have patient faith in the Lord (Habakkuk 2:3-4), as God’s Kingdom will reveal itself (Habakkuk 2:14). This was a test which chastised not Israel, but the prophet who chastised God.[19]
The Prophet Habakkuk was considered important enough to be mentioned in the Apocryphal work Bel and the Dragon, as one who assisted in rescuing Daniel from the lion’s den,[20] but most regard this as legend. Other legends also arose concerning Habakkuk and his parentage,[21] particularly in some pseudepigraphal[22] and early Christian writing.[23]
The DSS commentary on Habakkuk interprets Habakkuk’s message against the events of the First Century B.C.E., considering the Chaldeans to represent the Romans.[24] In the Jewish theological tradition, Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted as a summary of the Torah’s 613 commandments (b.Makkot 23b-24a).[25] To a more modern Jewish audience, the Book of Habakkuk asks questions regarding the allowance of the Holocaust by God, and other similar atrocities.
Habakkuk 2:4 in the Tanach, “the righteous person shall live through his faith” (ATS), is a major verse for the doctrine of “justification by faith” (cf. Galatians 3:11; Romans 1:17),[26] widely thought of as a cardinal tenet of Protestantism. The Talmud makes an interesting observation on Habakkuk 2:4, noting,
“Isaiah again came and reduced them to two: ‘Thus says the Lord, (i) Keep justice and (ii) do righteousness’ (Isa. 56:1). Amos came and reduced them to a single one, as it is said, ‘For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel. Seek Me and live.’ Objected R. Nahman bar Isaac, “Maybe the sense is, ‘seek me’ through the whole of the Torah?’ Rather, [Simelai continues:] ‘Habakkuk further came and based them on one, as it is said, “But the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4)’” (b.Makkot 24a).[27]
Here, obedience to God was ultimately distilled down to one’s faith in Him—with everything else coming as a direct result of such faith. The theological value of Habakkuk is extremely important for anyone’s interpretation of the Apostolic Scriptures. Furthermore, the value of Habakkuk should not just be limited to his emphasis on faith. The Prophet Habakkuk asks some very poignant questions about the actions of God and the judgment of His people.
Habakkuk 3 is the Haftarah selection for Shavuot, concurrent with the revelation of the Torah given at Mount Sinai.[28]
At present, there is no serious Messianic engagement with the Book of Habakkuk. Undoubtedly, this will change given time, especially as more examination occurs with texts such as Galatians and Romans.
Bibliography
Amerding, C.E. “Habakkuk,” in ISBE, 2:583-586.
____________. “Habakkuk,” in EXP, 7:493-534.
ben Zvi, Ehud. “Habakkuk,” in Jewish Study Bible, pp 1226-1233.
Dillard, Raymond B., and Tremper Longman III. “Habakkuk,” in An Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 409-413.
Gelston, Anthony. “Habakkuk,” in ECB, pp 710-714.
Graybill, John B. “Habakkuk,” in NIDB, pp 407-408.
Haak, Robert D. “Habakkuk,” in EDB, pp 535-536.
Harrison, R.K. “The Book of Habakkuk,” in Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 931-938.
Leslie, E.A. “Habakkuk,” in IDB, 2:503-505.
Stephens-Hodes, L.E.H. “Habakkuk,” in NBCR, pp 767-772.
Sweeney, Marvin. “Habakkuk, Book of,” in ABD, 3:1-6.
______________.“Habakkuk,” in New Interpreter’s Study Bible, pp 1321-1326.
NOTES
[1] L.E.H. Stephens-Hodes, “Habakkuk,” in D. Guthrie and J.A. Motyer, eds., The New Bible Commentary Revised (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970), 767.
[2] Marvin Sweeney, “Habakkuk, Book of,” in David Noel Freedman, ed., Anchor Bible Dictionary, 6 vols. (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 3:1; Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III, An Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 409.
[3] C.E. Amerding, “Habakkuk,” in Geoffrey Bromiley, ed., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 4 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988), 2:583.
[4] E.A. Leslie, “Habakkuk,” in George Buttrick, ed., et. al., The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, 4 vols. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1962), 2:503.
[5] Robert D. Haak, “Habakkuk,” in David Noel Freedman, ed., Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000), 535.
[6] Leslie, “Habakkuk,” in IDB, 2:503.
[7] Amerding, “Habakkuk,” in ISBE, 2:584.
[8] Ehud ben Zvi, “Habakkuk,” in Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds., The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), 1226.
[9] R.K. Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969), pp 933-934; Stephens-Hodes, in NBCR, 768; John B. Graybill, “Habakkuk,” in Merrill C. Tenney, ed., The New International Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987), 407.
[10] Sweeney, “Habakkuk, Book of,” in ABD, 3:4; Haak, “Habakkuk,” in EDB, 535.
[11] Amerding, “Habakkuk,” in ISBE, 2:584.
[12] Sweeney, “Habakkuk, Book of,” in ABD, 3:2.
[13] Leslie, “Habakkuk,” in IDB, 2:504-505.
[14] Dillard and Longman, 411.
[15] Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, 938.
[16] Ibid., 936.
[17] Stephens-Hodes, in NBCR, 767; Dillard and Longman, pp 410-411.
[18] C.E. Amerding, “Habakkuk,” in EXP, 7:494.
[19] Stephens-Hodes, in NBCR, 767.
[20] Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, 931.
[21] Dillard and Longman, 409.
[22] Sweeney, “Habakkuk, Book of,” in ABD, 3:1-2.
[23] Amerding, “Habakkuk,” in ISBE, 2:583.
[24] ben Zvi, in Jewish Study Bible, 1227.
[25] Cf. Marvin Sweeney, “Habakkuk,” in Walter J. Harrelson, ed., et. al., New Interpreter’s Study Bible, NRSV (Nashville: Abingdon, 2003), 1231.
[26] Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, 937; Amerding, in EXP, 7:485.
[27] The Babylonian Talmud: A Translation and Commentary. MS Windows XP. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005. CD-ROM; Dillard and Longman, 409.
[28] Sweeney, “Habakkuk, Book of,” in ABD, 3:5.