The Book of Habakkuk


Background of Habakkuk
Time: Between 612BCE and 586BCE
            (After rise of Babylonian power and before the Babylonian exile)
Place: Southern Kingdom
Kings: Unnamed






Political Backdrop:

·       Babylonians have arisen as the Big Bad

·       A long commentary on Habakkuk was preserved within the Dead Sea Scrolls (called Pesher Habakkuk). This does not include the third chapter!
o   Pesher Habakkuk identifies the Chaldeans as the Romans – implications on how prophetic literature is supposed to be read?


Primary Themes of Habakkuk:

·       Lamentation

·       The Problem of Evil
o   The place of the oppressor in a theological framwork

·       Relating to God while living under injustice

·       So much mythology!


Structure of Habakkuk


Content
Verses
Section I: Dialogue with God
Chapter 1
Intro
1
Habakkuk questions God – why are You allowing this injustice?
2-5
God answers: the Babylonians are coming
6-11
Habakkuk questions God – that’s not much of a solution!
12-17



Chapter 2
Habakkuk demands an answer
1
God responds: Write this down: Evil will ultimately be met with evil
2-5
The five ‘woes’ – lamenting the Babylonian evils
6-20


Section 2: The Psalm of Habakkuk
Chapter 3
Intro
1
Request that God manifest God’s power
2
Theophany – filled with mythology!
3-15
Reaction of awe confidence in God
16-19










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