Habakkuk 2.4: An Ethical Paradigm or a Political Observation?

Abstract

This article argues that Hab. 2.4 should be understood within the historical framework as a political observation rather than a moral paradigm. Minor emendations permit the interpretation of the critical terms and as `court' and `Zedekiah', respectively. This reading allows the natural interpretation of Hab. 2.4 as a real-life situation of political advocacy, akin to that made by Jeremiah (27.12, 17). It is suggested that Habakkuk's political advice to Zedekiah was perhaps later changed by a minor transposition of two letters, turning it into an ethical paradigm suitable for the new political reality.