The Prophet Habakkuk

The Prophet Habakkuk was one of the 12 Minor Prophets mentioned in the Ketuvim/Old Testament and prophesied in the Kingdom of Judah during the reign of Jehoiakim. Little is known about this elusive prophet of old; he is only mentioned in the tome named for him in the Holy Books (Habakkuk 1:1 and 3:1). Unlike his contemporaries, no personal information regarding Habakkuk is detailed in the Bible other than his title, "the prophet".

Ancient Chaldean Empire c/600 B.C.

Habakkuk was noted for his prophecies of God's retribution against them by the Chaldeans. The prophet also predicted the Chaldean downfall.
       
Scholars speculate and conclude that Habakkuk was residing in Jerusalem during the time he wrote his prophecy. It is believed that he flourished with future insights between 615-590 B.C.

According to biblical account, the Book of Habakkuk consisted of five (5) predictions about the Chaldeans and their rise to power around 612 B.C.; some theologians and scholars assume Habakkuk was a contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Over many centuries, considerable conjecture has been presented, mostly in the form of Christian and Rabbinic tradition, but the modern scholars of our 21st century dismiss such accounts by claiming they are speculative and unsubstantiated.  

Regardless of this prophet's elusiveness, according to the Zohar (Volume 1, page 8b) Habakkuk is the boy born to the Shunamite woman through Elisha's blessing in 2 Kings 4: 16, but according to 2 Kings 4:18-20, this child dies. So was there another seer called Habakkuk? He is also mentioned in Lives of the Prophets, which notes his time in Babylon. According to this apocryphal book, Habakkuk is said to be from the land of Bethzuchar and of the Tribe of Simeon. Not long after the fall of Jerusalem, he went to live in the land of Ishmael. Much later he was a part of the Babylonia captivity where he met the Prophet Daniel. Habakkuk was purported to die two years before the end of the captivity and was buried "in his land".  

Per Wikipedia, Habakkuk appears in Bel and the Dragon, which is part of the Additions to Daniel found in Catholicism's Biblical apocrypha. Chapter 1:33–39 states that Habakkuk is in Judea and after making some stew, he's told by the angel of the Lord to take the stew to Daniel, who is imprisoned in Babylon in the lion's den. After proclaiming he is unaware of both the den and Babylon, the angel transports Habakkuk to the lion's den. Habakkuk gives Daniel the food to sustain him, and is immediately taken back to "his own place".

Even the purposed burial place of Habakkuk is in question and his final resting place is claimed to be in various different locations, such as:

1. Sozomen, a 5th century B.C. Christian historian, claimed that the relics of the prophet were found at Cela. According to this antediluvian scholar, God revealed the location of Habakkuk's tomb to Zebennus, bishop of Eleutheropolis, in a dream. 
2. The burial place of Habakkuk is identified by Jewish tradition as a hillside in the Upper Galilee region of northern Israel, close to the villages Kadarim and Hukok, about six miles southwest of Safed and twelve miles north of Mount Tabor. A small stone building, erected during the 20th century, protects the tomb. Tradition dating as early as the 12th century AD holds that Habakkuk's tomb is at this location.  
3. Islamic tradition claims the tomb may be in Yaquq, a name related to the biblical place known as "Hukkok" (mentioned in Joshua 19:34). Archaeological findings in this area include several burial places dated to the Second Temple period (during the Babylonia captivity).  
4. In western Iran, a mausoleum southeast of Tuyserkan is also believed to be the prophet's burial location. Habakkuk was believed to be a guardian to the Temple of Solomon, and that he was captured by the Babylonians and remained in their prison for some years. 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.

The Book of Habakkuk consists of three chapters and the book is neatly divided into three different genres: 1) A discussion between God and Habakkuk. 2) Predictions of Woe for the Chaldeans, and 3) A Psalm (or Song).

Because the final chapter of the ancient prophet's book is a song, it is sometimes assumed by some theologians that he was a member of the Tribe of Levi, which served as musicians in Solomon's Temple.

While there is no biographical information on Habakkuk and less is known about him than any other writer of the Bible, he is one of the most unique among the Minor Prophets. He was the only known prophet to openly question the working of God when it came to the injustice of his people. Habakkuk questioned the Great Creator, stating:

"O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth." Habakkuk 1:2-4

It is interesting to note that while Habakkuk's name is not mentioned anywhere in the Christian Bible except for the book named after him, Paul the Apostle did quote the ancient prophet in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:37-38. Habukkuk's vision was tied to Jesus and used to comfort the Church during a period of persecution. These three epistles (Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews) are considered to be "the three great doctrinal books of the New Testament", and the mysterious prophet's statement concerning faith forms the backbone of each canon.  

To sum up this enigmatic seer, Habukkuk only identifies himself as a prophet and the major theme of his book is trying to grow from a faith of perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust in God.

"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?" ~ Habukkuk 1:13