Habakkuk Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK

NAME OF THE BOOK
1. It is named after the prophet.
2. The name Habakkuk (BDB 287, KB 287) is
  1. related to the similar Hebrew root "to caress" or "to embrace" (BDB 287)
  2. from Akkadian root, "a garden plant" (see C. below)
3. In the Septuagint, he is called "Hambakoum," which is an Akkadian term that means (see B. 2 above):
  1. a vegetable flower
  2. a fruit tree
  3. vegetable
    
    Special Topic: Septaugint
CANONIZATION
1. This book is part of the "latter prophets" (Ecclesiasticus 49:10).
  Special Topic: Hebrew Canon, 2. b.
2. It is one of "the Twelve," a grouping of minor prophets (Baba Bathra 14b)
  1. Like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, together they fit on one scroll.
  2. The number twelve may represent the twelve tribes or the symbolic number of organization. See Special Topic: The Number Twelve.
  3. Their order reflects the traditional view of the book's hostorical setting.
3. Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah form a historical unit.
GENRE
1. Hebrew Prophetic Poetry (see Special Topic: Hebrew Poetry)
2. The first literary unit (Hab. 1:2-2:5) is a diatribe or a means of communicating truth through dialogue. It is very unusual for a prophet to speak to God on behalf of the people. Usually prophets spoke for God to the people.
3. The second literary unit is a series of "woes" (Hab. 2:6-20). This is reminiscent of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, which reflect the covenant woes for disobedience.
4. The final literary unit (Habakkuk 3) is a psalm, probably used as liturgy.
AUTHOR
1. This prophet speaks with YHWH concerning Judah. All other prophets speak to the people for YHWH.
2. This prophet fits into the same general period as Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Nahum, and Zephaniah. We call these men the Seventh Century Prophets.
3. He is possibly a musician related to the temple choir because:
  1. the use of the term "Shigionoth" in Hab. 3:1; the NASB footnote calls it a "highly emotional poetic form." This is a musical term of unknown meaning, possibly referring to a rest or crescendo.
  2. the use of another possible musical term, "Selah," in Hab. 3:3,9,13
  3. use of the phrase, "for the choir director, on my stringed instruments" in Hab. 3:19
4. Surprisingly neither his father or geographical home is mentioned.
DATE
1. The reign of Manasseh (687-642 B.C.). This is usually linked to Habakkuk's place in "the Twelve" and the rise of the Chaldeans, Neo-Babylonian empire (cf. Hab. 1:6).
2. The reign of Jehoiakim (609-598 B.C.). This would put it in the period of Pharaoh-Necco II's sacking of the city and later, Nebuchadnezzar's take-over of the entire area after his defeat of the remnant of the Assyrian army and the Egyptians at the battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C.
  Special Topic: Kings of Neo-Babylon
3. Pseudo-Epiphanius, in Lives of the Prophets, says that Habakkuk is from the tribe of Simeon. He fled Nebuchadnezzar II's advance in 586 B.C. and returned after the fall of the city. He died two years before his return from exile. However, this source is late and unreliable.
4. Habakkuk 2 seems to prophesy the fall of Babylon to Persia. The fall of the city of Babylon was in 539 B.C. and the decree of Cyrus II to allow the Jewish exiles to return to Palestine was in 538 B.C.
5. Habakkuk 3 has no specific historical setting but is a psalm of praise for YHWH's deliverance.
HISTORICAL SETTING
1. 686 B.C. ‒ Manasseh (686-641 B.C.)
2. 664 B.C. ‒ the Egyptian Empire gains strength under Psammetichus (664-610 B.C.; Special Topic: Kings of Egypt)
3. 648 B.C. ‒ the birth of Josiah (Special Topic: Kings of the Divided Kingdom)
4. 642 B.C. ‒ Amon, king of Judah was killed by his servants (2 Kgs. 21:19-26)
5. 640 B.C. ‒ the last effective Assyrian ruler, Ashurbanipal, dies (Special Topic: Kings of Assyria)
6. 640 B.C. ‒ Josiah becomes a king at 8 years of age (2 Kgs. 22:1)
7. 628 B.C. ‒ Josiah initiates reform (2 Chr. 34:3ff; 2 Kings 23)
8. 626 B.C. ‒ the call of Jeremiah (Jer. 1:2)
9. 626 B.C. ‒ Nabopolassar (626-605 B.C.) becomes king of Neo-Babylon (Special Topic: Kings of Neo-Babylon)
10. 621 B.C. ‒ the Book of the Law was found by workmen who were remodeling the temple (2 Chr. 34:8ff; 2 Kings 22)
11. 614 B.C. ‒ the regional capital of Assyria, Ashur, fell to Neo-Babylon
12. 612 B.C. ‒ Nineveh, Assyria's primary capital was destroyed by Neo-Babylon and Media
13. 609 B.C. ‒ Josiah was killed at Meggido opposing Pharaoh Necho II (610-594 B.C.) who was attempting to help the fleeing remnant of the Assyrian army (2 Chr. 35:20-24; 2 Kgs. 23:28-30)
14. 605 B.C. ‒ Neo-Babylon defeats the Egyptians and remainder of the Assyrian armies at Carchemish
15. 605 B.C. ‒ Nebuchadbezzar II moves through Palestine demanding tribute payments (taking Daniel and the first deportation). There were four invasions affecting Judah and Jerusalem, 605, 597, 586, and 582 B.C.
16. 601 B.C. ‒ Nebuchadnezzar II lost the battle for control of Egypt (a stalemate)
LITERARY UNITS
1. The book falls into two major sections:
  1. chapters 1 and 2 ‒ a dialogue between the prophet and YHWH
  2. chapter 3 ‒ a psalm of praise for YHWH's control of history
2. The dialogue between YHWH and His prophet, Hab. 1:2-2:20
  1. Habakkuk's complaint against YHWH's slowness to punish Judah, Hab. 1:2-4
  2. YHWH's first answer, Hab. 1:5-11
  3. Habakkuk's moral problem with YHWH's use of wicked Babylon, Hab. 1:12-2:1
  4. YHWH's second response, Hab. 2:2-5
    1. YHWH's plan is sure, write it down, Hab. 2:20
      
