NOTES ON The Book of JOB
The preceding books of scripture are, for the most part, plain and easy narratives,
which he that runs may read and understand: but in the five poetical books, on which we
are now entering, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomon's song, are many things
hard to be understood. These therefore require a more close application of mind, which yet
the treasures they contain will abundantly recompence. The former books were mostly
historical: these are doctrinal and devotional. And they are wrote in verse, according to
the ancient rules of versifying, tho' not in rhythm, nor according to the rules of latter
tongues. Job is a kind of heroic poem; the book of Psalms a collection of sacred odes,
Solomon's song, a Divine pastoral. They are all poetical, yet serious and full of majesty.
They have a poetic force and flame, without poetic fury, move the affections, without
corrupting the imagination; and while they gratify the ear, improve the mind, and profit
the more by pleasing. We have here much of God, his infinite pefections, and his
government both of the world, and of the church. And we have much of Christ, who is the
spring, and soul, and center of revealed religion. Here is what may enlighten our
understandings, and acquaint us with the deep things of God. And this divine light may
bring into the soul a divine fire, which will kindle and inflame devout affections, on
which wings we may soar upwards, until we enter into the holiest. We are certain that the
book of Job is a true history. That there was such a man as Job, undeniably appears, from
his being mentioned by the prophet, together with Noah and Daniel, Ezek 14:14,
and the narrative we have of his prosperity and piety, his strange afflictions and
exemplary patience, the substance of his conferences with his friends, and God's discourse
with him out of the whirlwind, with his return to a prosperous condition, are no doubt
exactly true. We are sure also this book is very ancient, probably of equal date with the
book of Genesis itself. It is likely, Job was of the posterity of Nahor, Abraham's
brother, whose first - born was Uz, and in whose family religion was kept up, as appears Gen
31:53, where God is called not only the God of Abraham, but the God of Nahor. He
lived before sacrifices were confined to one altar, before the general apostacy of the
nations, and while God was known by the name of God Almighty, more than by the name of
Jehovah: for he is called Shaddai, the Almighty, above thirty times in this book. And that
he lived before (probably very little before) the deliverance of the children of Israel
out of Egypt, we may gather from hence, that there is no allusion at all to that grand
event throughout the whole book.
In this noble poem we have,
- A monument of primitive theology;
- A specimen of Gentile piety: for Job was not of the promised seed, no Israelite, no
proselyte:
- An exposition of the book of providence, and a clear solution of man difficult passages
therein:
- A great example of patience and close adherence to God in the deepest calamities: and
- An illustrious type of Christ, emptied and humbled, in order to his greater glory.
In this book we have, an account of Job's sufferings, chap. 1, 2, Not without a mixture
of human frailty, chap. 3. A dispute between him and his three friends, chap. 4 - 31. The
interposal of Elihu, and of God himself, chap. 32 - 41. The end of all in Job's
prosperity, chap. 42.
Chapter I
Job's piety, children, substance, ver. 1 - 5. Satan obtains leave to try him, ver.
6 - 12. His oxen, sheep, camels and servants destroyed, ver. 13 - 17. His sons and
daughters killed, ver. 18, 19. His patience and piety, ver. 20 - 22.
| 1 |
Uz - Part of Arabia. Perfect - Not legally or exactly, but as to his sincere
intentions, hearty affections, and diligent endeavours to perform all his duties to God
and men. Upright - Heb. right, exact and regular in all his dealings, with men; one of an
unblameable conversation. Feared - One truly pious, and devoted to God. Eschewed -
Carefully avoiding all sin against God or men. |
| 3 |
Camels - Camels in these parts were very numerous, and very useful, both for carrying
burdens in these hot and dry countries, as being able to endure thirst much better than
other creatures, and for service in war. Asses - He - asses also may be included in this
expression, because the greatest part of them (from which the denomination is usually
taken) were she asses. The greatest - That lived in those parts. The account of his piety
and prosperity comes before the account of his afflictions, to shew that neither of these
will secure us from the common, no, nor from the uncommon calamities of human life. |
| 4 |
Feasted - To testify and maintain their brotherly love. His day - Each his appointed
day, perhaps his birth - day, or the first day of the month. |
| 5 |
When - When each of them had had his turn. Satisfied - He exhorted them to examine
their own consciences, to repent of any thing, which had been amiss in their feasting, and
compose their minds for employments of a more solemn nature. Early - Thereby shewing his
ardent zeal in God's service. May be - His zeal for God's glory, and his true love to his
children, made him jealous. Cursed - Not in a gross manner, which it is not probable
either that they should do, or that Job should suspect it concerning them, but despised or
dishonoured God; for both Hebrew and Greek words signifies cursing, are sometimes used to
note only, reviling or setting light by a person. Hearts - By slight and low thoughts of
God, or by neglecting to give God the praise for the mercies which they enjoyed. Thus - It
was his constant course at the end of every feasting time, to offer a sacrifice for each.
Parents should be particular in their addresses to God, for the several branches of their
family; praying for each child, according to his particular temper, genius and
disposition. |
| 6 |
A day - A certain time appointed by God. The sons - The holy angels, so called, chap.38:7
Dan 3:25,28, because of their creation by God, for their resemblance of him in
power, and dignity, and holiness, and for their filial affection and obedience, to him.
Before - Before his throne, to receive his commands, and to give him an account of their
negotiations. But you must not think that these things are to be understood literally; it
is only a parabolical representation of that great truth, that God by his wise and holy
providence governs all the actions of men and devils: It being usual with the great God to
condescend to our shallow capacities, and to express himself, as the Jews phrase it, in
the language of the sons of men. And it is likewise intimated, that the affairs of earth
are much the subject of the counsels of the unseen world. That world is dark to us: but we
lie open to it. |
| 9 |
For nought - Out of pure love and respect to thee? No. It is policy, not piety, that
makes him good; he doth not serve thee, but serveth himself of thee, serving thee for his
own ends. |
| 12 |
Behold, &c. - It seems strange, that, God should give Satan such a permission as
this. But he did it for his own glory, for the honour of Job, for the explanation of
providence, and the encouragement of his afflicted people in all ages. |
| 14 |
Messenger, &c. - One messenger immediately followed another; Satan so ordering by
God's permission, that there might seem to be more than ordinary displeasure of God
against him in his troubles, and that he might not have leisure to recollect himself, but
be overwhelmed by a complication of calamities. |
| 15 |
Sabeans - A people of Arabia, who led a wandering life, and lived by robbery and
spoil. I - Whom Satan spared, that Job might have speedy and certain intelligence of his
calamity. |
| 16 |
The fire of God - As thunder is the voice of God, so lightning is his fire. How
terrible then were the tidings of this destruction, which came immediately from the hand
of God! And seemed to shew, that God was angry at his very offerings, and would receive no
more from his hands. |
| 17 |
Chaldeans - Who also lived upon spoil, as Xenephon and others observe. |
| 19 |
The young men - This was the greatest of Job's losses, and therefore Satan reserved it
to the last, that if the other provocations failed, this might make him curse God. They
died by a wind of the devils raising, but which seemed to be the immediate hand of God.
And they were taken away, when he had the most need of them, to comfort him under all his
other losses. Such miserable comforters are creatures: in God we have a constant and
sufficient help. |
| 20 |
Shaved - Caused his hair to be shaved or cut off, which was then an usual ceremony in
mourning. Worshipped - Instead of cursing God, which Satan said he would do, he adored
him, and gave him the glory of his sovereignty, of his justice, and of his goodness also,
in this most severe dispensation. |
| 21 |
Naked - I brought none of these things with me, when I came out of my mother's womb
into the world, but I received them from the hand of God, who hath now required his own
again. Return thither - I shall be as rich when I die as I was when I was born, and
therefore have reason to be contented with my condition, which also is the common lot of
all men. Into the lap of our common mother, the earth, as the weary child lays its head in
its mother's bosom. We go out of the world naked; the body doth, tho' the sanctified soul
goes clothed. (2Cor 5:3.) Death strips us of all our enjoyments: clothing can
neither warm nor adorn a dead body. Taken - He hath taken away nothing but his own, and
what he so gave that he reserved the supreme disposal of in his own hand. And what is it
to me, by what hand he that gives, resumes what he gave? |
| 22 |
Charged - Heb. not imputed folly to God; so far was he from blaspheming God, that he
did not entertain any dishonourable thought of God, as if he had done anything unworthy of
his infinite wisdom, or justice, or goodness, but heartily acquiesced in his good
pleasure, and in his righteous though sharp proceedings against him. Discontent and
impatience do in effect impute folly to God. Against the workings of these we should
carefully watch, acknowledging that God has done well, but we have done foolishly. |
Chapter II
Satan moves for another trial of Job, which God permits, ver. 1 - 6. Satan smites
him with boils from head to foot, ver. 7,8. He is tempted by his wife, but resists the
temptation, ver. 9,10 His friends come to comfort him, ver. 11 - 13.
| 3 |
Still - Notwithstanding all his afflictions, and thy suggestion to the contrary.
Movedst - This, as the rest of this representation, is not to be understood literally: But
the design is to signify both the devil's restless malice in promoting man's misery and
God's permission of it for wise and holy ends. |
| 4 |
Skin, &c. - The sense is, this is so far from being an evidence of Job's sincere
and generous piety, that it is only an act of mere self - love; he is contented with the
loss of his estate, and children too, so long as he sleeps in a whole skin; and he is well
pleased, that thou wilt accept of these a ransom in his stead; and it is not true patience
which makes him seem to bear his crosses so submissively, but policy, that he may appease
thy wrath against him, and prevent those farther plagues, which, for his hypocrisy, he
fears thou wilt otherwise bring upon his own carcase. |
| 6 |
In thine hand - If God did not chain up the roaring lion, how soon would he devour us!
As far as he permits the wrath of Satan and wicked men, to proceed against his people, he
will make it turn to his praise and theirs, and the remainder thereof he will restrain.
Job, in being thus maligned of Satan, was a type of Christ. He had permission to bruise
his heel, to touch his bone and his flesh; yea, and his life also; because by dying he was
to do what Job could not do, to destroy him that had the power of death. |
| 7 |
Boils - Like those inflicted upon the Egyptians, which are expressed by the same word,
and threatened to apostate Israelites, Deut 28:27, whereby he was made
loathsome to himself, and to his nearest relations, and filled with consuming pains in his
body, and no less torments and anguish in his mind. |
| 8 |
Scrape - This he did not with soft linen clothes, either because he had not now a
sufficient quantity of them; or because therein he must have had the help of others who
abhorred to come near him. Nor with his own hands or fingers, which were also ulcerous,
and so unfit for that use; but with potsherds, either because they were next at hand, and
ready for his present use; or in token of his deep humiliation under God's hand, which
made him decline all things that favoured of tenderness and delicacy. Heb. in dust or
ashes, as mourners used to do. If God lay him among the ashes, there he will contentedly
sit down. A low spirit becomes low circumstances, and will help to reconcile us to them. |
| 9 |
Then said his wife - Whom Satan spared, to be a troubler and tempter to him. It is his
policy, to send his temptations by the hands of those that are dear to us. We must
therefore carefully watch, that we be not drawn to any evil, by them whom we love and
value the most. Die - I see thou art set upon blessing of God, thou blessest God for
giving, and thou blessest God for taking away, and thou art still blessing God for thy
loathsome diseases, and he rewards thee accordingly, giving thee more and more of that
kind of mercy for which thou blessest him. Go on therefore in thy generous course, and
bless God, and die as a fool dieth. |
| 10 |
Shall we - Shall we poor worms give laws to our supreme Lord, and oblige him never to
afflict us? And shall not those great and manifold mercies, which from time to time God
hath given us, compensate these short afflictions? Ought we not to bless God for those
mercies which we did not deserve; and contentedly bear those corrections which we do
deserve. And if we receive so much good for the body, shall we not receive some good for
our souls? That is, some affliction, whereby we may be made partakers of his holiness? Let
murmuring therefore, as well as boasting, be forever excluded. Sin with his lips - By any
reflections upon God, by any impatient or unbecoming expression. |
| 11 |
They - Who were persons eminent for birth and quality, for wisdom and knowledge, and
for the profession of the true religion, being probably of the posterity of Abraham, a -
kin to Job, and living in the same country. Eliphaz descended from Teman, the grandson of
Esau, Gen 36:11. Bildad probably from Shuah, Abraham's son by Keturah, Gen
25:2. Zophar is thought to be same with Zepho, (Gen 36:11.) a
descendant from Esau. The preserving of so much wisdom and piety among those who were not
children of the promise, was an happy presage of God's grace to the Gentiles, when the
partition wall should be taken down. |
| 13 |
Upon the ground - In the posture of mourners condoling with him. Seven days - Which
was the usual time of mourning for the dead, and therefore proper both for Job's children,
and for Job himself, who was in a manner dead, while he lived: not that they continued in
this posture so long together, which the necessities of nature could not bear; but they
spent the greatest part of that time in sitting with him, and silent mourning over him.
