Habakkuk 2:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Amid these reflections, he cried out: ‘How long?’ revealing the insatiable nature of power-hunger, unbridled savagery, and the hatred that fuels oppressive tyranny. The tyrants of Babylon are indeed relentless, monstrous in their cruelty, and brazen in committing the most disgraceful acts. Satan mirrors this behavior, continuously gathering ‘not his own’ and preparing for himself the most dire punishment. It is stated clearly to him: ‘As a garment wet with blood shall not be clean, so also thou shalt not be clean: for my land thou hast destroyed, and my people thou hast beaten: thou shalt not abide forever’ (Isaiah 14:20). What nations did he spare? What tribes did he protect? What vile act has he not audaciously committed? Thus, in justice, downfall shall be his fate, encapsulated in a parable once his authority is shattered and his tyranny put to rest. This is affirmed by the wise Jeremiah, who speaks of him: ‘cry the ripple (partridge), he that gathereth not his children, he that worketh his riches not with judgement, in the consummation of his days shall forsake them, and shall be mad at the end of his days’ (Jeremiah 17:11). This prophecy has indeed been fulfilled. The Babylonian destroyed Judea and Samaria and devastated surrounding nations, carrying their inhabitants off to his domain. Yet, when Cyrus led the Persians and Medes to triumph over the Babylonians, the gathered nations returned home as if they had taken flight, liberated from the shackles of captivity. The unbelieving Gentiles renounced idolatry under the guidance of their leader, crying out and inviting themselves away from the old era to turn towards Christ; for while he gathered ‘the things that are not his,’ Christ accepted ‘the things that are his,’ for as God, He is the Lord of all.

When he is condemned, will all nations not voice their grievances against him, recalling his former splendor before his downfall caused by his intoxication from the cup of the Lord? Woe to him who pillages the world and is still unsated by plunder, tearing apart the defenseless and burdening himself with the weight of his wrongdoings. Observe how he refers to his amassed wealth as thick mud. Will not the Medes and Persians arise suddenly, to ravage Babylon, first striking and then dismantling it? Will not Nebuchadnezzar become their spoil, as the oppressor of the world becomes the prey of those he could not subdue? This fate awaits him for the bloodshed of Judah and the injustices in the land, specifically Jerusalem and its inhabitants.

Let us also reflect upon the Seventy. All that has been stated about Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar can equally apply to this world and the devil, who embodies true arrogance and grandeur, yet will achieve no success; all his efforts will result in ruin. Like death and the grave, he will find no satisfaction in the destruction of the slain, delighting instead in deceiving the nations and amassing tribes unto himself. When he is cast into the abyss, remembering the fulfillment of the parables and mysterious sayings found in the prophetic texts, those nations will cry out in unison, "Woe to the devil, who has hoarded riches he does not own! Woe to the partridge that gathers what it did not lay!" The query of "How long?" belongs to both the accusers and those declaring the day of judgment. He is weighed down by chains of immense burden, for his pride, manifest in his haughty demeanor, will be met with a heavy destiny, bending that which is exalted. This will occur because those he has tormented will arise unexpectedly—either the angels assigned to chastise him or those he once held captive, who will repent and return to the banner of Christ, as noted elsewhere: “The men who were at peace with thee have set up intrigues against thee” (Jeremiah 38:22).

The narrative continues, indicating that those who plotted against him will turn against him, besieging him with those whom he had once intoxicated and lulled into complacency, reclaiming them for Christ's army. For he has made many nations his prey, stripping the garments and jewels from the people of Judah, which had been bestowed upon them. Consequently, the other nations who have not submitted to his reign shall in turn plunder him, rendering him exposed, all due to the countless lives he has taken and the blood he has shed. Moreover, the transgressions of the land of Judah, the city of Jerusalem, and all its inhabitants, who cried out against their Creator, “Crucify Him, crucify Him: His blood be upon us, and upon our children” (John 19:6; Matthew 27:25), shall be laid upon him as the cause for his loss.

Furthermore, these words can be interpreted in relation to the Antichrist, whose pride will lead him to sit in the temple of God, falsely claiming divinity; like death and the grave, he will amass many followers, even deceiving the very elect, should it be possible (Mark 13:22). He will gather tribes and lead nations astray. However, those who later witness his demise by the spirit of Christ's mouth will recognize the prophecies fulfilled and proclaim the ensuing words with understanding akin to that regarding the devil. The remaining nations, representing the church's faithful, who have not succumbed to the Antichrist's seduction, will rise and awaken from their slumber, launching a counteroffensive against the wicked.

Some interpret the phrase, “Woe to those who amass wealth not their own,” as pertaining to the greedy who expand their possessions, hoarding what does not truly belong to them, only to be suddenly deprived. The Lord clarifies this truth when He states, “But if you have not been faithful in other people's things, who will give you what is yours?” (Luke 16:12). Such interpretations focus on the rich man, yet the coherence between the prophet's inquiry and its resolution remains uncertain.

When utilized for righteousness, wealth serves as a means of redemption; yet it becomes a burden for those who misuse it. To what end is wealth for mankind, other than a burdensome pack, weighed down in accordance with one’s desires?