Hab 3:14 | JFB | STEP | 14. strike . . . with his staves —with the "wicked" ( ) foe's own sword (MAURER translates, "spears") ( ). head of his villages —Not only kings were overthrown by God's hand, but His vengeance passed through the foe's villages and dependencies. A just retribution, as the foe had made "the inhabitants of Israel's villages to cease" ( ). GROTIUS translates, "of his warriors"; GESENIUS , "the chief of his captains." to scatter me — Israel, with whom Habakkuk identifies himself (compare ). rejoicing . . . to devour the poor secretly —"The poor" means the Israelites, for whom in their helpless state the foe lurks in his lair, like a wild beast, to pounce on and devour ( ).

Habakkuk 3:14

14. strike . . . with his staves—with the "wicked" (Hab 3:13) foe's own sword (MAURER translates, "spears") (Jud 7:22).

head of his villages—Not only kings were overthrown by God's hand, but His vengeance passed through the foe's villages and dependencies. A just retribution, as the foe had made "the inhabitants of Israel's villages to cease" (Jud 5:7). GROTIUS translates, "of his warriors"; GESENIUS, "the chief of his captains."

to scatter me—Israel, with whom Habakkuk identifies himself (compare Hab 1:12).

rejoicing . . . to devour the poor secretly—"The poor" means the Israelites, for whom in their helpless state the foe lurks in his lair, like a wild beast, to pounce on and devour (Ps 10:9; 17:12).