Final answer:
According to Habakkuk 3:12, in anger, God 'threshed the nations'. This refers to God's judgment and punishment on nations, as exemplified by various instances of divine retribution described throughout the Old Testament.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the biblical passage of Habakkuk 3:12, it is said that God threshed the nations in anger. This expression symbolizes the judgment and punishment that God can inflict on nations when viewed as disobedient or wicked, according to the Old Testament narrative. Examples of divine judgment include the earth swallowing rebellious men and their households in Numbers 16, fire from the Lord consuming 250 men in Numbers 16:35, and a plague from the Lord killing 14,700 people in Numbers 16:49. Other examples in the Old Testament describe various forms of divine retribution, such as the destruction of the Canaanites and the sending of fiery serpents, plagues, and even direct commands to the Israelites to carry out acts of warfare and conquest.
In line with the belief of early Judaism, this divine anger is portrayed not as arbitrary, but as a response to wrongdoing. Yet, these scriptures also reflect the complexity of interpreting ancient texts and the multifaceted character of the divine as portrayed in them, where God is involved in both the life and judgment of His chosen people.