When God responds to him in Habakkuk 1:5, what does He tell Habakkuk about what He is doing? At the height of the Babylonian Empire, the Chaldeans were an influential and highly educated group of people. The Chaldeans were noted for their cavalry (Habakkuk 1:8); they were noted also for scoffing at their captive kings (Habakkuk 1:10). Real Answers. Jewish sources, however, do not group him with those two prophets, who are often placed together, so it is possible that he was slightly earlier than these prophets. Your Invitation to Gods Holy Day Celebrations. It can be explained very simply from the fact, that in the second hemistich Habakkuk passes from the general description of the Chaldaeans to a picture of their invasion of Judah. The Chaldeans were a Semitic people who lived in southeastern Babylonia. Because the book of Habakkuk consists of five oracles about the Chaldeans (Babylonians), and the Chaldean rise to power is dated circa 612 BC, it is assumed he was active about that time, making him an early contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Habakkuk gives Daniel the food to sustain him, and he is immediately taken back to "his place". [12] The name is possibly related to the Akkadian khambbaququ (Akkadian: , mbaququ) the name of a fragrant plant,[2] or the Hebrew root .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans}, meaning "embrace". The city of Babylon was given a less favorable interpretation and was perceived as the epitome of corruption and materialism. The prophet complains to God of the violence done by the abuse of the sword of justice among his own people and the hardships thereby put upon many good people (v. 1-4). II. At this time, they began to take over the areas around Babylon, notes scholar Marc van de Mieroop in his A History of the Ancient Near East, along with another people called the Arameans. (Another name for Chaldeans is the Babylonians.) Later, Israel divided into two kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom kept the name Israel, and the Southern Kingdom was named Judah. The Chaldean horsemen flew like eagles making hast to devour the prey (Hab 1:8) (comp Lam 4:19). Chaldean is an ethnic group that originated in Babylon. This work is neither. The second woe oracle in Habakkuk 2:6-20 tackles those Chaldeans/Babylonians who built their houses from their dishonest gain in order to protect their families from danger. In the beginning of the last statement, I mean that 1) Habakkuk 2 is not talking about modern Israel, but about the Chaldeans (and it could hardly be limited to the ancient ones); 2) it is not talking (at all!) The Chaldean Empire was a relatively small state in the Mesopotamian region. In 612 B.C.E., the Chaldean Empire won the Battle of Nineveh. Thus will the Chaldaean continue incessantly to overthrow kings and conquer kingdoms with tempestuous rapidity, till he offends, by deifying his own power. It would be like the United States achieving the power it had after World War II before the year 1800. That was the way Habakkuk looked at it. They were a very impetuous people. They're related to Assyrians and Syrians (the ethnic group not the modern-day nationality). In Habakkuk 1:10 and are introduced, that the words and , upon which the emphasis lies, may be placed first. There will not be just a few horsemen involved. Therefore the coming of the Chaldeans into the country is spoken of here as a thing entirely new, and as if that people had been called into existence for . Create your account. In our context, it means "to destroy." Learn Religions. [39] Between 1800 and 1805, the Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho completed a soapstone sculpture of Habakkuk as part of his Twelve Prophets. [25] Tradition dating as early as the 12th century AD holds that Habakkuk's tomb is at this location,[26] but the tomb may also be of a local sheikh of Yaquq, a name related to the biblical place named "Hukkok",[27] whose pronunciation and spelling in Hebrew are close to "Habakkuk". Realize: it only took 20 years from their independence before they were the dominant power in the region. Daniel says it best: It is He who changes the times and the epochs;He removes kings and establishes kings (Da 2:21). One of its kings, Merodach-Baladan, visited King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:12-15). The Exilarch said, "Habakkuk the prophet has said this and we do not deny what he said. Selected noble youth were chosen to acquire the knowledge of the Chaldeans (Daniel 1:4). 