None spake - About his afflictions and the causes of them. The reason of this silence was
the greatness of their grief for him, and their surprize and astonishment at his
condition; because they thought it convenient to give him time to vent his own sorrows,
and because as yet they knew not what to say to him: for though they had ever esteemed him
to be a truly good man, and came with full purpose to comfort him, yet the prodigious
greatness of his miseries, and that hand of God which they perceived in them, made them
now question his sincerity, so that they could not comfort him as they had intended, and
yet were loth to grieve him with reproofs. |
Chapter III
We have here Job cursing his birth day, and complaining that he was born, ver. 1 -
10. Complaining that he did not die as soon as he was born, ver. 11 - 19. Complaining that
his life was continued, now he was in misery, ver. 20 - 26.
| 1 |
His day - His birth - day, in vain do some endeavour to excuse this and the following
speeches of Job, who afterwards is reproved by God, and severely accuseth himself for
them, chap.38:2 40:4 13:3,6. And yet he does not proceed so far as to curse
God, but makes the devil a liar: but although he does not break forth into direct
reproaches of God, yet he makes indirect reflections upon his providence. His curse was
sinful, both because it was vain, being applied to a thing, which was not capable of
blessing and cursing, and because it cast a blame upon God for bringing that day, and for
giving him life on that day. |
| 3 |
Let the day - Let the remembrance of that day be utterly lost. |
| 4 |
Darkness - I wish the sun had never risen upon that day, or, which is all one, that it
had never been; and whensoever that day returns, I wish it may be black, and gloomy, and
uncomfortable. Regard - From heaven, by causing the light of the sun which is in heaven to
shine upon it. |
| 5 |
Death - A black and dark shadow like that of the place of the dead, which is a land of
darkness. Slain - Take away its beauty and glory. Terrify - That is, men in it. Let it be
always observed as a frightful and dismal day. |
| 6 |
Darkness - Constant and extraordinary darkness, without the least glimmering of light
from the moon or stars. Be joined - Reckoned as one, or a part of one of them. |
| 8 |
The day - Their birth - day: when their afflictions move them to curse their own birth
- day, let them remember mine also, and bestow some curses upon it. Mourning - Who are
full of sorrow, and always ready to pour out their cries, and tears, and complaints. |
| 9 |
The stars - Let the stars, which are the glory and beauty of the night, be covered
with thick darkness, and that both in the evening twilight, when the stars begin to shine;
and also in the farther progress of the night, even 'till the morning dawns. Look - Let
its darkness be aggravated with the disappointment of its expectations of light. He
ascribes sense or reasoning to the night, by a poetical fiction, usual in all writers.
Dawning - Heb. the eye - lids of the day, the morning - star which ushers in the day, and
the beginning, and progress of the morning light, let this whole natural day, consisting
of night and day, be blotted out of the catalogue of days. |
| 10 |
It - The night or the day: to which those things are ascribed which were done by
others in them, as is frequent in poetical writings. Womb - That it might never have
brought me forth. Nor hid - Because it did not keep me from entering into this miserable
life, and seeing, or experiencing, these bitter sorrows. |
| 12 |
The knees - Why did the midwife or nurse receive and lay me upon her knees, and not
suffer me to fall upon the bare ground, 'till death had taken me out of this miserable
world, into which their cruel kindness hath betrayed me? Why did the breasts prevent me
from perishing through hunger, or supply me that should have what to suck? Thus Job
unthankfully despises these wonderful mercies of God towards poor helpless infants. |
| 14 |
Kings - I had then been as happy as the proudest monarchs, who after all their great
achievements and enjoyments, go down into their graves. Built - Who to shew their wealth
and power, or to leave behind them a glorious name, rebuilt ruined cities, or built new
cities and palaces, in places where before there was mere solitude and wasteness. |
| 16 |
Hidden - Undiscerned and unregarded. Born before the due time. Been - In the land of
the living. |
| 17 |
There - In the grave. The wicked - The great oppressors and troublers of the world
cease from their vexations, rapins and murders. Weary - Those who were here molested and
tired out with their tyrannies, now quietly sleep with them. |
| 18 |
The oppressor - Or, taskmaster, who urges and forces them to work by cruel
threatenings and stripes. Job meddles not here with their eternal state after death, of
which he speaks hereafter, but only their freedom from worldly troubles, which is the sole
matter of his present discourse. |
| 19 |
Small and great - Persons of all qualities and conditions. Are there - In the same
place and state, all those distinctions being forever abolished. A good reason, why those
who have power should use it moderately, and those that are in subjection should take it
patiently. |
| 20 |
Light - The light of life. Bitter - Unto those to whom life itself is bitter and
burdensome. Life is called light, because it is pleasant and serviceable for walking and
working; and this light is said to be given us, because it would be lost, if it were not
daily renewed to us by a fresh gift. |
| 21 |
Dig - Desire with as much earnestness as men dig for treasure: but it is observable,
Job durst not do anything to hasten or procure his death: notwithstanding all his
miseries, he was contented to wait all the days of his appointed time, 'till his change
came, chap.14:14. |
| 22 |
Glad, &c. - To be thus impatient of life, for the sake of the trouble we meet
with, is not only unnatural in itself, but ungrateful to the giver of life, and shews a
sinful indulgence of our own passion. Let it be our great and constant care, to get ready
for another world: and then let us leave it to God, to order the circumstances of our
removal thither. |
| 23 |
Hid - From him; who knows not his way, which way to turn himself, what course to take
to comfort himself in his miseries. Hedged in - Whom God hath put as it were in a prison,
so that he can see no way or possibility of escape. |
| 24 |
Before, &c. - Heb. before the face of my bread, all the time I am eating, I fall
into sighing and weeping, because I am obliged to eat, and to support this wretched life,
and because of my uninterrupted pains of body and of mind, which do not afford me one
quiet moment. Roarings - My loud outcries, more befitting a lion than a man. Poured out -
With great abundance, and irresistible violence, and incessant continuance, as waters flow
in a river, or as they break the banks, and overflow the ground. |
| 25 |
Feared - Even in the time of my prosperity, I was full of fears, considering the
variety of God's providences, the changeableness of this vain world, God's justice, and
the sinfulness of all mankind. And these fears of mine, were not in vain, but are
justified by my present calamities. |
| 26 |
Quiet - I did not misbehave myself in prosperity, abusing it by presumption, and
security, but I lived circumspectly, walking humbly with God, and working out my salvation
with fear and trembling. Therefore in this sense also, his way was hid, he knew not why
God contended with him. |
Chapter IV
Eliphaz owns Job's former usefulness, but infers from his present state and
behaviour, that he was an hypocrite, ver. 1 - 6. He affirms that God never afflicts man,
but for his wickedness, ver. 7 - 11. He confirms his assertion, by the words he heard in a
vision, ver. 12 - 21. By all this he aims to make Job both penitent and patient under his
sufferings.
| 2 |
If we, &c. - He speaks with great modesty. He will not undertake the cause alone,
but joins his friends with him. He will not promise much, but only assay, or try if he
could propose any thing pertinent to Job's case. Withhold - When he hears such words from
such a person as thou art. |
| 4 |
Feeble knees - Such as were weak hearted, and fainting under their trials. |
| 6 |
Thy fear - We now plainly see what was the nature of thy fear of God, thy confidence
in him, the uprightness of thy ways, and thy hope in God's mercy. Thy present carriage
discovers that it was but mere talk and appearance. |
| 7 |
Innocent - Therefore thou art guilty of some great, though secret crimes, and thy sin
hath now found thee out. Cut off - By the sickle of Divine vengeance before his time,
which is like to be thy case. Eliphaz here advances another argument to prove Job an
hypocrite; taken not only from his impatience under afflictions, but from his afflictions
themselves. |
| 8 |
Even - As thou hast never seen any example of a righteous man cut off, so I have seen
many of wicked men cut off for their wickedness. They - They that designedly work
wickedness, first preparing themselves for it, and then continuing to execute it, as
husbandmen first plow the ground, and then cast in the feed. Reap - The fruit of their
iniquity, the just punishment of it. |
| 9 |
The blast - Of his nostrils, as it follows; by his anger, which in men shews itself,
in the nostrils, by hot and frequent breathings there, by a secret, but mighty judgment of
God, they are blown away as chaff by the wind. |
| 10 |
The roaring - Nor can they escape, even were they strong as lions, yea, as the
strongest and fiercest of them. Broken - Which is true literally; the lions when taken
having most commonly their teeth broken, as ancient and modern writers relate. But this is
meant of powerful tyrants, who are fitly compared to lions, Ezek 32:2 38:13,
who though for a time they persecute and oppress other men, yet in due time they are
restrained, and broken, and crushed in pieces by the mighty power of God. Possibly he may
secretly accuse Job, or his children, that being persons of great wealth and power, they
had abused it to ruin their neighbours, and therefore were justly cut off. |
| 11 |
Scattered - Gone from their dens several ways to hunt for prey, and can find none. |
| 12 |
Now - To convince Job of the sin and folly of impatience, Eliphaz relates a vision he
had had, perhaps since he came to him. Which in that age and state of the church, before
the holy scriptures were written, was the usual way of God's discovering his mind to those
that sought him. A thing - Heb. a word, from God, a message. Secretly - Heb. was stolen,
or brought by stealth unto me, privately and secretly, as the word of God used to come to
the prophets, being spoken in their ear, as it was to Samuel, with a low and still voice.
He does not pretend to have understood it fully; but something of it he perceived. How
little a portion is heard of God! How little do we know of him in this world. |
| 13 |
In thoughts - These thoughts arose from the visions of the night, which it is probable
he had seen before. Visions differed from dreams herein, that God imparted his mind to men
in dreams when asleep, but in visions, when they were awake. And these visions sometimes
happened by day, but most frequently by night. Sleep - In the dead of the night, when men
usually are in a deep sleep; though Eliphaz was not now asleep. |
| 15 |
A spirit - An angel in visible shape, otherwise he could not have discerned it. Stood
up - Through that excessive horror caused by so glorious, unusual, and terrible a
presence. |
| 16 |
Stood - Having passed by him to, and again, he made a stand, and addressed himself to
speak. The form - Exactly and distinctly. An image - I saw some visible resemblance,
though in a confused manner. Silence - The spirit, which possibly had made some noise with
his motion, now standing still made no noise; all other persons and things about me were
silent, and I also kept in my voice and breath, that I might distinctly hear. In the
Hebrew, the words run thus, silence and a voice I heard. |
| 17 |
More just - Pretend more strictly to observe the laws of justice? Shall (enosh)
mortal, miserable man (so the word signifies) be thus insolent? Nay, shall geber, the
strongest and most eminent man, stand in competition with God? Those that find fault with
the directions of the Divine law, the dispensations of the Divine grace, or the disposal
of the Divine providence, do make themselves more just and pure than God: who being their
maker, is their Lord and owner: and the author of all the justice and purity that is in
man. |
| 18 |
Servants - They are called his servants by way of eminency, that general name being
here appropriated to the chief of the kind, to intimate that sovereign dominion which the
great God hath over the angels, and much more over men. With folly - Without all doubt,
this refers to those angels who foolishly and wickedly fell from God. |
| 19 |
How, &c. - The sense is, what strange presumption then is it for a foolish and
mortal man, to make himself more just than God. In them - Who though they have immortal
spirits, yet those spirits dwell in mortal bodies, which are great clogs, and
incumbrances, and snares to them. These are called houses, (because they are the
receptacles of the soul, and the places of its settled abode) and houses of clay, because
they were made of clay, or earth, and to note their great frailty and mutability; whereas
the angels are free spirits, unconfined to such carcasses, and dwell in celestial, and
glorious, and everlasting mansions. Whose - Whose very foundation, no less than the rest
of the building, is in the dust; had their original from it, and must return to it. We
stand but upon the dust: some have an higher heap of dust to stand upon than others. But
still it is the earth that stays us up, and will shortly swallow us up. Before - Sooner
than a moth is crushed, which is easily done by a gentle touch of the finger. Or, at the
face of a moth. No creature is so contemptible, but one time or other it may have the body
of man in its power. |
| 20 |
Destroyed - All the day long, there is not a moment wherein man is not sinking towards
death and corruption. Perish - In reference to this present worldly life, which when once
lost is never recovered. Regarding - Heb. without putting the heart to it, this is so
common a thing for all men, though never so high and great, to perish in this manner, that
no man heeds it, but passes it by as a general accident not worthy of observation. |
| 21 |
Excellency - Whatsoever is by common estimation excellent in men, all their natural,
and moral, and civil accomplishments, as high birth, great riches, power and wisdom, these
are so far from preserving men from perishing, that they perish themselves, together with
those houses of clay in which they are lodged. Without wisdom - Even without having
attained that only wisdom for which they came into the world. Shall such mean, weak,
foolish, sinful, dying creatures as this, pretend to be more just than God, more pure than
his maker? No: instead of quarrelling with his afflictions, let him admire that he is out
of hell. |
Chapter V
Sin occasions destruction, ver. 1 - 5. Affliction is the common lot of mankind,
ver. 6 - 7. In affliction we should fly to God, who is both able and willing to help, ver.
