Habakkuk 2:6

First woe upon lust of conquest and plunder, Habakkuk 2:6-8.

Habakkuk 2:6 a introduces the oppressed who will pronounce the woes. The utterances begin with “woe” in 6b. Throughout the song the Chaldean power is personified as an individual (see Introduction, p. 472). The nations will not submit forever.

All these All the wronged nations.

Against him The Chaldean oppressor.

Parable The primary meaning of the Hebrew word seems to be “likeness” or “identity”; hence it came to be applied to any saying containing a comparison or similitude. In a more general sense it is used of any figurative speech or song in some places of a taunt-song (Isaiah 14:4); so here.

Taunting proverb Literally, a dark saying; margin, “riddle”; here practically synonymous with the preceding, a taunt-song. The thought is that the nations will make the Chaldeans, as examples of fallen greatness and pride, objects of taunting proverbs and comparisons, such as are found in Habakkuk 2:6-20.

Woe With this word begins the first “parable.” Each of the five is directed against a specific crime, the first against lust of conquest and plunder.

Increaseth that which is not his He seizes the lands and possessions of other nations (compare Habakkuk 1:6; Habakkuk 1:9; Habakkuk 1:15).

How long? “A sigh appended to the woe.” How long will he be permitted to carry out this policy?

Ladeth himself with thick clay This is a possible translation, but the context favors the reading of R.V., “with pledges.” The wealth accumulated by the Chaldeans is represented as a mass of pledges which they have taken from the nations like merciless usurers. But the time will come when the plundered nations will rise in wrath and compel the Chaldeans to return these pledges to their proper owners. In this connection it may be interesting to compare the boast of Nebuchadnezzar: “I have amassed silver, gold, metals, precious stones of all kinds and of all values, a collection of objects of great price, immense treasures.”