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" (Ha 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 Ha 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 (Psa 10:9; 17:12).