Habakkuk 2:8-A Remnant of the Nations Plundered by Babylon Will Plunder the Babylonians

Habakkuk 2:8 Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. (NIV)

Habakkuk 2:8 “Because you plundered many nations, each and every one left from among these peoples will plunder you on account of murdering innocent civilian members of the human race. Namely, for committing violent acts against a land, a city, that is, for committing violent acts against each and every one of the inhabitants in them.” (My translation)

The Lord here in Habakkuk 2:8 continues His response to Habakkuk’s argument against His choice of the Babylonians to discipline the apostate citizenry of the southern kingdom of Judah and which argument is recorded in Habakkuk 1:12-17.

This response began in Habakkuk 2:2 and ends in Habakkuk 2:20.

Habakkuk 2:2-20 presents the Lord’s decision to judge the Babylonian empire in the future for their unrepentant sinful behavior.

Specifically, He will judge them because of their evil treatment of those nations they conquered in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian regions of the world at the end of the seventh century B.C. and at the beginning of the sixth century B.C.

Verse 8 asserts that because the Babylonians plundered many nations, each and every one left from these peoples of these nations will plunder them.

We noted that these peoples were from those nations located in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian regions of the world at the end of the seventh century B.C. and beginning of the sixth century B.C.

In Jeremiah 25:15-30, the prophet Jeremiah prophecies that many nations would fall to Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon and Habakkuk 2:6-20 identifies that a remnant from these nations would plunder the Babylonians.

Therefore, Jeremiah 25:15-30 reveals that Egypt, Uz; the Philistines (those of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod), Edom, Moab and Ammon, Tyre and Sidon and the coastlands across the Mediterranean sea will plunder the Babylonians since these nations are listed as being conquered by Babylon and Habakkuk 2:6-20 states that a remnant from these nations would plunder the Babylonians one day.

Also, Dedan, Tema, Buz and all those nations in distant places did as well along with the nations of Arabia, Zimri, Elam and of course Media.

This first assertion in Habakkuk 2:8 is followed by a prepositional phrase which presents the second reason why the Babylonians would be plundered by a remnant from those nations they conquered at the end of the seventh century B.C. and beginning of the sixth century B.C.

This prepositional phrase indicates that the Babylonians would be plundered because they murdered innocent civilian members of the human race.

Then, the Lord identifies specifically who these innocent civilians were that were murdered by the Babylonians during their conquests at the end of the seventh century B.C. and at the beginning of the sixth century B.C.

Namely, they were each and every one of the inhabitants of those lands and cities belonging to these nations.

Therefore, one of the reasons why the Lord would judge the Babylonians is that they were murdered innocent civilians in those nations which they conquered and plundered at the end of the seventh century B.C. and at the beginning of the sixth century B.C.

Habakkuk 2:8 like Habakkuk 2:6-7 was fulfilled in history when the Medo-Persian Empire invaded Babylon and overthrew Belshazzar as recorded in Daniel chapter five.

The Babylonian Empire was plundered by the Medo-Persian Empire and her allies.

Therefore, what Babylon did to other nations, was done to her.

Babylon’s punishment would correspond to the crimes they committed against other nations.

In other words, the punishment of the Babylonians would fit their crimes they committed against God and other nations.

This principle is called lex telionis and the law of retribution.

This law or principle means that because of the unjustified violent acts committed by the citizens of Babylon against other nations and because of God’s holy character, the citizens of Babylon would be treated in the same manner they treated other nations.

He would do so by employing a wicked evil nation like themselves, namely the Medo-Persian Empire and her allies.

The law of retribution is also called lex telionis (cf. Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21; Prov. 12:14; 19:17; Ezek. 35:15; Hos. 4:9; Joel 3:4-8; Jer. 50:15, 29), which means that the people of the Babylonian Empire would be treated in the same cruel manner as they demonstrated toward the citizens of other nations.

Therefore, these verses teach that God not only holds individuals accountable for their conduct but also nations.

The Babylonians learned through personal experience that the God of Israel is their judge and does execute judgments against those who violate His laws.

God has authority to judge since He is the creator.

The Scriptures teach of God’s status as judge (Psalm 75:7; cf. Psalm 50:6; 76:8-9; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Isaiah 33:22; 66:16; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 12:23; James 4:12).

God judges every individual (Ezekiel 33:20; cf. Ecclesiastes 3:17; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Peter 4:5; Jude 15; Revelation 20:12).

He judges the nations (Joel 3:12; cf. Psalm 9:19-20; 110:6; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 3:8).

God judges rulers of nations (Isaiah 40:23; Jeremiah 25:17-27; Revelation 6:15-17).

He also judges His own people in the sense that He disciplines them as His children (Hebrews 10:30; cf. Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 78:62; Jeremiah 1:16; 1 Peter 4:17).

God will judge the fallen angels (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

He judges Satan (Genesis 3:14-15; Matthew 25:41; 1 Timothy 3:6; Revelation 20:10).

God’s judgment is inescapable in that no one can hide from Him (Obadiah 4; cf. Genesis 3:8-9; Job 11:20; Jeremiah 11:11; Amos 9:1-4).

God judged the inhabitants of the antediluvian period by sending a world-wise flood (Genesis 6:7, 13, 17; 7:21-23).

He has judged individuals both believers and unbelievers (Genesis 4:9-12 Cain; Acts 5:3-10 Ananias and Sapphira; Acts 13:8-11 Elymas the sorcerer).

He judged families (Joshua 7:24-25 of Achan; 1 Samuel 3:12-13 of Eli).

He has judged cities (Genesis 19:24-25 Sodom and Gomorrah; Joshua 6:24 Jericho).

He has judged nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-5 the Canaanite nations) and He has judged rulers of nations (2 Chronicles 26:16-21 Uzziah; Daniel 4:31-33 Nebuchadnezzar; Daniel 5:22-30 Belshazzar; Acts 12:22-23 Herod).

God judges His own people (Judges 2:11-15; 2 Chronicles 36:15-20; Isaiah 33:22).

God reveals His holy character through His righteous judgments.

By judging men and angels He reveals his sovereignty (Psalm 9:7; 96:10; 99:4; Ezekiel 6:14), His power (Exodus 6:6; 14:31; Ezekiel 20:33-36; Revelation 18:8), His holiness (Leviticus 10:1-3; 1 Samuel 6:19-20; Ezekiel 28:22; Revelation 16:5), His righteous indignation (Nahum 1:2-3; Romans 2:5), His truth (Psalm 96:13; Romans 2:2; Revelation 16:7), His impartiality (2 Chronicles 19:7; Romans 2:9-11; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17), His compassion (Lamentations 3:31-33; Hosea 11:8-9; John 3:10; 4:2), His patience (Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:30; 2 Peter 3:9), and His mercy (Nehemiah 9:31; Job 9:15; Psalm 78:38; Micah 7:18).

Jeremiah 51 is a tremendous prophecy concerning the God of Israel’s intention to treat Babylon as Babylon treated other nations like the southern kingdom of Judah.

In this prophecy, the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah expresses His intention to have the nations Babylon plundered, plunder the Babylonians.

This chapter vividly illustrates the law of retribution and that the God of Israel is not only the judge of Israel but also all nations including Babylon.