A downloadable PDF:
020524 Hab 1_5-2_1 Session 2.pdf
"Behold ye among the heathen" instructs Judah to observe the divine actions among the nations, which will impact them due to their unfaithfulness. The Lord promises a shocking display of His power. Taken out of context, this verse might be misunderstood; it doesn't promise benefit to Judah.
Paul quotes this message in Acts 13:40-41, during the first recorded verbalization of God's grace Gospel. In Antioch of Pisidia, Paul addressed the Jews, summarizing their history and declaring Jesus as their Messiah. After their rejection, he conveyed the grace gospel (vv. 38-39) and warned them about the prophetic word that would "come upon" them. He reinterpreted the term "heathen" to "despisers" as a warning about God's work among the Gentiles.
God promises to raise the Chaldeans, often referred to as the Babylonians. The Bible uses "Chaldean" 80 times, compared to "Babylonian," hence, they will be referred to as the Chaldeans. The Lord prophesied that the Chaldeans would possess the 'dwellingplaces,' predicting Babylon's occupation of Judah.
The Chaldeans, reflecting the Neo-Babylonian Empire's powerful military status, are described as 'terrible and dreadful.' This aligns with scriptures and history as they ended the long-standing Assyrian dominance, shifting power in the ancient Near East.
The phrase "their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves" suggests that they have the autonomy to make judgments, stemming from a high, power-based authority.
The verse, referencing the Chaldeans and Deuteronomy 28:49, uses poetic imagery to instil fear, provoke introspection, and remind the nation of the consequences of their transgressions. Its vivid symbolism is intended to resonate with the people, urging them to reconsider their actions.
The warning describes the approaching horde's violence. The phrase, "their faces shall sup up as the east wind", suggests they're consuming everything in their path, much like an east wind devours all in its trajectory. It resonates with Job 39:24 which portrays a runner appearing to "swallow" the ground with his speed and rage.
“their faces shall sup up as the east wind” —Hab. 1:9
The kings and princes of Judah will prove no match for them, as later history would record. No stronghold would withstand their power. The last phrase, "they heap dust, and take it," is clearly a metaphor, although its exact meaning is difficult to determine. It might refer to the Babylonian empire's practice of constructing siege ramps to conquer strongholds, similar to the Romans' later tactics at Masada.
The Lord speaks of the Chaldeans' future change of heart. The unclear reference—either to the Chaldean king or people—stems from the singular pronouns in the original language, translated into plural in English as it seems to refer to a "national whole." The nation or king attributes his achievements to his Chaldean god, crossing a line noted by Prophet Habakkuk from verse 12.