Habakkuk

     

The early life of Habakkuk is not really known, but his name is thought to have come from the name of a plant specific to the Assyrian hambakuku. What is known of Habakkuk is that his passage is somewhat musical suggesting that he could have been a part of the Temple Choir Thus making him a Levite. Habakkuk is also thought to reside in the town of Bethsocher as a member of the tribe of Judah with his years of prophecy thought to be around C. 605-597 B.C

One of the most notable aspects of Habakkuk is that during his life, he is linked to have brought a meal to Daniel in the lion’s den as described in a fragment of Bel and the Dragon (line 33). The main purpose of Habakkuk was to explain the crisis of Judaism under the rule of the Babylonians and Nabuchodonosor. Keep in mind that this is just about the time of the Babylonian Captivity and the Jadeites are under oppression forced to pay heavy taxes in which can be directly linked to the building of the hanging gardens of Babylon.

 

On the Book itself, God’s Answers to Habakkuk’s pleas suggest that the Babylonians are the instruments of justice and tell Habakkuk to be patient with God’s plan. The two parts of the book of Habakkuk include both a dialogue between God and Habakkuk and the other is a sort of song with the characteristics of a psalm. Not much of Habakkuk's childhood is known and even much of the information we currently have comes from fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Still Habakkuk plays an important role as a prophet of Israel.

 

 

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4).”

 

    Outline
  1. The Prophet's complaint and it's answer.
  2. The Prophet's complaint.
  3. Canticle

 

    Review Questions
  1. What is Habakkuk's name said to have come from?
  2. To Whom was Habakkuk rumored to have brought a meal in the "Lion's Den"?
  3. Who was the Babylonian Emperor that conquered the ?

 

    SOURCES
  1. Moriarty, Frederick, "Book of Habacuc", In the New Catholic Encyclopedia,
  2. Gigot, Francis, "Habacuc", New Advent("http:www.newadvent.org/cathen/07097a.htm")
  3. The New american Bible
  4. The Jewish Encyclopedia, 1904 ed., "Habakkuk"

 

Click here for answers to Review questions

Published by a SLUH theology student, not for reference use

Please report any errors or discrepencies to dstahlhuth@yahoo.com
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