8 - 16. He will deliver them that trust in him, ver. 17 - 27.
| 1 |
Call - Call them all as it were by their names: will not every good man confirm what I
say? If - Try if there be any one saint that will defend thee in these bold expostulations
with God. Thou mayst find fools or wicked men, to do it: but not one of the children of
God. |
| 2 |
Killeth - A man's wrath, and impatience, preys upon his spirit, and so hastens his
death; and provokes God to cut him off. The foolish - The rash and inconsiderate man, who
does not weigh things impartially. Envy, &c. - I perceive thou art full of envy at
wicked men, who seem to be in a happier condition than thou, and of wrath against God; and
this shews thee to be a foolish and weak man. For those men, notwithstanding their present
prosperity, are doomed to great and certain misery. I have myself seen the proof of this. |
| 3 |
Foolish - The wicked man. Root - Not only prosperous for the present, but, as it
seemed, firm and secure for the future. Suddenly - In a moment, beyond mine, and his own,
and all other mens expectation. Cursed - l saw by the event which followed his prosperity,
that he was a man accursed of God. |
| 4 |
Children - Whose greatness he designed in all his enterprizes, supposing his family
would be established for ever. Safely - Are exposed to dangers and calamities, and can
neither preserve themselves, nor the inheritance which their fathers left them. There is
no question but he glances here, at the death of Job's children. |
| 5 |
Harvest - Which they confidently expect to reap after all their cost and labour, but
are sadly and suddenly disappointed. The hungry - The hungry Sabeans eat it up. Thorns -
Out of the fields: in spite of all dangers or difficulties in their way. |
| 6 |
The dust - It springs not up by merely natural causes, as herbs grow out of the earth:
but from God. Eliphaz here begins to change his voice, as if he would atone for the hard
words he had spoken. |
| 7 |
Is born - He is so commonly exposed to various troubles, as if he were born to no
other end: affliction is become natural to man, and is transmitted from parents, to
children, as their constant inheritance; God having allotted this portion to mankind for
their sins. And therefore thou takest a wrong course in complaining so bitterly of that
which thou shouldest patiently bear, as the common lot of mankind. As - As naturally, and
as generally, as the sparks of fire fly upward. Why then should we be surprized at our
afflictions as strange, or quarrel with them, as hard? |
| 8 |
I would - If I were in thy condition. Seek - By prayer, and humiliation, and
submission, imploring his pardon, and favour. |
| 9 |
Who, &c. - Here Eliphaz enters upon a discourse of the infinite perfection of
God's nature and works; which he doth as an argument to enforce the exhortation to seek
and commit his cause to God, ver.8, because God was infinitely able either to
punish him yet far worse, if he continued to provoke him; or to raise him from the dust,
if he humbly addressed himself to him: and that by a representation of God's excellency
and glory, and of that vast disproportion which was between God and Job, he might convince
Job of his great sin in speaking so boldly and irreverently of him. Marvellous - Which
(though common, and therefore neglected and despised, yet) are matter of wonder to the
wisest men. The works of nature are mysteries: the most curious searches come far short of
full discoveries: and the works of Providence are still more deep and unaccountable. |
| 10 |
Rain - He begins with this ordinary work of God, in which he implies that there is
something wonderful, as indeed there is in the rise of it from the earth, in the strange
hanging of that heavy body in the air, and in the distribution of it as God sees fit; and
how much more in the hidden paths of Divine Providence? |
| 11 |
To set up - That is, he setteth up. Another example of God's great and wonderful
works. He gives this instance to comfort and encourage Job to seek to God, because he can
raise him out of his greatest depths. |
| 13 |
The wise - Men wise to do evil, and wise in the opinion of the world, he not only
deceives in their hopes and counsels, but turns them against themselves. Froward - Or,
wrestlers: such as wind and turn every way, as wrestlers do, and will leave no means
untried to accomplish their counsels. Is carried - Is tumbled down and broken, and that by
their own precipitation. |
| 14 |
Meet - In plain things they run into gross mistakes, and chuse those courses which are
worst for themselves. Darkness often notes misery, but here ignorance or error. Grope -
Like blind men to find their way, not knowing what to do. |
| 15 |
Mouth - Which was ready to swallow them up. |
| 16 |
So - So he obtains what he hoped for from God, to whom he committed his cause.
Iniquity - Wicked men. Stoppeth - They are silenced and confounded, finding that not only
the poor are got out of their snares, but the oppressors themselves are ensnared in them. |
| 17 |
Behold - Eliphaz concludes his discourse, with giving Job a comfortable hope, if he
humbled himself before God. Happy - Heb. Blessednesses (various and great happiness)
belong to that man whom God rebukes. The reason is plain, because afflictions are pledges
of God's love, which no man can buy too dear; and are necessary to purge out sin, and
thereby to prevent infinite and eternal miseries. Without respect to this, the proposition
could not be true. And therefore it plainly shews, that good men in those ancient times,
had the belief, and hope of everlasting blessedness. Despise not - Do not abhor it as a
thing pernicious, refuse it as a thing useless, or slight it as an unnecessary thing. But
more is designed than is exprest. Reverence the chastening of the Lord: have an humble,
aweful regard to his correcting hand, and study to answer the design of it. The Almighty -
Who is able to support and comfort thee in thy troubles, and deliver thee out of them: and
also to add more calamities to them, if thou art obstinate and incorrigible. |
| 18 |
For he, &c. - God's usual method is, first to humble, and then to exalt. And he
never makes a wound too great, too deep for his own cure. |
| 19 |
Deliver - If thou seekest to him by prayer and repentance. Here he applies himself to
Job directly. Six - Manifold and repeated. Touch - So as to destroy thee. Thou shalt have
a good issue out of all thy troubles, though they are both great and many. |
| 20 |
He shall - These things he utters with more confidence, because the rewards or
punishments of this life, were more constantly distributed to men in the Old Testament
according to their good or bad behaviour, than they are now: and because it was his
opinion, that great afflictions were the certain evidences of wickedness; and
consequently, that great deliverances would infallibly follow upon true repentance. |
| 22 |
Laugh - With a laughter of joy and triumph, arising from a just security and
confidence in God's watchful and gracious providence. |
| 23 |
League - Thou shalt be free from annoyance thereby, as if they had made an inviolable
league with thee. This is a bold metaphor, but such as are frequent both in scripture and
other authors. This is an addition to the former privilege; they shall not hurt thee, ver.22,
nay, they shall befriend thee, as being at peace with thee. Our covenant with God is a
covenant with all the creatures, that they shall do us no hurt, but serve and be ready to
do us good. |
| 24 |
Know - By certain experience. |
| 25 |
Know - By assurance from God's promises, and the impressions of his Spirit; and by
experience in due time. |
| 26 |
Full age - In a mature and old, but vigorous age, as the word implies. It is a great
blessing, to live to a full age, and not to have the number of our years cut short. Much
more, to be willing to die, to come chearfully to the grave: and to die seasonably, just
in the bed - time, when our souls are ripe for God. |
| 27 |
Searched - This is no rash or hasty conceit, but what both I and my brethren have
learned by deep consideration, long experience, and diligent observation. Know thou - Know
it for thyself; (So the word is) with application to thy own case. That which we thus hear
and know for ourselves, we hear and know for our good. |
Chapter VI
Job shews that he has reason to complain, ver. 1 - 7. He compassionately wishes for
death, ver. 8 - 13. Reproves his friends for their uncharitable censures, ver. 14 - 30.
| 2 |
My grief - The cause of my grief. Weighed - Were fully understood, and duly
considered. O that I had an equal judge! that would understand my case, and consider
whether I have not cause for complaints. Together - Together with any other most heavy
thing to be put into the other scale. |
| 3 |
Sea - Which is heavier than dry sand. Swallowed - My voice and spirit fail me. I
cannot find, or utter words sufficient to express my sorrow or misery. |
| 4 |
Arrows - So he fitly calls his afflictions, because, like arrows, they came upon him
swiftly and suddenly one after another, immediately shot by God into his spirit. Poison -
Implying that these arrows were more keen than ordinary, being dipped in God's wrath, as
the barbarous nations used to dip their arrows in poison, that they might not only pierce,
but burn up and consume the vital parts. Drinketh - Exhausteth and consumeth my soul. In
array - They are like a numerous army, who invade me on every side. This was the sorest
part of his calamity, wherein he was an eminent type of Christ, who complained most of the
sufferings of his soul. Now is my soul troubled. My soul is exceeding sorrowful. My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Indeed trouble of mind is the sorest trouble. A wounded
spirit who can bear. |
| 5 |
Doth, &c. - Even the brute beasts, when they have convenient food, are quiet and
contented. So it is no wonder that you complain not, who live in ease and prosperity, any
more than I did, when I wanted nothing. |
| 6 |
Can, &c. - Do men use to eat unsavoury meats with delight, or without complaint?
Men commonly complain of their meat when it is but unsavoury, how much more when it is so
bitter as mine is? |
| 7 |
The things, &c. - The sense may be, those grievous afflictions, which I dreaded
the very thought of, are now my daily, though sorrowful bread. |
| 9 |
Destroy - To end my days and calamities together. |
| 10 |
Harden - I would bear up with courage under all my torments, with the hopes of death,
and blessedness after death. Spare - Not suffer me to live any longer. Concealed - As I
have steadfastly believed them, and not wilfully departed from them, so I have not been
ashamed, nor afraid, boldly to profess and preach the true religion in the midst of
Heathens. And therefore I know if God doth cut me off, I shall be a gainer by it. |
| 11 |
Strength - My strength is so spent, that it is vain for me to hope for such
restitution as thou hast promised me, chap.5:22. End - What is death to me?
It is not terrible, but comfortable. That - Then why should I desire to prolong my life.
But as desirous of death as Job was, yet he never offered to put an end to his own life.