3 Why do You make me see disaster, And make me look at destitution? The History of Money and Rise of Complex Economies, How Religion Developed in the Stone Age and Bronze Age, Thales the Philosopher: Theory & Contributions to Philosophy, The Bantu People: Migration, Language and Impact, The Battle of Agincourt in 1415: Facts & Overview, The Chaldeans: Definition, History & Culture, AP World History - Ancient Middle East: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Ancient China, Africa, India & America: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Ancient Greece: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Hellenism and Athenian Philosophy: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Rise of the Roman Republic: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Fall of the Roman Empire: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Dark Ages: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Early Middle Ages: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Medieval Warm Period: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The High Middle Ages: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Asia, Africa & America (1000-1300 CE): Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Late Middle Ages: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Renaissance: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Age of Exploration: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Reformation Across Europe: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Elizabethan Era: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Enlightenment: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Political, Technological, and Intellectual Developments (1750-1914): Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Colonialism: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Imperialism: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - World War I: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - World War II: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - The Cold War and Other 20th Century World History: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - A Globalized World - 1980 & Beyond: Tutoring Solution, Portions of the AP World History Exam: Tutoring Solution, How to Write a Good Essay on Your AP World History Exam: Tutoring Solution, Developing and Writing Your AP World History Exam Essay: Tutoring Solution, AP European History: Homework Help Resource, Praxis World & U.S. History - Content Knowledge (5941): Practice & Study Guide, Middle School US History: Homework Help Resource, High School US History: Homework Help Resource, High School US History: Tutoring Solution, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Test Prep & Practice, Praxis Social Studies: Content Knowledge (5081) Prep, History 106: The Civil War and Reconstruction, GED Social Studies: Civics & Government, US History, Economics, Geography & World, Hans Holbein the Younger: Biography, Famous Paintings & The Ambassadors, Charles Perrault: Biography, Fairy Tales & Books, Catherine de'Medici: Biography, Accomplishments & Facts, Mercenary: Definition & Historical Organizations, John of Gaunt, First Duke of Lancaster: Biography & Family Tree, The House of York: Family Tree & Overview, Treaty of Tordesillas: Definition & Overview, Thomas Hobbes: Biography, Beliefs & Quotes, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History: Summary, Catherine the Great: Biography, Quotes & Facts, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Emergence from, and similarities to, Assyrian culture, Drastic increase in economic prosperity compared to the previous time of Assyrian rule, Association of the reign of kings with the divine approval of the Mesopotamian gods, Its capital was Uruk, which was south of Babylonia, The state religion of the empire was the Mesopotamian. So, Habakkuk responds with Are You not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? It is derived from Greek, and then from Aramaic, and then from Akkadian. Their horses were swifter than leopards (Hab 1:8). For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places [that are] not theirs. Habakkuk isn't a well-known (or often read) book of the Bible, but it contains one of the most important lines in church history: "The righteous will live by his faith" (Hab 2:4). Required fields are marked *. Wonder! Verse 4 says, "Therefore the law is powerless." This can be viewed in one . Habakkuk is called both Habaghugh and Hayaghugh by the Muslim locals. It was used as a symbol of the spiritual captivity of people who followed Satan. God by him foretels the punishment of that abuse of power by the sword of war, and the desolations which the . Mischaq, the object of laughter. Through Habakkuk, God says that they will "sweep across the whole earth" (Hab 1:6). I cry out to You, "Violence!" Yet You do not save. To swallow up something is to make it disappear so that it loses its own identity. Your email address will not be published. The Babylonian armies are also described in the Book of Habakkuk, an Old Testament text penned in the seventh century BC. The Babylonians disgraced the nations around them, but the Lord will disgrace them (Hab 2:1516). His questions run: "God, why are you doing this? Habakkuk couldnt take it anymore. The Chaldeans were known for revitalizing the cities of Babylon and Uruk. Delitzsch (on Job 35:15) derives push in this verse and the passage cited from Arab. AP World History - Foundational Concepts: Tutoring Solution, AP World History - Major Belief Systems: Tutoring Solution, The Last Ice Age: Thawing Ice and New Human Opportunities, Foraging & Pastoral Nomadic Societies: Definition & Characteristics, Neolithic Agricultural Revolution: Causes and Implications, Development of Hierarchical Structures: Chiefs to Emperors in History, Prehistoric Religion and the Early Mother Goddess, The Great Flood and Population Migrations, Villages to Cities: How Cities Were Invented, Walls, Roads & Bronze: Tools of Empire Creation, The Horse and Chariot: Tools of Empire Creation. https://www.learnreligions.com/the-chaldeans-of-ancient-mesopotamia-117396 (accessed January 19, 2023). Alas! Its inhabitants are a few times referred to as Babylonians, but usually as Chaldeans. