The Babylonian empire had destroyed the Kingdom of Jerusalem under the tyranny of Nebuchadnezzar, and like the Assyrians at their time, the Chaldeans terrorized all the nations of the Middle East until the conquest of the Persian empire.
The prophet Habakkuk questioned in his book how God in his wisdom had raised up this nation as an instrument of his punishment, and God's response in an oracle was a call for patience, the Babylonian empire would receive its punishment in due time.
The Babylonians had made power and wealth their God, so Habakkuk warned in his book that this was a misfortune, whoever puts his hope in apparent goods builds on weak foundations: "Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples" Habakkuk 2:5.
And then the prophet continued, and in a similar way to the misfortunes announced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Habakkuk listed five misfortunes for this arrogant and godless people:
"Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion!" Habakkuk 2:6.
"Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high" Habakkuk 2:9.
"Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!" Habakkuk 2:12.
"Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk" Habakkuk 2:15.
"Woe to him who says to wood, ´Come to life!´ Or to lifeless stone, ´Wake up!´" Habakkuk 2:19.
The prophet with his wisdom set the Babylonians as an example of the unfortunate life, and of what men should not do if they want to inherit God's blessings. Those who sow injustice reap the same by the law of sowing and reaping, a cosmic law of balance, learning, and retribution: "For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." Hosea 8:7.
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