Such a thought will never be entertained by any, that have the least regard to the law of
God and nature. How uneasy soever the soul's confinement in the body may be, it must by no
means break the prison, but wait for a fair discharge. |
| 12 |
Is, &c. - I am not made of stone or brass, but of flesh and blood, as others are,
therefore I am unable to endure these miseries longer, and can neither hope for. nor
desire the continuance of my life. |
| 13 |
What, &c. - If my outward condition be helpless and hopeless? Have I therefore
lost my understanding, cannot I judge whether it is more desirable for me to live or to
die, whether I be an hypocrite or no, whether your words have truth and weight in them;
whether you take the right method in dealing with me? |
| 14 |
To him - Heb. to him that is melted or dissolved with affections. But. &c. - But
thou hast no pity for thy friend; a plain evidence that thou art guilty of what thou didst
charge me with, even of the want of the fear of God. The least which those that are at
ease can do for them that are pained, is to pity them, to feel a tender concern for them,
and to sympathize with them. |
| 15 |
Brethren - Friends; for though Eliphaz only had spoken, the other two shewed their
approbation of his discourse. Deceitfully - Adding to the afflictions which they said they
came to remove. And it is no new thing, for even brethren to deal deceitfully. It is
therefore our wisdom to cease from man. We cannot expect too little from the creature, or
too much from the creator. |
| 16 |
Which - Which in winter when the traveller neither needs nor desires it, are full of
water congealed by the frost. Snow - Under which the water from snow, which formerly fell,
and afterward was dissolved, lies hid. So he speaks not of those brooks which are fed by a
constant spring, but of them which are filled by accidental falls of water or snow. |
| 17 |
Warm - When the weather grows milder. Hot - In the hot season, when waters are most
refreshing and necessary. |
| 18 |
Perish - They are gone out of their channel, flowing hither and thither, 'till they
are quite consumed. |
| 19 |
Tema - This place and Sheba were both parts of the hot and dry country of Arabia, in
which waters were very scarce, and therefore precious and desirable, especially to
travellers. Companies - Men did not there travel singly, as we do, but in companies for
their security against wild beasts and robbers. |
| 20 |
Hoped - They comforted themselves with the expectation of water. Ashamed - As having
deceived themselves and others. We prepare confusion for ourselves, by our vain hopes: the
reeds break under us, because we lean upon them. |
| 21 |
Nothing - You are to me as if you had never come to me; for I have no comfort from
you. Afraid - You are shy of me, and afraid for yourselves, lest some further plagues
should come upon me, wherein you for my sake, should be involved: or, lest I should be
burdensome to you. |
| 22 |
Did I say - Give me something for my support or relief. You might have at least given
me comfortable words, when I expected nothing else from you. |
| 23 |
Deliver - By the force of your arms, as Abraham delivered Lot. Redeem - By price or
ransom. |
| 24 |
Teach - Convince me by solid arguments. I will - I will patiently hear and gladly
receive your counsels. |
| 25 |
Forcible - The words of truth have a marvellous power. Reprove - But there is no truth
in your assertions or weight in your arguments. |
| 26 |
Words - Do you think it is sufficient to quarrel with some of my words, without giving
allowance for human infirmity, or extreme misery. Desperate - Of a poor miserable,
hopeless and helpless man. As wind - Which pass away and are forgotten. |
| 27 |
Overwhelm - You load with censures and calumnies. Desolate - Me who am deprived of all
my children, my estate, and my friends. I spoke all I thought, as to my friends, and you
thence occasion to cast me down. |
| 28 |
Look - Consider my cause better than you have done, that you may give a more righteous
judgment. Evident - You will plainly discover it. |
| 29 |
Return - Turn from your former judgment. Iniquity - Or, there shall be no iniquity, in
my words. Righteousness - In this cause or matter between you and me; and you will find
the right to be on my side. |
| 30 |
Is there - Consider if there be any untruth or iniquity in what I have already said,
or shall farther speak. Taste - My judgment, which judgeth of words and actions, as the
palate doth of meats. |
Chapter VII
Job bemoans himself to his friends, ver. 1 - 6. To God, ver. 7 - 16. Begs for
pardon and death, ver. 17 - 21.
| 1 |
Is there not - Job is here excusing what he cannot justify, his passionate longing for
death. A time - Is there not a time limited by God, wherein man shall live in this sinful,
and miserable world? And is it a crime in me, to desire that God would bring me to that
joyful period? Our time on earth is limited and short, according to the narrow bounds of
this earth. But heaven cannot be measured, nor the days of heaven numbered. Hireling -
Whose time is short, being but a few years, or days, whose condition is full of toil and
hardship. |
| 2 |
Shadow - That is, the sun - set, the time allotted for his rest. |
| 3 |
So - This so respects not so much the desire of an hired servant, as the ground of it,
his hard toil and service. Possess - God, hath given me this as my lot and inheritance.
Months - So he calls them rather than days, to note the tediousness of his affliction.
Vanity - Empty and unsatisfying. Nights - He mentions nights, because that is the saddest
time for sick and miserable persons; the darkness and solitude of the night being of
themselves uncomfortable, and giving them more opportunity for solemn and sorrowful
reflections. |
| 5 |
Worms - Which were bred out of Job's corrupted flesh and sores. Dust - The dust of the
earth upon which he lay. Broken - By ulcers in all parts of it. |
| 6 |
Swifter - The time of my life hastens to a period. Shuttle - Which passes in a moment
from one end of the web to the other. Hope - Of enjoying any good day here. |
| 7 |
O - He turns his speech to God. Perhaps observing, that his friends grew weary of
hearing it. If men will not hear us, God will: if men cannot help us, he can: for his arm
is not shortened, neither is his ear heavy. |
| 8 |
No more - In this mortal state: I shall never return to this life again. Am not - If
thou cast one angry look upon me, I am not; thou canst look me into eternity. |
| 9 |
No more - Never until the general resurrection. When we see a cloud which looked
great, as if it would eclipse the sun, of a sudden dispersed and disappearing, say, Just
such a thing is the life of man, a vapour that appears for a while and then vanisheth
away. |
| 10 |
Any more - He shall no more be seen and known in his former habitation. It concerns us
to secure a better place when we die: for this will own us no more. |
| 11 |
Therefore - Since my life is so vain and short, and when once lost, without all hopes
of recovery. I will plead with God for pity before I die; I will not smother my anguish
within my breast, but will ease myself by pouring out my complaints. |
| 12 |
A sea - Am I as fierce and unruly as the sea, which, if thou didst not set bounds to
it, would overwhelm the earth? Or, am I a vast and ungovernable sea - monster? Which thou
must restrain by thy powerful providence. That, &c. - That thou shouldest guard and
restrain me with such heavy and unexampled miseries? We are apt in affliction to complain
of God, as if he laid more upon us than there is occasion for: whereas we are never in
heaviness, but when there is need, nor more than there is need. |
| 17 |
What, &c. - What is there in that poor, mean, creature called man, miserable man,
as this word signifies, which can induce thee to take any notice of him, or to make such
account of him? Man is not worthy of thy favour, and he is below thy anger; that thou
shouldest concern thyself so much about him, as one near and dear to thee? |
| 18 |
And try, &c. - What is man that vain, foolish creature, that thou shouldest
magnify or regard, or visit him, (with thy mercy and blessings, that thou shouldest so far
honour and regard him, as by thy visitation to preserve his spirit, or hold his soul in
life) and try him, which God doth not only by afflictions, but also by prosperity and both
inward and outward blessings? That thou shouldst observe his motions every moment, as in
care for him, and jealous over him? |
| 19 |
How long - How long will it be ere thou withdraw thy afflicting hand? Swallow - That I
may have a breathing time: a proverbial expression. |
| 20 |
Sinned - Although I am free from those crying sins, for which my friends suppose thou
hast sent this judgment upon me, yet, I freely confess I am a sinner, and therefore
obnoxious to thy justice. What, &c. - To satisfy thy justice, or regain thy favour?
Who dost know and diligently observe all mens inward motions, and outward actions; and
therefore, if thou shalt be severe to mark mine iniquities, I have not what to say or do
unto thee. My case is singular, none is shot at as I am. |
| 21 |
Pardon - Seeing thou art so gracious to others, why may not I hope for the same favour
from thee? Dust - If thou dost not speedily help me, it will be too late. But I shall not
be - It will be to late to shew me favour. |
Chapter VIII
Bildad affirms, that Job had spoken amiss, ver. 1 - 3. That if he would sincerely
seek to God, God would help him, ver. 4 - 7. That it is usual with God, to destroy the
hypocrite, ver. 8 - 19. The joy of the upright, ver. 20 - 22.
| 2 |
Strong wind - Boisterous and violent. |
| 3 |
Doth God - Heb. The might God, as this word signifies, the Almighty, or All -
sufficient God, as the next name of God implies. These names are emphatically used, to
prove that God cannot deal unjustly or falsely with men, because he hath no need of it,
nor temptation to it, being self - sufficient for his own happiness, and being able by his
own invincible power to do whatsoever pleaseth him. Pervert - Judge unrighteously? No,
this is inconsistent with God's nature, and with his office of governor of the world. |
| 4 |
If - If thou wast innocent, thy children, upon whom a great part of these calamities
fell, might be guilty; and therefore God is not unrighteous in these proceedings. |
| 5 |
Betimes - Heb. rise early to seek him, if thou wouldest seek him speedily, early and
diligently. |
| 6 |
Habitation - The concerns of thy house and family; which thou hast got and managed
with righteousness. |
| 8 |
Search - Seriously and industriously search the ancient records. |
| 9 |
We, &c. - But lately born, and therefore have but little knowledge and experience.
We live not so long as they did, to make observations on the methods of Divine Providence.
|
| 10 |
Utter - Not partially, but sincerely, speaking their inward thoughts; not rashly, but
from deep consideration; not by hearsay, but their own knowledge. |
| 11 |
Can, &c. - The hypocrite cannot build his hope, without some false, rotten ground
or other, any more than the rush can grow without mire, or the flag without water. |
| 12 |
Greenness - Whereby it promises long continuance. Tho' no man cut it down, it withers
of itself, sooner than other herbs. |
| 13 |
Paths - Of wicked men. By their paths he doth not understand their manner of living,
but the events which befall them, God's manner of dealing with them. |
| 14 |
Hope - Whose wealth and outward glory, the matter of his hope, and trust, shall be cut
off suddenly and violently taken away from him. Web - Which tho' it be formed with great
art and industry, is easily swept down, or pulled in pieces. |
| 15 |
House - He shall trust to the multitude of his children and servants, and to his
wealth, all which come under the name of a man's house in scripture. Hold it - To uphold
himself by it. But his web, that refuge of lies, will be swept away, and he crushed in it.
|
| 16 |
He - The secure and prosperous sinner may think himself wronged, when he is compared
to a rush or flag. Compare him then to a flourishing and well - rooted tree. Yet even then
shall he be suddenly cut off. Green - Flourisheth in the world. Before the sun - Publickly
and in the view of all men. Branch - His children, who are here mentioned as additions not
only to his comfort, but also to his strength and safety. Garden - A place where it is
defended from those injuries to which the trees of the field are subject, and where,
besides the advantages common to all trees, it hath peculiar helps from the art and
industry of men. So he supposes this man to be placed in the most desirable circumstances.
|
| 17 |
Heap - Of stones. This circumstance is added, to signify its firmness and strength,
that it was not in loose and sandy ground, which a violent wind might overthrow, but in
solid ground, within which were many stones, which its numerous and spreading roots
embrace, folding and interweaving themselves about them. Seeth - The tree reacheth
thither, takes the advantage of that place for the strengthening of itself. |
| 18 |
He - God, who is the saviour of good men, and the destroyer of the wicked. It - The
place; to which denying him, and seeing him, are here ascribed figuratively. Not seen - He
shall be so utterly extirpated and destroyed, that there shall be no memorial of him left.
|
| 19 |
Behold - This is the issue of the flourishing state. This all his joy comes to. And,
&c. - Out of the same earth or place shall another tree grow. |
| 20 |
Behold - God who will not help the evildoer, will not cast away a good man, tho he may
be cast down. Yet it may be, he will not be lifted up in this world: and therefore Bildad
could not infer, that if Job was not restored to temporal prosperity, he was not a good
man. Let us judge nothing before the time, but wait 'till the secrets of all hearts are
revealed, and the present difficulties of providence solved, to universal and everlasting
satisfaction. |
| 21 |
'Till, &c. - And what I have said in general of good men, shall be made good to
thee, if thou art such: God will not forsake thee, nor desist from doing thee good, 'till
he give thee abundant matter of rejoicing. |
Chapter IX
God's justice, wisdom, power and sovereignty, ver. 1 - 13. Job condemns himself, as
not able to contend with God, ver. 14 - 21. Shews that we cannot judge men by their
outward condition, ver. 22 - 24. And complains of the greatness of his troubles, and the
loss he was at, what to say or do, ver. 25 - 35.