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. The Chaldeans were an ethnic group that lived in Mesopotamia in the first millennium B.C. Then Habakkuk asks, Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they (Hab 1:13)? 1:12-17). The wise men from the East that followed the star at the birth of Jesus were from their descendants, and they must have been influenced by the prophet Daniel (Matthew 2:2). Examples of common Chaldean foods include lamb stew and vegetarian stew. There was no justice in the land that was supposed to be known by Gods name. O LORD, thou hast ( Habakkuk 1:12 ) That is, as a nation surely we will not die. Both Muslims and Jews visit it to pay their respects. This site uses cookies to analyze traffic and ensure you get the best experience. To sum up, Babylonia is sometimes called Shinar or the land of Babylon, but usually it is called the land of the Chaldeans. Faithlife Study Bible. Timothy Darvill. The only work attributed to Habakkuk is the short book of the Bible that bears his name. Thus, the two civilizations were constant enemies. Like Daniel, Habakkuk comforts us with a message of Gods sovereignty. But Jesuss everyday spoken language would have been Aramaic. "The Chaldeans of Ancient Mesopotamia." They ruled Bablonia from 625-539 BC when Nabopolassar founded the Neo-Babylonian dynasty, which was about 400 miles long and 100 miles wide on the Persian Gulf near the delta of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow. Flint has tutored mathematics through precalculus, science, and English and has taught college history. God's response raised a greater dilemma and perplexing puzzle for the prophet. [36], Habakkuk has also been commemorated in sculpture. Babylon, one of the most famous cities from any ancient civilisation, was the capital of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. The word ''Chaldean'' is ultimately derived from the Akkadian word for the culture, ''Kaldu.'' A stone upon the grave is inscribed in both Hebrew and Persian stating that the prophet's father was Shioua Lovit, and his mother was Lesho Namit. Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. [48] For example, the medieval exegete Najm al-Dn al-f (d. 716 AH/1316 CE) provided a commentary on select verses from the Book of Habakkuk, saying the prophet's words "for his rays become light" (Habakkuk 3:4) alluded to the spread of Islam; that his words "his glory comes to town, his power appears in his courts" (Habakkuk 3:4) referred to Muhammad's stay in the town of Yathrib and the help he received there from the ansar; and that his words "death goes before him" (Habakkuk 3:5). Gill, N.S. Jerome: "To its might and warlike boldness almost all the Greeks who have written histories of the barbarians, witness.". The Chaldeans did pretty well as rulers. Habakkuk's dilemma arose with his awareness that the LORD was about to empower the Chaldeans, "that fierce and impetuous people" (Habakkuk 1:6), to swallow up Judah, a nation that was more righteous than Judah. The Book of Zephaniah Chapter 11: The Book of Habakkuk Chapter 12: The Book of Haggai Chapter 13: The Book of Zechariah Chapter 14: The Book of Malachi Chapter 15: Closing Comments Chapter 16: Notes . The term Chaldeans (Akkadian, Kaldu) designates an ancient Semitic people who lived in Chaldea 800 BC. Nebuchadnezzar II is known as the greatest king of the Chaldean dynasty of Babylonia. In fact, the records of the recipes of these foods are the world's oldest extant recipes. He established the importance of the Akkadian religion in Chaldean society by establishing temples throughout his empire. What did the Chaldeans contribute to society? , not eastwards, but according to the primary meaning of , to the front, forwards. Why must I watch all this misery? And it is Aramaic that most biblical scholars say he spoke in the Bible. Check out our Bible Answers page for more information on a variety of topics. Who were the Chaldeans? For less than $5/mo. Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, Alas! When the Chaldeans defeated Egypt and the remnant of Assyria at the city of Carchemish (see Jeremiah 46:2 and note) in 605, they became the new masters of the Middle East. The capture of Jerusalem in 597 B.C.E. [5][6], The name Habakkuk, or Habacuc,[b] appears in the Hebrew Bible only in Habakkuk 1:1 and 3:1. The prophet Joel (1:6) describes them as being "without number.". Woe to the Chaldeans Habakkuk 2. The Chaldeans were a very influential civilization in the formation of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. (t) "latitudines terrae", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. With this gentle hint at the termination of his tyranny, the announcement of the judgment closes in Habakkuk 1:11. "[42], Although the Quran only mentions around twenty-five prophets by name, and alludes to a few others, it has been a cardinal doctrine of Islam that many more prophets were sent by God who are not mentioned in the scripture. (2021, December 6). Habakkuk, [a] or Habacuc, [1] who was active around 612 BC, was a prophet whose oracles and prayer are recorded in the Book of Habakkuk, the