Habakkuk 2:5

“Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, etc.] Or rather, “how much less” or “moref86, wine dealing treacherously”: or “a man of wine”, as Aben Ezra supplies it; that is, a winebibber, as Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it: and the sense in connection with the preceding verse (<350204>Habakkuk 2:4) is, if a Jew, elated with his works of righteousness, his soul is not right in him, “how much less” a drunken, treacherous, proud, and ambitious heathen? if the Scribes and Pharisees, who expected the coming of the Messiah, yet withdrew from him, and opposed themselves unto him when come, “how much more” will such persons set themselves against him and his interest, thus described? by whom are…”

“Yea also, because--additional reason why the Jews may look for God punishing their Chaldean foe, namely, because . . . he is a proud man--rather, this clause continues the reason for the Jews expecting the punishment of the Chaldeans, "because he transgresseth by wine (a besetting sin of Babylon, compare Dan. 5:1-31, and CURTIUS [5.1]), being a proud man." Love of wine often begets a proud contempt of divine things, as in Belshazzar's case, which was the immediate cause of the fall of Babylon (Dan 5:2-4, Dan 5:30; compare Pro 20:1; Pro 30:9; Pro 31:5). enlargeth his desire as hell--the grave, or the unseen world, which is "never full" (Pro 27:20; Pro 30:16; Isa 5:14). The Chaldeans under…”

“This general rule the prophet goes on to apply in words which belong in part to all oppressors and in the first instance to the Chaldaean, in part yet more fully to the end and to antichrist. “Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine” (or better, “Yea, how much more, since wine is a deceiver , as Solomon says, Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever erreth thereby shall not be wise;” and Proverbs 23:32, “In the end it biteth like a serpent and pierceth like an adder;” and Hosea Hosea 4:11, “Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” As wine at first gladdens, then deprives of all reason, and lays a man open to any deceit, so also pride. And whereas…”

“He - The king of Babylon. Wine - Hereby Belshazzar, his city and kingdom of Babylon fell a prey to Darius and Cyrus. At home - Is ever abroad warring upon some or other. Unto him - To his kingdom. All nations - That are round about him. Habakkuk 2:8”

“Yea also: or, How much more he transgresseth: Pro 20:1, Pro 23:29-33, Pro 31:4, Pro 31:5; Isa 5:11, Isa 5:12, Isa 5:22, Isa 5:23, Isa 21:5; Jer 51:39; Dan 5:1-4, Dan 5:23; Nah 1:9, Nah 1:10 a proud man: Hab 2:4; Psa 138:6; Pro 30:13, Pro 30:14; Isa 2:11, Isa 2:12, Isa 2:17, Isa 16:6; Jer 50:29; Dan 5:20-23; Jam 4:6 keepeth: Kg2 14:10; Th1 4:11 \*Gr. who: Isa 5:8, Isa 10:7-13 as hell: Pro 27:20, Pro 30:15, Pro 30:16; Ecc 5:10 gathereth: Hab 2:8-10; Isa 14:16, Isa 14:17; Jer 25:9, Jer 25:17-29 Habakkuk 2:6”