| 2 |
I know - That God is just in all his ways, that he doth ordinarily bless the
righteous, and punish the wicked. Before God - And I know that no man is absolutely just,
if God be severe to mark what is amiss in him. |
| 3 |
One - One accusation among a thousand which God shall produce against him. |
| 4 |
He - He is infinitely wise, and searcheth all mens hearts and ways, and discovers a
multitude of sins which mens short sighted - eyes cannot see; and therefore can charge
them with innumerable evils, where they thought themselves innocent, and sees far more
malignity than men could discern in their sins. Mighty - So that whether men contend with
God by wisdom or by strength: God will be conqueror. Hardened himself - Obstinately
contended with him. The devil promised himself that Job in the day of his affliction,
would curse and speak ill of God. But instead of that, he sets himself to honour God, and
speak highly of him. As ill pained as he is, and as much as he is taken up with his own
miseries, when he has occasion to mention the wisdom and power of God, he forgets his
complaints and expatiates with a flood of eloquence on that glorious subject. |
| 5 |
Who - He proceeds to give evidence of the Divine power and wisdom. Removeth - Suddenly
and unexpectedly. They - The mountains, to which he ascribes sense and knowledge
figuratively. In anger - In token of his displeasure with the men that live upon them. |
| 6 |
The earth - Great portions of it, by earthquakes, or by removing islands. Pillars -
The deep and inward parts of it, which like pillars supported those parts that appear to
our view. |
| 8 |
Who. &c. - A farther description of a black and tempestuous season, wherein the
heavens seem to be brought down nearer to the earth. Treadeth - Represseth and ruleth them
when they rage and are tempestuous: for treading upon any thing, signifies in scripture
using power and dominion over it. |
| 9 |
Ordereth - Disposeth them, governeth their rising and setting, and all their
influences. These he names as constellations of greatest eminency; but under them he seems
to comprehend all the stars, which as they were created by God, so are under his
government. Arcturus is a northern constellation, near that called the Bear. Orion is a
more southerly constellation, that rises to us in December. The Pleiades is a
constellation not far from Orion, which we call the seven stars: by the chambers, (or
inmost chambers, as the word signifies) of the south, he seems to understand those stars
and constellations which are toward the southern pole, which are called inward chambers,
because they are for the most part hid and shut up from these parts of the world. |
| 10 |
Doth great things, &c. - Job here says the same that Eliphaz had said, chap.5:9,
and in the original, in the very same words, with design to shew his full agreement with
him, touching the Divine perfections. |
| 11 |
Goeth - He works by his providence in ways of mercy or judgment. Passeth - He goeth
from place to place: from one action to another: he speaks of God after the manner of men.
|
| 12 |
Taketh - If he determines to take away from any man his children or servants, or
estate, who is able to restrain him from doing it? Or who dare presume to reprove him for
it? And therefore far be it from me to quarrel with God, whereof you untruly accuse me. |
| 13 |
Helpers - Those who undertake to uphold and defend one another against him. Stoop -
Fall and are crushed by him. |
| 14 |
How shall I - Since no creature can resist his power, and no man can comprehend his
counsels and ways; how can I contend with him? Answer his allegations and arguments,
produced against me. |
| 15 |
Tho' - Though I were not conscious to myself of any sin. Would not - I durst not
undertake to plead my cause against him; or maintain my integrity before him, because he
knows me better than I know myself. Supplication - That he would judge favourably of me
and my cause, and not according to the rigour of his justice. |
| 16 |
Yet - I could not believe that God had indeed granted my desire, because I am still
full of the tokens of his displeasure; and therefore should conclude that it was but a
pleasant dream, and not a real thing. |
| 17 |
Breaketh - Unexpectedly, violently, and irrecoverably. Cause - Not simply without any
desert of his, but without any special cause of such singular afflictions; and peculiar
and extraordinary guilt, such as his friends charged him with. |
| 18 |
Breath - My pains are continual, and I have not so much as a breathing time free from
them. |
| 19 |
If - If my cause were to be decided by power. Is Strong - Stronger than I. Judgment -
If I would contend with him in a way of right. Who - There is no superior judge that can
summon him and me together. |
| 20 |
Justify - If I plead against God mine own righteousness and innocency. |
| 21 |
Perfect - If I should think myself perfect, yet I would not know, not acknowledge, my
soul; I could not own nor plead before God the integrity of my soul, but would only make
supplication to my judge, I would abhor, or condemn my life, I would not trust to the
integrity either of my soul and heart, or of my life, so as to justify myself before the
pure and piercing eyes of the all - seeing God. |
| 22 |
This - In the other things which you have spoken of God's greatness, and justice, I do
not contend with you, but this one thing I do, and must affirm against you. He - God sends
afflictions promiscuously upon good and bad men. |
| 23 |
Suddenly - If some common judgment come upon a people. Laugh - God will be well
pleased, to see how the same scourge, which is the perdition of the wicked, is the trial
of the innocent, and of their faith, which will be found unto praise and honour and glory.
|
| 24 |
The earth - The dominion over it. Into - Into their power. As good men are frequently
scourged, so the wicked are advanced. Faces - Meantime he covers the faces of wise and
good men, fit to be judges, and buries them alive in obscurity, perhaps suffers them to be
condemned, and their faces covered as criminals, by those to whom the earth is given. This
is daily done: if it be not God that doth it, where and who is he that doth? |
| 25 |
Now - What he had said of the calamities which God frequently inflicts upon good men,
he now exemplifies in himself. My days - The days of my life. Post - Who rides upon swift
horses. See - I enjoy no good in them. Seeing is often put for experiencing either good or
evil. |
| 26 |
Eagle - Which flies swiftly, especially when in the sight of his prey. See here how
swift the motion of time is! It is always upon the wing, hastening to its period. What
little need have we of past - times! What great need to redeem time, which runs out, runs
on so fast toward eternity! And how vain are the enjoyments of time, which we may be
deprived of, even while time continues! Our day may be longer than our sunshine: and when
that is gone, it is as if it had never been. |
| 28 |
Afraid - I find all such endeavours vain; for if my griefs be suspended for a time,
yet my fears continue. Will not - I plainly perceive thou, O God, (to whom he makes a
sudden address, as he doth also, ver.31,) wilt not clear my innocency by
removing those afflictions which make them judge me guilty of some great crime. Words
proceeding from despair and impatience. |
| 29 |
I shall - I shall be used like a wicked man still. Why - Why then should I comfort
myself with vain hopes of deliverance, as thou advisest me. |
| 30 |
If - If I clear myself from all imputations, and fully prove my innocency before men. |
| 31 |
Yet - God would prove him to be a most guilty creature, notwithstanding all his purity
before men. Abhor - I shall be so filthy, that my own clothes, if they had any sense in
them, would abhor to touch me. |
| 32 |
A man - But one infinitely superior to me in majesty, and power, and wisdom, and
justice. That - That I should presume to debate my cause with him. Come - Face to face, to
plead upon equal terms. |
| 33 |
Days - man - Or, umpire. Lay his hand - Order and govern us in pleading; and oblige us
to stand to his decision. Our Lord Jesus is now the blessed days - man, who has mediated
between heaven and earth, has laid his hand upon us both: to him the father hath committed
all judgment. But this was not made so clear then, as it is now by the gospel, which
leaves no room for such a complaint as this. |
| 34 |
Fear - The fear and dread of his majesty and justice. Let him not deal with me
according to his perfect justice, but according to his grace and clemency. |
| 35 |
Then - I would speak freely for myself, being freed from that dread, which takes away
my spirit and courage. It is not - I am not free from his terror, and therefore cannot
plead my cause with him. |
Chapter X
Job complains of the hardships he was under, ver. 1 - 7. Pleads with God, that he
is his workmanship, ver. 8 - 13. Complains again, that God deals severely with him, ver.
14 - 17. Comforts himself with the thoughts of death, ver. 18 - 22.
| 1 |
Shall I - Shall I give over complaining? |
| 2 |
Condemn - Or, pronounce me not to be a wicked man, neither deal with me as such, as I
confess thou mightest do in rigorous justice: O discover my integrity by removing this
stroke, for which my friends condemn me. Wherefore - For what ends and reasons, and for
what sins; for I am not conscious to myself of any peculiar sins by which I have deserved
to be made the most miserable of all men. When God afflicts, he contends with us: when he
contends with us, there is always a reason for it. And it is desirable to know, what that
reason is, that we may forsake whatever he has a controversy with us for. |
| 3 |
Good - Dost thou take any pleasure in it? Far be it from Job, to think that God did
him wrong. But he is at a loss to reconcile his providences with his justice. And so other
good men have often been, and will be, until the day shall declare it. |
| 4 |
Eyes of faith - No. Eyes of flesh cannot see in the dark: but darkness hideth not from
God. Eyes of flesh are but in one place at a time, and can see but a little way. But the
eyes of the Lord are in every place, and run to and fro thro' the whole earth. Eyes of
flesh will shortly be darkened by age, and shut up by death. But the eyes of God are ever
the same, nor does his sight ever decay. As man - Man sees the outside only, and judges by
appearances: but thou seest mine heart. |
| 5 |
Man's - Man's time is short and uncertain, and therefore he must improve it, and
diligently search out the crimes of malefactors, lest by death he lose the opportunity of
doing justice: but thou art eternal, and seest at one view all mens hearts, and all their
actions present and to come; and therefore thou dost not need to proceed with me in this
manner, by making so long a scrutiny into my heart and life. |
| 6 |
Searchest - Keeping me so long upon the rack, to compel me to accuse myself. |
| 7 |
Wicked - An hypocrite, as my friends account me. Deliver - But thou art the supreme
ruler of the world; therefore I must wait thy time, and throw myself on thy mercy, in
submission to thy sovereign will. |
| 9 |
Clay - As a potter makes a vessel of clay; so this may note both the frailty of man's
nature, which of itself decays and perishes, and doth not need such violent shocks to
overthrow it; and the excellency of the Divine artifice commended from the meanness of the
materials; which is an argument why God should not destroy it. Again - I must die by the
course of nature, and therefore while I do live, give me some ease and comfort. |
| 10 |
As milk - Thus he modestly and accurately describes God's admirable work in making man
out of a small and liquid, and as it were milky substance, by degrees congealed and
condensed into that exquisite frame of man's body. |
| 11 |
Clothed - Covered my inward and more noble parts; which are first formed. So he
proceeds in describing man's formation gradually. Bones - The stay and strength of the
body; and some of them, as the skull and ribs, enclose and defend its vital parts. |
| 12 |
Life - Thou didst not only give me a curious body, but also a reasonable soul: thou
didst at first give me life, and then maintain it in me; both when I was in the womb
(which is a marvellous work of God) and afterward when I was unable to do anything to
preserve my own life. Favour - Thou didst not give mere life, but many other favours, such
as nourishment by the breast, education, knowledge, and instruction. Visitation - The care
of thy providence watching over me for my good, and visiting me in mercy. Preserved - My
life, which is liable to manifold dangers, if God did not watch over us every day and
moment. Thou hast hitherto done great things for me, given me life, and the blessings of
life, and daily deliverances: and wilt thou now undo all that thou hast done? And shall I
who have been such an eminent monument of thy mercy, now be a spectacle of thy vengeance. |
| 13 |
Hid - Both thy former favours and thy present frowns. Both are according to thy own
will, and therefore undoubtedly consistent, however they seem. When God does what we
cannot account for, we are bound to believe, there are good reasons for it hid in his
heart. It is not with us, or in our reach to assign the cause; but I know this is with
thee. |
| 14 |
Markest - If I am a wicked man, I cannot hide it from thee; and thou wilt punish me
for it. |
| 15 |
Wicked - An hypocrite, as my friends esteem me. Righteous - An upright man; so whether
good or bad, all comes to one. Yet - Yet I have no comfort, or hopes of any good.
Confusion - I am confounded within myself, not knowing what to say or do. Let my extremity
move thee to pity, and help me. |
| 16 |
Lion - Which hunteth after his prey with great eagerness, and when he overtakes it,
falls upon it with great fury. Returnest - The lion tears its prey speedily, and so ends
its torments; but thou renewest my calamities again and again, and makest my plagues
wonderful both for kind and extremity, and continuance. |
| 17 |
Witnesses - Thy judgments, which are the evidences both of my sins, and of thy wrath.
Indignation - My miseries are the effects of thine anger. Army - Changes may denote the
various kinds, and an army the great number of his afflictions. |
| 20 |
Cease - My life is short, and of itself hastens to an end, there is no need that thou
shouldest grudge me some ease for so small a moment. |
Chapter XI
Zophar charges Job with falsehood and pride, ver. 1 - 4. Wishes that God would
convince him of his wisdom, justice, and unsearchable perfections, ver. 5 - 9. Of his
sovereignty, power and the cognisance he takes of men, ver. 10 - 12. He assures him, that
on his repentance, God would restore him to prosperity, but that the wicked should perish,
ver. 13 - 20.
| 1 |
Then answered - How hard is it, to preserve calmness, in the heat of disputation!
Eliphaz began modestly: Bildad was a little rougher: But Zophar falls upon Job without
mercy. "Those that have a mind to fall out with their brethren, and to fall foul upon
them, find it necessary, to put the worst colours they can upon them and their
performances, and right or wrong to make them odious." |
| 2 |
Answered - Truly, sometimes it should not. Silence is the best confutation of
impertinence, and puts the greatest contempt upon it. |
| 3 |
Lies - Both concerning thy own innocency, and concerning the counsels and ways of God.
