Habakkuk 1:6

“For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, etc.] A people still of late mean and low, famous only for their soothsaying, divination, and judicial astrology; but now become a powerful and warlike people, rising up under the permission of Providence to universal monarchy, and who would quickly add Judea to the rest of their dominions: [that] bitter and hasty nation; a cruel and merciless people in their temper and disposition: “bitter” against the people of God and true religion, and causing bitterness, calamities, and distress, wherever they came: “hasty” and precipitate in their determinations; swift and nimble in their motions; active and vigorous in the prosecution of their designs: which shall…”

“I raise up--not referring to God's having brought the Chaldeans from their original seats to Babylonia (see on Isa 23:13), for they had already been upwards of twenty years (since Nabopolassar's era) in political power there; but to His being about now to raise them up as the instruments of God's "work" of judgment on the Jews (Ch2 36:6). The Hebrew is future, "I will raise up." bitter--that is, cruel (Jer 50:42; compare Jdg 18:25, Margin; Sa1 17:8). hasty--not passionate, but "impetuous."”

“For lo - So God announces a future, in which His Hand shall be greatly visible, whether more or less distant. In His sight it is present. I raise up - God uses the free will and evil passions of people or devils to His own ends; and so He is said to “raise up” those whom He allows to be stirred up against His people, since the events which His Providence permits, favor their designs, and it rests with Him to withhold them. They lift themselves up for some end of covetousness or pride. But there is a higher order of things, in which God orders their actions to fulfill His righteousness by their iniquities. The Chaldaeans, that bitter - מר. In Judges 18:25; 2 Samuel 17:8, the less concise נפשׁ…”

“Bitter - Cruel, and without mercy. Hasty - Speedy in executing their merciless purposes. Habakkuk 1:7”

“I raise: Deu 28:49-52; Kg2 24:2; Ch2 36:6, Ch2 36:17; Isa 23:13, Isa 39:6, Isa 39:7; Jer 1:15, Jer 1:16; Jer 4:6, Jer 4:8, Jer 5:15, Jer 6:22, Jer 6:23, Jer 21:4, Jer 25:9 breadth: Heb. breadths Habakkuk 1:7”

“Announcement of this work. - Hab 1:6. "For, behold, I cause the Chaldaeans to rise up, the fierce and vehement nation, which marches along the breadths of the earth, to take possession of dwelling-places that are not its own. Hab 1:7. It is alarming and fearful: its right and its eminence go forth from it. Hab 1:8. And its horses are swifter than leopards, and more sudden than evening wolves: and its horsemen spring along; and its horsemen, they come from afar; they fly hither, hastening like an eagle to devour. Hab 1:9. It comes all at once for wickedness; the endeavour of their faces is directed forwards, and it gathers prisoners together like sand. Hab 1:10. And it, kings it scoffs at,…”