      (1) blessing on faith, Hab. 2:4, 14, 20
      
      (2) judgment on evil, Hab. 2:5, 6-20
    2. YHWH's people are responsible for covenant fidelity, Hab. 2:4-5 (3:16-19)
    3. YHWH will punish pagan aggression and godlessness, Hab. 2:6-20 (5 woes)
      
      (1) Hab. 2:6-8, violent aggression
      
      (2) Hab. 2:9-11, violent aggression
      
      (3) Hab. 2:12-14, violent aggression
      
      (4) Hab. 2:15-17, violent aggression
      
      (5) Hab. 2:18-20, idolatry
3. A psalm of blessing for YHWH's faithful acts of deliverance in the past and hope for deliverance in the future, Hab. 3:1-19
  1. YHWH's past acts of deliverance expressed in highly poetic form, using metaphors from (Hab. 3:1-15):
    1. the exodus
    2. creation
    3. the conquest
  2. the prophet's faith and patience in YHWH's deliverance though there is no outward sign, (Hab. 2:4; 3:16-19)
MAIN TRUTHS
1. This is a moral universe. Sin will be judged. Even YHWH's chosen people are responsible for their acts (Gal. 6:7).
2. Even in this fallen world YHWH is still in control of events. He uses evil for His purposes, but it will also be judged!
3. It is acceptable to question YHWH. However, often it is His presence, not rational answers, that satisfy (Job 42).
4. This book is the source of Paul's famous theological theme "justification by faith" (cf. Hab. 2:4).
  Evil will destroy itself eventually. YHWH's people must exercise faith in the midst of evil days!
  
  Faith must not be linked to current circumstances, Hab. 3:17-19.