Mockest - Our friendly and faithful counsels, chap.6:14,15,25,26. |
| 4 |
Doctrine - Concerning God and his providence. Clean - I am innocent before God; I have
not sinned either by my former actions, or by my present expressions. But Zophar perverts
Job's words, for he did not deny that he was a sinner, but only that he was an hypocrite. |
| 5 |
Speak - Plead with thee according to thy desire: he would soon put thee to silence. We
are commonly ready with great assurance to interest God in our quarrels. But they are not
always in the right, who are most forward, to appeal to his judgment, and prejudge it
against their antagonists. |
| 6 |
Secrets - The unsearchable depths of God's wisdom in dealing with his creatures.
Double - That they are far greater (the word double being used indefinitely for manifold,
or plentiful) than that which is manifested. The secret wisdom of God is infinitely
greater than that which is revealed to us by his word or works: the greatest part of what
is known of God, is the least part of those perfections that are in him. And therefore
thou dost rashly in judging so harshly of his proceedings with thee, because thou dost not
comprehend the reasons of them, and in judging thyself innocent, because thou dost not see
thy sins; whereas the all - knowing God sees innumerable sins in thee, for which he may
utterly destroy thee. |
| 7 |
Find out - Discover all the depths of his wisdom, and the reasons of his actions? |
| 10 |
Cut off - A person or family. Shut - Its a prison, or in the hands of an enemy. Gather
- Whether it pleaseth God to scatter a family, or to gather them together from their
dispersions. Hinder - Or, who can contradict him, charge him with injustice in such
proceedings? |
| 11 |
Knoweth - Though men know but little of God, yet God knows man exactly. He knoweth
that every man in the world is guilty of much vanity and folly, and therefore seeth
sufficient reason for his severity against the best men. Wickedness - He perceiveth the
wickedness of evil men, though it be covered with the veil of religion. Consider - Shall
he only see it as an idle spectator, and not observe it as a judge to punish it? |
| 12 |
Man - That since the fall is void of all true wisdom, pretends to be wise, and able to
pass a censure upon all God's ways and works. Colt - Ignorant, and dull, and stupid, as to
divine things, and yet heady and untractable. |
| 13 |
Heart - To seek God; turning thy bold contentions with God into humble supplications. |
| 15 |
Lift up - Which denotes chearfulness, and holy boldness. Without spot - Having a clear
and unspotted conscience. Steadfast - Shall have a strong and comfortable assurance of
God's favour. |
| 16 |
As waters - Thou shalt remember it no more, than men remember a land - flood, which as
it comes, so it goes away suddenly. |
| 17 |
Shine - Light in scripture commonly signifies prosperity and glory. Thy comfort, like
the morning - light shall shine brighter and brighter, until the perfect day. |
| 18 |
Secure - Thy mind shall be quiet and free from terrors, because thou shalt have a firm
and well - grounded confidence in God. Dig - Either to fix thy tents, which after the
manner of the Arabians were removed from place to place: or to plough the ground, as he
had done, chap.1:14, or to make a fence about thy dwelling. |
| 20 |
Fail - Either with grief and tears for their sore calamities: or with long looking for
what they shall never attain. Their hope - They shall never obtain deliverance out of
their distresses, but shall perish in them. Ghost - Shall be as vain and desperate as the
hope of life is in a man, when he is at the very point of death. |
Chapter XII
Job blames his friends for their self - conceit and unkind behaviour, ver. 1 - 5.
Shews that the wicked often prosper, ver. 6 - 11. Confirms and enlarges upon what had been
said, of the wisdom, power and providence of God, ver. 12 - 25.
| 2 |
Ye - You have engrossed all the reason of mankind; and each of you has as much wisdom
as an whole people put together. All the wisdom which is in the world, lives in you, and
will be utterly lost when you die. When wise and good men die, it is a comfort to think
that wisdom and goodness do not die with them: it is folly to think, that there will be a
great, irreparable loss of us when we are gone, since God has the residue of the spirit,
and can raise up others more fit to do his work. |
| 3 |
But - In these things, which he speaks not in a way of boasting, but for the just
vindication both of himself, and of that cause of God, which for the substance of it he
maintained rightly, as God himself attests, chap.42:7. Such things - The
truth is, neither you nor I have any reason to be puffed up with our knowledge of these
things: for the most barbarous nations know that God is infinite in wisdom, and power, and
justice. But this is not the question between you and me. |
| 4 |
Upon God - Even by my religious neighbours, by those who call upon God, and not in
vain; whose prayers therefore I covet, not their reproaches. The just - I, who,
notwithstanding all their hard censures dare still own it, that through God's grace I am
an upright man. |
| 5 |
Slip with his feet - And fall into trouble; tho' he had formerly shone as a lamp, he
is then looked upon as a lamp going out, as the snuff of a candle, which we throw to the
ground and tread upon; and accordingly is despised in the thought of him that is at ease. |
| 6 |
Are secure - Job's friends had all supposed, that wicked men cannot prosper long in
the world. This Job opposes, and maintains, that God herein acts as sovereign, and
reserves that exact distribution of rewards and punishments for the other world. |
| 7 |
But - If thou observest the beasts, and their properties and actions, and events, from
them thou mayst learn this lesson: that which Zophar had uttered with so much pomp and
gravity, chap.11:7,8,9, concerning God's infinite wisdom, saith Job, thou
needest not go into heaven or hell to know. but thou mayst learn it even from the beasts. |
| 9 |
Lord - This is the only time that we meet with the name Jehovah in all the discourses
between Job and his friends. For God in that age was more known by the name of Shaddai,
the Almighty. |
| 11 |
Doth not - This may be a preface to his following discourse; whereby he invites them
to hear and judge of his words candidly and impartially; that they and he too might agree
in disallowing what should appear to be false, and owning of every truth. |
| 12 |
Wisdom - These words contain a concession of what Bildad had said, chap.8:8,9,
and a joining with him in that appeal; but withal, an intimation that this wisdom was but
imperfect, and liable to many mistakes; and indeed mere ignorance and folly, if compared
with the Divine wisdom, and therefore that antiquity ought not to be received against the
truths of the most wise God. |
| 14 |
No opening - Without God's permission. Yea, he shuts up in the grave, and none can
break open those sealed doors. He shuts up in hell, in chains of darkness, and none can
pass that great gulf. |
| 15 |
The waters - Which are reserved its the clouds, that they may not fall upon the earth.
They - The waters upon the earth, springs, and brooks, and rivers. As at the time of the
general deluge, to which here is a manifest allusion. |
| 16 |
With him - The same thing he had said before, ver.13, but he repeats it
here to prepare the way for the following events, which are eminent instances, both of his
power and wisdom. Are his - Wholly subject to his disposal. He governs the deceiver and
sets bounds to his deceits, how far they shall extend; he also over - rules all this to
his own glory, and the accomplishment of his righteous designs of trying the good, and
punishing wicked men, by giving them up to believe lies. Yet God is not the author of any
error or sin, but only the wise and holy governor of it. |
| 17 |
Spoiled - The wise counsellors or statesmen, by whom the affairs of kings and kingdoms
are ordered, he leadeth away as captives in triumph, being spoiled either of that wisdom
which they had, or seemed to have; or of that power and dignity which they had enjoyed.
Fools - By discovering their folly, and by infatuating their minds, and turning their own
counsels to their ruin. |
| 18 |
Looseth - He freeth them from that wherewith they bind their subjects to obedience,
their power and authority, and that majesty which God stamps upon kings, to keep their
people in awe. Girdeth - He reduces them to a mean and servile condition; which is thus
expressed, because servants did use to gird up their garments (that after the manner of
those parts were loose and long) that they might be fitter for attendance upon their
masters: he not only deposes them from their thrones, but brings them into slavery. |
| 20 |
The speech - By taking away or restraining the gift of utterance from them. Or, by
taking away their understanding which should direct their speech. Trusty - Of those wise
and experienced counsellors, that were trusted by the greatest princes. |
| 22 |
Darkness - The most secret counsels of princes, which are contrived and carried on in
the dark. |
| 23 |
Nations - What hitherto he said of princes, he now applies to nations, whom God does
either increase or diminish as he pleases. |
| 25 |
Grope - Thus are the revolutions of kingdoms brought about by an overruling
providence. Heaven and earth are shaken: but the Lord remaineth a king forever. |
Chapter XIII
Job sharply reproves his friends, ver. 1 - 13. Professes his faith, ver. 14 - 16.
Desires to be heard, ver. 17 - 19. Expostulates with God, ver. 20 - 28.
| 1 |
Lo - All this which either you or I have discoursed concerning the infinite power and
wisdom of God. I know, both by seeing it, by my own observation and experience, and by
hearing it from my ancestors. |
| 3 |
Surely - I had rather debate the matter with God than with you. I am not afraid of
presenting my person and cause before him, who is a witness of my integrity. |
| 8 |
Accept - Not judging according to the right of the cause, but the quality or the
person. |
| 12 |
Remembrance - Mouldering and coming to nothing. And the consideration of our mortality
should make us afraid of offending God. Your mementos are like unto ashes, contemptible
and unprofitable. |
| 14 |
Wherefore - And this may be a reason of his desire of liberty of speech, because he
could hold his tongue no longer, but must needs tear himself to pieces, if he had not some
vent for his grief. The phrase having his life in his hand, denotes a condition extremely
dangerous. |
| 17 |
Hear - He now comes more closely to his business, the foregoing verses being mostly in
way of preface. |
| 18 |
Behold - I have seriously considered the state of my case, and am ready to plead my
cause. |
| 19 |
The ghost - My grief would break my heart, if I should not give it vent. |
| 21 |
Withdraw - Suspend my torments during the time of my pleading with thee, that my mind
may be at liberty. Do not present thyself to me in terrible majesty, neither deal with me
in rigorous justice. |
| 22 |
Then - This proposal savoured of self - confidence, and of irreverence towards God;
for which, and the like speeches, he is reproved by God, chap.38:2,3 40:2. |
| 23 |
My sin - That I am a sinner, I confess; but not that I am guilty of such crimes as my
friends suppose, if it be so, do thou, O Lord, discover it. |
| 25 |
Leaf - One that can no more resist thy power, than a leaf, or a little dry straw can
resist the wind or fire. |
| 26 |
Writest - Thou appointest or inflictest. A metaphor from princes or judges, who
anciently used to write their sentences. |
| 28 |
He - He speaks of himself in the third person, as is usual in this and other sacred
books. So the sense is, he, this poor frail creature, this body of mine; which possibly he
pointed at with his finger, consumeth or pineth away. |
Chapter XIV
Man's life is but short, sorrowful, and sinful; on which consideration he pleads
for mercy, ver, 1 - 6. Other creatures revive, but man does not, ver. 7 - 12. Various
wishes and complaints, ver. 13 - 22.
| 1 |
Man - A weak creature, and withal corrupt and sinful, and of that sex by which sin and
all other calamity was brought into the world. |
| 2 |
Flower - The flower is fading, and all its beauty soon withers and is gone. The shadow
is fleeting, and its very being will soon be lost in the shadows of night. Of neither do
we make any account, in neither do we put any confidence. |
| 4 |
Not one - No man. This is the prerogative of thy grace, which therefore I humbly
implore. |
| 5 |
Determined - Limited to a certain period. With thee - In thy power and disposal. Thou
hast appointed a certain end of his days, beyond which he cannot prolong his life. |
| 6 |
Turn - Withdraw thine afflicting hand from him, that he may have some present ease.
