1QpHab (eng)

The Pesher Habakkuk (1QpHab) is the longest and best-preserved commentary of the Yaḥad, divided into two nearly symmetrical sections that cite brief passages from Habakkuk and interpret them using the characteristic פשר formula. It offers a continuous commentary on Hab 1:1–2:20, with Hab 2:3–4—contrasting the righteous and the wicked—serving as the thematic key to the entire interpretation.

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For judgment have you appointed him, and, (O You) Rock, as his reprover, have you established him. You, with eyes too pure

to look upon evil, and you cannot gaze upon wrongdoing^{1In this context, עמל, parallel to רע (“evil”), is to be understood as “wrongdoing,” that is, harm inflicted on others, rather than “trouble” or “suffering” in a general sense.}.”

The interpretation of the word is that God will not destroy his people by the hand of the nations.

Rather, ^{2Sieh Lim 2020, 78: “The conjunction of וביד is adversative and is translated as ‘rather’, grammatically contrasting the latter statement with the former.”} God will place the judgment of all the nations into the hand of his chosen ones. ^{3Pluralform בחירו statt des klassischen בחיריו. Sieh auch Zeile 5 am Ende.} And through their reproof

all the wicked ones among his people will be pronounced guilty – through those who kept his commandments

in their distress.