Habakkuk 1:8 (ESV)

8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.

A Fierce and Devouring Nation

The Babylonians showed their military might by riding into battle on horses. Being described as swifter than leopards meant that they moved fast and very quickly across the terrain. Nothing was able to hinder their progress as they charged into battle. This rapid movement gave them the advantage of surprising their enemies and being able to pounce upon them without much resistance.

Their horses were also fiercer than the evening wolves. Wolves are strong and ferocious animals prowling around at night seeking to find prey to satisfy their hunger. Having these horses made the Babylonians invincible so that they were more than capable of destroying their enemies.

Sitting upon their horses, the Babylonian horsemen charged into battle full of pride and confident of victory. They believed in themselves and their ability to win because of their superior fighting power provided by their horses. Their attack on enemies was likened to that of an eagle that swept down out of the sky and devoured them. They struck their enemies like a lightning bolt.