'Till - He come to the period of his life, which thou hast allotted to him, as a man
appoints a set time to an hired servant. |
| 8 |
Die - To outward appearance. |
| 9 |
Scent - By means of water. Scent or smell, is figuratively ascribed to a tree. |
| 10 |
Man - Two words are here used for man. Geber, a mighty man, tho' mighty, dies. Adam, a
man of earth, returns to it. Before death, he is dying daily, continually wasting away. In
death, he giveth up the ghost, the spirit returns to God that gave it. After death, where
is he? Not where he was: his place knows him no more. But is he nowhere? Yes, he is gone
to the world of spirits, gone into eternity, gone, never to return to this world! |
| 11 |
As - So it is with man. Or thus, as when the waters fail from the sea, when the sea
forsakes the place into which it used to flow, the river which was fed by it, decayeth and
drieth up without all hopes of recovery. |
| 12 |
Lieth - In his bed, the grave. 'Till - Until the time of the general resurrection,
when these visible heavens shall pass away. |
| 13 |
The grave - The grave is not only a resting - place, but an hiding - place to the
children of God. He hides them in the grave, as we hide our treasure in a place of secrecy
and safety. Hide me there, not only from the storms of this life, but for the glory of a
better. Until thy wrath be past - As long as our bodies lie in the grave, there are some
fruits of God's wrath against sin: until the set time comes, for their being remembered,
as Noah was remembered in the ark, Gen 8:1. Our bodies shall not be forgotten
in the grave, there is a time set for their being enquired after. |
| 14 |
Shall he live? - He shall not in this world. Therefore I will patiently wait 'till
that change comes, which will put a period to my calamities. |
| 15 |
Answer thee - Thou shalt call my soul to thyself: and I will chearfully answer, Here I
am: knowing thou wilt have a desire to the work of thy hands - A love for the soul which
thou hast made, and new - made by thy grace. |
| 16 |
Numbereth - Thou makest a strict enquiry into all my actions. |
| 17 |
Sealed - As writings or other choice things, that they may all be brought forth upon
occasion, and not one of them forgotten. Thou keepest all my sins in thy memory. But
herein Job speaks rashly. |
| 18 |
And - As when a great mountain falls, by an earthquake or inundation, it moulders away
like a fading leaf, (as the Hebrew word signifies) and as the rock, when by the violence
of winds or earthquakes it is removed out of its place, and thrown down, is never re -
advanced: and as the waters by continual droppings, wear away the stones, so that they can
never be made whole again: and as thou wastest away, by a great and violent inundation,
the things which grow out of the dust of the earth, herbs, and fruits, and plants, which
once washed away are irrecoverably lost; in like manner, thou destroyest the hope of man:
when man dies, all hope of his living again in this world is lost. |
| 20 |
Prevailest - When once thou takest away this life, it is gone forever. Sendest - To
his long home. |
| 21 |
Knoweth not - Either is ignorant of all such events: or, is not concerned or affected
with them. A dead or dying man minds not these things. |
Chapter XV
Eliphaz reproves Job for justifying himself, ver. 1 - 13. Persuades him to humble
himself before God, ver. 14 - 16. Describes the misery of wicked men, ver. 17 - 35.
| 2 |
Fill - Satisfy his mind and conscience. East wind - With discourses not only
unprofitable, but also pernicious both to himself and others; as the east - wind was in
those parts. |
| 4 |
Castest off - Heb. thou makes void fear; the fear of God, piety and religion, by thy
unworthy speeches of God, and by those false and pernicious principles, that God makes no
difference between good and bad in the course of his providence, but equally prospers or
afflicts both: thou dost that which tends to the subversion of the fear and worship of
God. Restrainest prayer - Thou dost by thy words and principles, as far as in thee lies,
banish prayer out of the world, by making it useless and unprofitable to men. |
| 5 |
Uttereth - Thy words discover the naughtiness of thy heart. Crafty - Thou speakest
wickedly, and craftily: thou coverest thy impious principles with fair pretences of piety.
|
| 11 |
Are - Are those comforts, which we have propounded to thee on condition of thy
repentance, small and contemptible in thine eyes? Secret - Hast thou any secret and
peculiar way of comfort which is unknown to us, and to all other men? |
| 12 |
Why - Why dost thou suffer thyself to be transported by the pride of thine heart, to
use such unworthy expressions? Wink - Why dost thou look with such an angry, supercilious,
and disdainful look? |
| 13 |
Against God - Eliphaz here does in effect give the cause on Satan's side, and affirms
that Job had done as he said he would, Curse God to his face. |
| 15 |
Saints - In his angels, chap.4:18, who are called his saints or holy
ones, Deut 33:2 Psal 103:20. Who though they were created holy, yet many of
them fell. Heavens - The angels that dwell in heaven; heaven being put for its
inhabitants. None of these are pure, simply and perfectly, and comparatively to God. The
angels are pure from corruption, but not from imperfection. |
| 16 |
Who - Who besides his natural proneness to sin, has contracted habits of sinning; and
sins as freely, as greedily and delightfully, as men, especially in those hot countries,
drink up water. |
| 17 |
I - I will prove what I have affirmed, that such strokes as thine are peculiar to
hypocrites. Seen - I speak not by hear - say, but from my own experience. |
| 18 |
Hid - They judged it to be so certain and important a truth, that they would not
conceal it in their own breasts. |
| 19 |
To whom - By the gracious gift of God: this he alleges to make their testimony more
considerable, because these were no obscure men, but the most worthy and famous men in
their ages; and to confute what Job had said, chap.9:24, that the earth was
given into the hand of the wicked. By the earth he means the dominion and possession of
it. Stranger - No person of a strange nation and disposition, or religion. Passed -
Through their land, so as to disturb, or spoil them, as the Sabeans and Chaldeans did
thee. God watched over those holy men so, that no enemy could invade them; and so he would
have done over thee, if thou hadst been such an one. |
| 20 |
Pain - Lives a life of care, and fear, and grief, by reason of God's wrath, the
torments of his own mind, and his outward calamities. Hidden - He knows not how short the
time of his life is, and therefore lives in continual fear of losing it. Oppressor - To
the wicked man: he names this one sort of them, because he supposed Job to be guilty of
this sin, in opposition of what Job had affirmed of the safety of such persons, chap.12:6,
and because such are apt to promise themselves a longer and happier life than other men. |
| 21 |
A sound - Even when he feels no evil, he is tormented with perpetual fears. Come upon
him - Suddenly and unexpectedly. |
| 22 |
Believeth not - When he falls into trouble, he despairs of deliverance, by reason of
his guilty conscience. Waited for - Besides the calamity which is upon him, he is in
constant expectation of greater; the sword is used for any grievous affliction. |
| 23 |
Knoweth - From his own guilty conscience. |
| 25 |
For - Now he gives the reason of all the fore - mentioned calamities, which was his
great wickedness. Against God - He sinned against God with an high hand. The Almighty -
Which aggravates the madness of this poor worm that durst fight against the omnipotent
God. |
| 26 |
He - The wicked man. Neck - As a stout warrior who cometh close to his adversary and
grapples with him. He acts in flat opposition to God, both to his precepts and
providences. Bosses - Even where his enemy is strongest. |
| 27 |
Because - This is mentioned as the reason of his insolent carriage towards God,
because he was fat, rich, potent, and successful, as that expression signifies, Deut
32:15 Psal 78:31 Jer 46:21. His great prosperity made him proud and secure, and
regardless of God and men. Fat - His only care is to pamper himself. |
| 28 |
But - This is fitly opposed to the prosperity last mentioned, and is the beginning of
the description of his misery. |
| 29 |
Substance - What he had gotten shall be taken from him. |
| 30 |
Depart - His misery shall have no end. Flame - God's anger and judgment upon him.
Branches - His wealth, and power, and glory, wherewith he was encompassed, as trees are
with their branches. His mouth - And this expression intimates, with how much ease God
subdueth his enemies: his word, his blast; one act of his will is sufficient. Go - Heb. go
back: that is, run away from God faster than he ran upon him, ver.26. So it
is a continuation of the former metaphor of a conflict between two persons. |
| 31 |
Vanity - In the vain and deceitful things of this world, he subjoins a general caution
to all men to take heed of running into the same error and mischief. Vanity -
Disappointment and dissatisfaction, and the loss of all his imaginary felicity. Recompence
- Heb. his exchange; he shall exchange one vanity for another, a pleasing vanity for a
vexatious vanity. |
| 32 |
Accomplished - That vanity should be his recompence. Before - When by the course of
nature, and common providence he might have continued much longer. |
Chapter XVI
Job upbraids his friends with unkindness, ver. 1 - 5. Bemoans himself, ver. 6 - 16.
Appeals from their censure to the righteous judgment of God, ver. 17 - 22.
| 2 |
Such things - These things are but vulgar and trivial. And so are all creatures, to a
soul under deep conviction of sin, or the arrest of death. |
| 3 |
End - When wilt thou put an end to these impertinent discourses? He retorts upon him
his charge, chap.15:2,3. |
| 7 |
He - God, as appears by the following words. Weary - Either of complaining, or, of my
life. Desolate - Hast turned my society into desolation, by destroying my children and
servants. |
| 9 |
Eyes - Looks upon me with a fierce, and sparkling eye, as enraged persons use to do. |
| 10 |
They - My friends. Gaped - Opened their mouths wide against me. In all this Job was a
type of Christ. These very expressions are used in the predictions of his sufferings, Psal
22:13. They gaped upon me with their mouths, and Mic 5:1. They shall
smite the judge of Israel upon the check. |
| 11 |
The wicked - And thus Christ was delivered into wicked hands, by the determinate
counsel of God. |
| 12 |
Shaken - As a mighty man doth with some stripling, when he wrestleth with him. Mark -
That he may shoot all his arrows in me. |
| 13 |
His archers - Whoever are our enemies, we must look on them as God's archers, and see
him directing the arrow. |
| 15 |
I have - So far am I from stretching out my hand against God, chap.15:25,
that I have humbled myself deeply under his hand. I have not only put on sackcloth, but
sewed it on, as being resolved to continue my humiliation, as long as my affliction
continues. Defiled my horn - I have willingly parted with all my wealth, and power, and
glory (as the horn often signifies in scripture,) and been content to lie in the dust. |
| 17 |
Not - And all this is not come upon me for any injurious dealing, but for other
reasons known to God only. Pure - I do not cast off God's fear and service, chap.15:4.
I do still pray and worship God, and my prayer is accompanied with a sincere heart. |
| 18 |
Earth - The earth is said to cover that blood, which lies undiscovered and unrevenged:
but saith Job, if I be guilty of destroying any man, let the earth disclose it; let it be
brought to light. Cry - Let the cry of my complaints to men, or prayers to God, find no
place in the ears or hearts of God or men, if this be true. |
| 19 |
Witness - Besides the witness of my conscience, God is witness of my integrity. |
| 22 |
Go - To the state and place of the dead, whence men cannot return to this life. The
meaning is, my death hastens, and therefore I earnestly desire that the cause depending,
between me and my friends, may be determined, that if I be guilty of these things, I may
bear the shame of it before all men, and if I be innocent, that I may see my own
integrity, and the credit of religion, (which suffers upon this occasion) vindicated. How
very certainly, and how very shortly are we likewise to go this journey. |
Chapter XVII
Job still bemoans himself, ver. 1 - 7. Encourages good men to hold on their way,
ver. 8, 9. Declares he looks for no ease but in the grave, ver. 10 - 16. Job in this
chapter suddenly passes from one thing to another as is usual for men in much trouble.
| 1 |
The graves - He speaks of the sepulchres of his fathers, to which he must be gathered.
