Habakkuk was most likely a contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. He was alive to see the reforms of Josiah, the apostasy of Manasseh, and the growing power of Babylon. Most date this book prior to 605 B.C. (before the battle of Carchemish, where Babylon defeated Egypt). Judah was facing a time of unrest and unfaithfulness as Babylon only grew in power.