Historical Setting
We are not given the date of Habakkuk’s oracle, but it anticipates the rise of the Neo-Babylonians (Chaldeans) that began as early as 625 BC and came to fruition between 612 and 605 BC. The Neo-Babylonians, or Chaldeans, only become a significant threat to Judah after the battle of Carchemish in 605, but by 597 they had captured Jerusalem and taken King Jehoiachin as a hostage (2Ki 24:10–14).
Political Analysis of the Seventh Century BC
Internal turmoil in Assyria in the latter half of the seventh century BC may have encouraged Judah to seek a larger political role in Syria-Palestine. Between 652 and 648 BC a power struggle occurred within the royal family pitting the emperor, Ashurbanipal, against a rebel named Shamash-shum-ukin and his allies in Babylonia, Elam and Arabia. However, no significant change occurred in Judah’s political fortunes until after the death of Ashurbanipal in 627 BC, when a full pullout of Assyrian forces from Syria-Palestine took place. At that point it became clear that Assyria was not going to bring further punishment to Judah, and Habakkuk’s oracles turned their attention to Babylon.
The kings of Judah (Manasseh, Amon and Josiah) during the latter part of the seventh century BC would have noted the shifting political situation. The outbreak of a civil war between Assyrian claimants to the throne (Ashur-etel-ilani and Sin-sharra-ishkun) serve as the prelude to Josiah’s reform (2Ki 22–23; 2Ch 34–35) and any attempts on his part to expand Judah’s territory and influence. One additional impetus is the likelihood that Josiah was at least nominally allied with the Egyptians during the period after 630 BC.
Unfortunately, Josiah is not mentioned in the Babylonian Chronicle or in any other ancient text from Mesopotamia or Egypt. The death of Josiah at Megiddo ended any further hopes of a return to political independence for Judah. An anti-Egyptian faction placed Josiah’s son Jehoahaz on the throne, but after three months he was taken as a hostage—first to Riblah in central Syria and then to Egypt (2Ki 23:31–34). Necho II installed his brother Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim) as puppet ruler in Jerusalem (2Ki 23:34–35). The political situation in Syria-Palestine remained favorable to the Egyptians for several years, with a garrison installed in Carchemish and military successes against the Babylonian king Nabopolassar in 606 BC. The last contingents of the Assyrians were totally defeated, along with their Egyptian allies, at the battle of Carchemish in 605 BC. ◆
Key Concepts
• The prophets arose in troubled times to declare the messages God gave them.
• The prophets at times were perplexed about what God was doing.
• Even in times of crisis and confusion, God expects his people to be faithful and trust him.
• With God, there is always reason for hope.