Habakkuk 2:6-10

Habakkuk 2:6 (KJB)

Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

Because we have seen in verse 5 the arrogant attitude of the king of Babylon, those things instead of being his strength, will be his downfall.  These things will now become a parable against him.  It would turn his empire into a byword which would be a condescending saying.  They will also become a taunting proverb against him.  Taunting means to “mock, deride or insult.”  The first woe pronounced against him is about increasing that which is not his.  He increased his wealth by robbing, killing, and pillaging other nations, things which did not belong to him and that he had no right to have them.  Those who are oppressed will ask how long will this continue and those who are the oppressors, how long can they continue like this before they are challenged and destroyed themselves.  The last part of this verse speaks about the debt which is incurred by the Babylonians.  In those days everything was written on clay tablets, from personal agreements to business and political agreements.  We can still see them today written in cuneiform.  The fact that the verse is talking about lading himself with thick clay means that he has amassed heavy debt by plundering other nations.  It is like a person has a credit card with a $10,000 credit limit, they can charge vacations, material goods, food, drink, or anything they want and live the good life for a while but eventually they reach the credit limit and are no longer able to charge anything else which means the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to pay.  As God said to Habakkuk that the vision was for an appointed time, the destruction of the Babylonians will also be at an appointed time when their “credit card” is filled up and their day of reckoning is at hand.

Habakkuk 2:7 (KJB)

Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

At this time the Medes and Persians were continuing to grow in power and once they are ready and the appointed time has come, they shall be as a lion bites a person, devastating to the point of death.  The words “that shall bite” refers to a financial dealing such as usury on a loan and as we saw in the previous verse that their day of reckoning is coming because they were laden with thick clay, that is, they will owe many countries much because of their actions.  The word “vex” carries with it the meaning of “tormentors” which will be what the Medes and Persians will be to them. To awake means they are laying back right now and are not a threat until the appointed time.  Then when it finally happens, the Babylonians will be plunder for them, so everything that the Babylonians stole they will not be able to keep but will have to surrender it all to the Medes and Persians as they will now become the conquerors.

Habakkuk 2:8 (KJB)

Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

Since the Babylonians had taken spoil from many nations and had slain their people and deposed kings and taken captive many people, those who survived will become empowered to challenge Babylon and will eventually take all the spoils back that they took.  Since the Babylonians had shed much blood in these countries and did violence to all these lands by raping them and plundering and burning them they will be repaid for their actions.  The last part also speaks about the plundering of Judah along with the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants will also rise up and confront Babylon making them the victims instead of the victors.  God is assuring the people through Habakkuk that he has not forgotten them and that their captivity and punishment will have an end to it.

Habakkuk 2:9 (KJB)

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

Here is the second woe which speaks about their abuse of others to attain personal security.  It actually refers to them gaining an unjust gain so he can be the wealthiest king in the world with the wealthiest kingdom.  We remember what God told the Edomites in Obadiah 4.  Obadiah 4 (KJV) Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.  Even if the Edomites exalt themselves as high as the eagle builds her nest, from there God will bring them down.  It is the same with the Babylonians, as big, wealthy, and powerful as they are, they will be brought down to nothing when God decrees the Medes and Persians to move on them.  No matter how big or powerful they get, they will never escape the onslaught of the Medes and Persians.

Habakkuk 2:10 (KJB)

Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.