eighth of the collected twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible. And gather them together in their fishing net. They substituted the Romans for the Chaldeans (1QpHab 2:12). The food of Chaldea was impacted by the geographic characteristics of the Arabian peninsula. The term Chaldeans (Akkadian, Kaldu) designates an ancient Semitic people who lived in Chaldea 800 BC. Although not mentioned by name in the Qu'ran, Habakkuk (Arabic: , romanized:Hab'aqq), is recognized as an Islamic prophet because he is believed to herald the coming of last prophet and divine scripture Muhammad and the Qu'ran in the Book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk was irritated by this because he considered the Chaldeans to be worse than the Judeans. The Anti-Christ Chaldeans are a worldwide cabal with an enormous army of members. Verses 3339 state that Habakkuk is in Judea; after making some stew, he is instructed by an angel of the Lord to take the stew to Daniel, who is in the lion's den in Babylon. The Tabernacle of Ancient Israel - Brief Overview of the Tabernacle of Moses in the Wilderness and the Ark of the Covenant. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. You great city,you mighty city, Babylon!For in a single hour your judgment has come., Your email address will not be published. 88 of these (in 84 verses) occur as part of the expression "king of Babylon". New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. They were wicked for their strength was their god and they established their own authority and justice by it. The Chaldean Empire occupied essentially the same geographic area as present-day Iraq. From his writing it is also believed he lived in Jerusalem. [4] Even the origin of his name is uncertain.[2]. [53] One further prophecy of Habakkuk which Ibn Qutaybah cited, from extra-canonical Hebraic literature, was "You shall be exceedingly filled in your bows O Praised One (Muhammad). When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. [24] A small stone building, erected during the 20th century, protects the tomb. In what way is stated in the last clause, in which does not answer to the relative , in the sense of "he whose power," but is placed demonstratively before the noun , like in Exodus 32:1; Joshua 9:12-13, and Isaiah 23:13 (cf. It was a ''little sister'' to the Assyrian Empire and Babylonian Empire. 5(J)Look among the nations! In Habakkuk 2:6-20, God is making clear that He will judge the Chaldeans in due time. The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome contains a Baroque sculpture of Habakkuk by the 17th-century artist Bernini. All rights reserved. The Chaldeans were mentioned long before Chesed was born. But the first meaning does not suit , whereas the second does. These verses show us that Babylonians are a subset of Chaldeans. Presented in 5 stanzas of 3 verses each, the 5 woes were directed at 5 different classes of . noun. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Ancient Assyria: Social Structure & Political Organization, Euclid, Archimedes & Ptolemy: Alexandrian Hellenistic Philosophers, Akkadian Civilization: Culture, Art & Religion, Ancient Sumerian Civilization | Culture, History & Location. Babylon represents the city with its own agenda, fighting against God and oppressing his people. Who were the Chaldeans? 13. Which shall march through the breadth of the land - rather, "the earth," literally "to the breadths of the earth," reaching to its whole length and breadth, all its dimensions as in the description of Gog and Magog Revelation 20:8-9, "the number of whom is as the sand of the sea; and they went up on the breadth of the earth; unhindered, not pent up, but spreading abroad, where they will, over the whole earth." Thus, Islamic authors have often alluded to Habakkuk as a prophet in their works,[45][46][47] and followed the pronunciation of his name with the traditional salutations of peace bestowed by Muslims onto prophets after the utterance of their names. After being freed by Cyrus the Great, he went to Ecbatana and remained there until he died, and was buried somewhere nearby, in what is today Tuyserkan. They are also not Arabs. and before the first deportation of the Jews in 597 B.C. Yes, devastation and violence are before me; In the center of the shrine's courtyard is the grave where Habakkuk is said to be buried. His horse carries him over water as it carries him over land. Who defeated the Chaldeans and conquered Babylon? Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. The Chaldean Empire was centered by the Persian Gulf right above the Arabian Peninsula. [3] His name appears in the Bible only in Habakkuk 1:1 and 3:1, with no biographical details provided other than his title "the prophet". He sounds flabbergasted at God's answer about using the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans were an ancient people group who inhabited what would today be southern Iraq. