Discovery BoxProverbs 7:22-23
Context7:22 Suddenly he went 1 after her
like an ox that goes to the slaughter,
like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare 2
7:23 till an arrow pierces his liver 3 –
like a bird hurrying into a trap,
and he does not know that it will cost him his life. 4
Habakkuk 1:14-17
Context1:14 You made people like fish in the sea,
like animals in the sea 5 that have no ruler.
1:15 The Babylonian tyrant 6 pulls them all up with a fishhook;
he hauls them in with his throw net. 7
When he catches 8 them in his dragnet,
he is very happy. 9
1:16 Because of his success 10 he offers sacrifices to his throw net
and burns incense to his dragnet; 11
for because of them he has plenty of food, 12
and more than enough to eat. 13
1:17 Will he then 14 continue to fill and empty his throw net? 15
Will he always 16 destroy 17 nations and spare none? 18
Habakkuk 1:2
Context1:2 How long, Lord, must I cry for help?
But you do not listen!
I call out to you, “Violence!”
But you do not intervene! 19
Habakkuk 2:1
Context2:1 I will stand at my watch post;
I will remain stationed on the city wall. 20
I will keep watching, so I can see what he says to me
and can know 21 how I should answer
when he counters my argument. 22
[7:22] 1 tn The participle with “suddenly” gives a more vivid picture, almost as if to say “there he goes.”
[7:22] 2 tn The present translation follows R. B. Y. Scott (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes [AB], 64). This third colon of the verse would usually be rendered, “fetters to the chastening of a fool” (KJV, ASV, and NASB are all similar). But there is no support that עֶכֶס (’ekhes) means “fetters.” It appears in Isaiah 3:16 as “anklets.” The parallelism here suggests that some animal imagery is required. Thus the ancient versions have “as a dog to the bonds.”
[7:23] 3 sn The figure of an arrow piercing the liver (an implied comparison) may refer to the pangs of a guilty conscience that the guilty must reap along with the spiritual and physical ruin that follows (see on these expressions H. W. Wolff, Anthropology of the Old Testament).
[7:23] 4 tn The expression that it is “for/about/over his life” means that it could cost him his life (e.g., Num 16:38). Alternatively, the line could refer to moral corruption and social disgrace rather than physical death – but this would not rule out physical death too.
[1:14] 5 tn The Hebrew word רֶמֶשׂ (remesh) usually refers to animals that creep, but here the referent seems to be marine animals that glide through the water (note the parallelism in the previous line). See also Ps 104:25.
[1:15] 6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Babylonian tyrant) has been specified in the translation for clarity (cf. NASB “The Chaldeans”; NIV “The wicked foe”; NRSV “The enemy”). Babylonian imperialism is here compared to a professional fisherman who repeatedly brings in his catch and has plenty to eat.
[1:15] 7 tn Apparently two different types of fishing nets are referred to here. The חֵרֶם (kherem, “throw net”) was used by fishermen standing on the shore (see Ezek 47:10), while the מִכְמֶרֶת (mikhmeret, “dragnet”) was used by men in a boat. See R. D. Patterson, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (WEC), 165.
[1:15] 8 tn Heb “and he gathers.”
[1:15] 9 tn Heb “Therefore he is happy and rejoices.” Here two synonyms are joined for emphasis.
[1:16] 11 sn The fishing implements (throw net and dragnet) represent Babylonian military might. The prophet depicts the Babylonians as arrogantly worshiping their own power (sacrifices…burns incense, see also v. 11b).
[1:16] 12 tn Heb “for by them his portion is full [or, “fat”].”
[1:16] 13 tn Heb “and his food is plentiful [or, “fat”].”
[1:17] 15 tn Heb “Will he then empty his throw net?” The words “continue to fill and” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[1:17] 16 tn Or “continually.”
[1:17] 18 tn Or “without showing compassion.”
[2:1] 20 sn Habakkuk compares himself to a watchman stationed on the city wall who keeps his eyes open for approaching messengers or danger.
[2:1] 21 tn The word “know” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