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 This map shows Chaldea in the context of its fellow ancient states. This its power is god to it, i.e., it makes it into its god (for the thought, compare Job 12:6, and the words of the Assyrian in Isaiah 10:13). In his answer to God, he again expresses his not understanding the ways of God. They devised the time system we use today with its 60-second minutes and 60-minute hours. He was going to answer the prophets petitions by dealing with the evils in Israel. Before the creation of the Chaldean Empire, Marduk was simply a local god, important only to the city of Babylon. Related Bible Terms Arphaxad Astrologer Habakkuk Prophecies of Chaldees Obadiah Book of Wise men Merodachbaladan More. The most frequent Chaldean rituals involved astrology and witchcraft. 5 [The Lord replied,] "Look among the nations! So Habakkuk has a back and forth conversation with God about his concerns. It was the Chaldeans that king Nebuchadnezzar first inquired of regarding the meaning of his strange dream, but they could not interpret it. from IUPUI, with emphases in Digital Curation and Archives Management. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved Real Questions. They were also prominent astronomers and astrologers. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. Jesus may not have spoken English but he was certainly quite a linguist. And she said, Nay, my lord, [thou] man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. A mausoleum southeast of the city of Tuyserkan in the west of Iran is also believed to be Habakkuk's burial place. There, the prophet Habakkuk describes the vicious methods for which the . Habakkuk ended his dialogue with God bu composing a prayer that could be song as a hymn. For , compare Genesis 41:49 and Zechariah 9:3; and for , like sand of the sea, Hosea 2:1. In Judges 18:25; 2 Samuel 17:8, the less concise . [38] This statue, nicknamed Zuccone ("Big Head") because of the shape of the head, now resides in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The name Chaldeans refers to the Chaldean name. Sasanid Empire: History, Society & Religion, Akkadian Empire: Facts, Achievements & Fall, The Exodus & Other Movements of the Ancient Hebrew Peoples. The main enemies of the Chaldeans were the Assyrians. Jeremiah frequently uses the same comparison when speaking of the Chaldaeans, viz., in Jeremiah 4:13; Jeremiah 48:40; Jeremiah 49:22, and Lamentations 4:19 (cf. The city of Babylon and the Chaldean Empire was situated in present-day Iraq. Spoiling and violence within Habakkuk 1:2-4 attract oppression from without. What is meant by this book is the Qur'an. Habakkuk 1:5 - 6 (NKJV)" Look among the nations and watch -- Be utterly astounded! bitterthat is, cruel (Jer 50:42; compare Jud 18:25, Margin; 2Sa 17:8). In fact, Nebuchadnezzar may have been of partial Chaldean descent himself. For decades the people have been spurning the counsel and warnings of the prophets. Who did Nebuchadnezzar throw in the fire? The Chaldean tribes started to migratefrom exactly where scholars aren't sureinto the south of Mesopotamia in the ninth century B.C. Many in those regions are considered Caucasian, white, or Middle Eastern, whereas Chaldeans only classify themselves as Chaldean or Assyrian.. Gill is a Latinist and freelance writer with a longtime focus on the classical world, who has taught Latin and assisted in history classes. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. "Chaldean" A Dictionary of World History. When Abraham left Ur with his family, the Bible says, "They went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan" (Genesis 11:31). [k]Their horde of (T)faces moves forward.They gather captives like sand.10They (U)make fun of kings,And dignitaries are an object of laughter to them.They (V)laugh at every fortress,Then (W)heap up dirt and [l]capture it.11Then they fly along like the (X)wind and pass on.But they will be held (Y)guilty,They whose (Z)strength is their god.. They also practiced magic and astrology. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The perfects and are used prophetically, representing the future as occurring already. . In Habakkuk 1:6 the chaldeans are called a bitter and hasty nation. Does singing Fallen is Babylon sound like good news to you? The city is first introduced by the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9; Babylon and Babel are the same in Hebrew). Isaiah 39:3). A person born or living in Chaldea; member of a Semitic people related to the Babylonians. How did Habakkuk end his dialogue with God? Chapter 1:12-2:1: Habakkuk's second question. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. 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 march through the breadth of the land; or "breadths of the land" (t); through the whole world, as they were attempting to do, having subdued Syria, all Asia, and great part of Africa, through which they boldly marched, bearing down all opposition that was in their way; or through the breadth of the land of Judea, taking all the fenced cities as they went along, and Jerusalem the metropolis of it; see Isaiah 8:7. to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs; the cities of Judea, and houses in them, as well as the palaces and dwellingplaces in Jerusalem, which they had no right unto, but what they got by the sword; what were the legal possessions and inheritances of others from father to son for ages past, these the Chaldeans would dispossess them of; and not only take them, and the spoil and plunder of them, for the present, but retain them in their possession, as an inheritance to be transmitted to their posterity.