The graves where they are laid, are ready for me also. Whatever is unready, the grave is
ready for us: it is a bed soon made. And if the grave be ready for us, it concerns us, to
be ready for the grave. |
| 2 |
Are not - Do not my friends, instead of comforting, mock me? Thus he returns to what
he had said, chap.16:20, and intimates the justice of his following appeal. |
| 3 |
Surety - These words contain, an humble desire to God that he would be his surety, or
appoint him a surety who should maintain his righteous cause against his opposers. Strike
hands - Be surety to me; whereof that was the usual gesture. |
| 4 |
Hid - Thou hast blinded the minds of my friends: therefore I desire a more wise and
able judge. Therefore - Thou wilt not give them the victory over me in this contest, but
wilt make them ashamed of their confidence. |
| 7 |
As a shadow - I am grown so poor and thin, that I am not to be called a man, but the
shadow of a man. |
| 8 |
Astonied - At the depth and mysteriousness of God's judgments, which fall on innocent
men, while the worst of men prosper. Yet - Notwithstanding all these sufferings of good
men, and the astonishment which they cause, he shall the more zealously oppose those
hypocrites, who make these strange providences of God an objection to religion. |
| 10 |
Come - And renew the debate, as I see you are resolved to do. |
| 11 |
My days - The days of my life. I am a dying man, and therefore the hopes you give me
of the bettering of my condition, are vain. Purposes - Which I had in my prosperous days,
concerning myself and children. |
| 12 |
They - My thoughts so incessantly pursue and disturb me, that I can no more sleep in
the night, than in the day. The light - The day - light, which often gives some comfort to
men in misery, seems to be gone as soon as it is begun. Darkness - Because of my grievous
pains and torments which follow me by day as well as by night. |
| 13 |
Wait - For deliverance, I should be disappointed; for I am upon the borders of the
grave, I expect no rest but in the dark grave, for which therefore I prepare myself. I
endeavour to make it easy, by keeping my conscience pure, by seeing Christ lying in this
bed, (so turning it into a bed of spices) and by looking beyond it to the resurrection. |
| 14 |
Corruption - Heb. to the pit of corruption, the grave. Father - I am near a - kin to
thee, and thou wilt receive and keep me in thy house, as parents do their children. |
| 15 |
Hope - The happiness you would have me expect. |
| 16 |
They - My hopes, of which he spake in the singular number, ver.15, which
he here changes into the plural, as is usual in these poetical books. Bars - Into the
innermost parts of the pit: my hopes are dying, and will be buried in my grave. We must
shortly be in the dust, under the bars of the pit, held fast there, 'till the general
resurrection. All good men, if they cannot agree now will there rest together. Let the
foresight of this cool the heat of all contenders, and moderate the disputers of this
world. |
Chapter XVIII
Bildad sharply reproves Job, as proud and impatient, ver. 1 - 4. And enlarges on
the misery of the wicked, ver. 5 - 12.
| 2 |
Ye - Thou, O Job; of whom he speaks here, as also ver.3, in the plural
number, as was a common idiotism of the Eastern language, to speak thus of one person,
especially where he was one of eminency. Mark - Consider the matter better. |
| 3 |
Beasts - Ignorant, and stupid men, chap.17:4,10. |
| 4 |
He - Job. Thou art thy own tormentor. Forsaken - Shall God give over the government of
the earth for thy sake, to prevent thy complaints and clamours? Shall the counsels of God,
which are more immoveable than rocks, and the whole course of his providence be altered to
comply with thy humours? |
| 7 |
Steps - His strong steps, by a vulgar Hebraism: his attempts and actions; such of them
as seem to be contrived with greatest strength of understanding, and carried on with
greatest resolution. Straitened - Shall be hindered and entangled. He shall be cast into
difficulties and perplexities, so that he shall not be able to proceed, and to accomplish
his enterprizes. |
| 8 |
Feet - By his own designs and actions. |
| 13 |
First - born - A terrible kind of death. The first - born was the chief of his
brethren, and therefore this title is given to things eminent in their kind. |
| 14 |
Confidence - All the matter of his confidence, his riches, and children. Terrors - To
death, which even Aristotle called, The most terrible of all terribles. And this it will
do, either because it will expose him to his enemies, who will kill him; or because the
sense of his disappointments, and losses, and dangers, will break his heart. |
| 15 |
It - Destruction, expressed ver.12, shall fix its abode with him. Because
- Because it is none of his own, being got from others by deceit or violence. Brimstone -
It shall be utterly destroyed, as it were, by fire and brimstone. He seems to allude both
to the destruction of Sodom, which happened not long before these times, and to the
judgment which befel Job, chap.1:16. |
| 18 |
Darkness - From a prosperous life to disgrace and misery, and to the grave, the land
of darkness. |
| 20 |
Astonied - At the day of his destruction. They shall be amazed at the suddenness, and
dreadfulness of it. Before - Before the persons last mentioned. Those who lived in the
time and place where this judgment was inflicted. |
| 21 |
The place - The condition. |
Chapter XIX
Job complains of the wicked usage of his friends, ver. 1 - 7. Of the shyness and
strangeness of his relations and intimates, ver. 8 - 19. Pleads for pity, ver. 20 - 22.
Testifies his firm belief of the resurrection, ver. 23 - 27. Cautions his friends against
persisting in their hard censures, ver. 28, 29.
| 3 |
Ten - Many times. A certain number for an uncertain. Strange - That you carry
yourselves like strangers to me, and condemn me as if you had never known my integrity. |
| 4 |
Erred - If I have sinned, I myself suffer for my sins, and therefore deserve your pity
rather than reproaches. |
| 7 |
Cry - Unto God. Wrong - That I am oppressed by my friends. |
| 9 |
Glory - Of my estate, children, authority, and all my comforts. Crown - All my power,
and laid my honour in the dust. |
| 10 |
Every side - In all respects, my person, and family, and estate. Gone - I am a lost
and dead man. Hope - All my hopes of the present life, but not of the life to come. Tree -
Which being once plucked up by the roots, never grows again. Hope in this life is a
perishing thing. But the hope of good men, when it is cut off from this world, is but
removed like a tree, transplanted from this nursery to the garden of God. |
| 12 |
Troops - My afflictions, which are God's soldiers marching under his conduct. Raise -
Cast up a trench round about me. |
| 13 |
Estranged - As we must eye the hand of God, in all the injuries we receive from our
enemies, so likewise in all the slights and unkindnesses we receive from our friends. |
| 15 |
Maids - Who by reason of their sex, commonly have more compassionate hearts than men. |
| 18 |
Arose - From my seat, to shew my respect to them, though they were my inferiors. |
| 19 |
Inward - My intimates and confidants, to whom I imparted all my thoughts and counsels.
|
| 20 |
Skin - Immediately, the fat and flesh next to the skin being consumed. As - As closely
as it doth to these remainders of flesh which are left in my inward parts. |
| 21 |
Touched me - My spirit is touched with a sense of his wrath, a calamity of all others
the most grievous. |
| 22 |
As God - As if you had the same infinite knowledge which God hath, whereby you can
search my heart and know my hypocrisy, and the same sovereign authority to say and do what
you please with me. Not satisfied - Are like wolves or lions that are not contented with
devouring the flesh of their prey, but also break their bones. |
| 23 |
My words - The words which I am now about to speak. And that which Job wished for, God
granted him. His words are written in God's book; so that wherever that book is read,
there shall this glorious confession be declared, for a memorial of him. |
| 24 |
Lead - Anciently they used to grave the letters in a stone with an iron tool, and then
to fill up the cuts with lead, that the words might be more plainly seen. |
| 25 |
For - This is the reason of his confidence in the goodness of his cause, and his
willingness to have the matter depending between him and his friends, published and
submitted to any trial, because he had a living and powerful Redeemer to plead his cause,
and to give sentence for him. My Redeemer - In whom I have a particular interest. The word
Goel, here used; properly agrees to Jesus Christ: for this word is primarily used of the
next kinsman, whose office it was to redeem by a price paid, the sold or mortgaged estate
of his deceased kinsman; to revenge his death, and to maintain his name and honour, by
raising up seed to him. All which more fitly agrees to Christ, who is our nearest kinsman
and brother, as having taken our nature upon him; who hath redeemed that everlasting
inheritance which our first parents had utterly lost, by the price of his own blood; and
hath revenged the death of mankind upon the great contriver of it, the devil, by
destroying him and his kingdom; and hath taken a course to preserve our name, and honour,
and persons, to eternity. And it is well observed, that after these expressions, we meet
not with such impatient or despairing passages, as we had before; which shews that they
had inspired him with new life and comfort. Latter day - At the day of the general
resurrection and judgment, which, as those holy patriarchs well knew and firmly believed,
was to be at the end of the world. The earth - The place upon which Christ shall appear
and stand at the last day. Heb. upon the dust; in which his saints and members lie or
sleep, whom he will raise out of it. And therefore he is fitly said to stand upon the
dust, or the grave, or death; because then he will put that among other enemies under his
feet. |
| 26 |
Though - Though my skin is now in a great measure consumed, and the rest of it,
together with this body, shall be devoured by the worms, which may seem to make my case
desperate. Flesh - Or with bodily eyes; my flesh or body being raised from the grave, and
re - united to my soul. God - The same whom he called his Redeemer, ver.25,
who having taken flesh, and appearing in his flesh or body with and for Job upon the
earth, might well be seen with his bodily eyes. Nor is this understood of a simple seeing
of him; but of that glorious and beatifying vision of God, which is promised to all God's
people. |
| 27 |
See - No wonder he repeats it again, because the meditation of it was most sweet to
him. For - For my own benefit and comfort. Another - For me or in my stead. I shall not
see God by another's eyes, but by my own, and by these self - same eyes, in this same body
which now I have. Though - This I do confidently expect, tho' the grave and the worms will
consume my whole body. |
| 28 |
Therefore - Because my faith and hope are in God. The root - The root denotes, a root
of true religion. And the root of all true religion is living faith. |
| 29 |
Sword - Of some considerable judgment to be inflicted on you which is called the
sword, as Deut 32:41, and elsewhere. That - This admonition I give you, that
you may know it in time, and prevent it. A judgment - God sees and observes, and will
judge all your words and actions. |
Chapter XX
Zophar, after a short preface, asserts, that the prosperity, of the wicked is
short, and his ruin sure, ver. 1 - 9. He describes his misery in many particulars, ver. 10
- 29.
| 2 |
Therefore - For this thy severe sentence. Make haste - I speak sooner than I intended.
And possibly interrupted Job, when he was proceeding in his discourse. |
| 3 |
The check - Thy opprobrious reproofs of us. Understanding - I speak, not from passion,
but certain knowledge. |
| 4 |
This - Which I am now about to say. Since - Since the world was made. |
| 6 |
Though - Though he be advanced to great dignity and authority. |
| 11 |
Bones - His whole body, even the strongest parts of it. The sin - Of the punishment of
it. |
| 12 |
Mouth - To his taste; though it greatly please him for the present. Hide - As an
epicure doth a sweet morsel, which he keeps and rolls about his mouth, that he may longer
enjoy the pleasure of it. |
| 14 |
Turned - From sweet to bitter. Gall of asps - Exceeding bitter and pernicious. Gall is
most bitter; the gall of serpents is full of poison; and the poison of asps is most
dangerous and within a few hours kills without remedy. |
| 15 |
Vomit - Be forced to restore them. God, &c. - If no man's hand can reach him, God
shall find him out. |
| 17 |
See - Not enjoy that abundant satisfaction and comfort, which good men through God's
blessings enjoy. |
| 18 |
Swallow - So as to hold it. He shall not possess it long, nor to any considerable
purpose. Yea, he shall be forced to part with his estate to make compensations for his
wrongs. So that he shall not enjoy what he had gotten, because it shall be taken from him.
|
| 20 |
Belly - He shall have no peace in his mind. Desired - Any part of his desirable
things, but shall forfeit and lose them all. |
| 21 |
Therefore - It being publickly known that he was totally ruined, none of his kindred
shall trouble themselves about any relicks of his estate. |
| 22 |
In, &c. - In the height of prosperity he shall be distressed. Hand, &c. - So
his wickedness shall be punished by those as wicked as himself. |
| 23 |
Rain - This phrase denotes both the author of his plagues, God, and the nature and
quality of them, that they shall come upon him like rain; with great vehemency, so that he
cannot prevent or avoid it. Eating - As it fell upon thy sons. |
| 24 |
Flee - From the sword or spear; and so shall think him self out of danger. |
| 25 |
It - The arrow, which had entered into his body, and now was drawn out of it either by
himself or some other person; having in general said, that it came out of his body, he
determines also the part of the body, the gall; which shews that the wound was both deep
and deadly. Terrors - The terrors of death; because he perceived his wound was incurable. |
| 26 |
Darkness - All sorts of miseries. Hid - Or, laid up; by God for him. It is reserved
and treasured up for him, and shall infallibly overtake him. Secret - In those places
where he confidently hopes to hide himself from all evil: even there God shall find him
out. Not blown - By man, but kindled by God himself. He thinks by his might and violence
to secure himself from men, but God will find him out. With him - With his family, who
shall inherit his curse as well as his estate. |
| 27 |
Heaven - God shall be a swift witness against him by extraordinary judgments; still he
reflects upon Job's case, and the fire from heaven. Earth - All creatures upon earth shall
conspire to destroy him. If the God of heaven and earth be his enemy, neither heaven nor
earth will shew him any kindness, but all the host of both are, and will he at war with
him. |
| 28 |
Increase of his house - His estate. Depart - Shall be lost. Flow - Like waters,
swiftly and strongly, and so as to return no more. His - Of God's wrath. |
| 29 |
Heritage - Heb. the heritage; so called, to denote the stability and assurance of it,
that it is as firm as an inheritance to the right heir; and in opposition to that
inheritance which he had gotten by fraud and violence. |
Chapter XXI
Job's preface to his answer, ver. 1 - 6. He describes the prosperity of wicked men,
ver. 7 - 13. Hardening them in their impiety, ver. 14 - 16. He foretells their final ruin,
ver. 17 - 21. He observes a great variety in the ways of God, ver. 22 - 26. He shews, that
tho' sinners are always punished in the other world, they often escape in this, ver. 27 -
34.
| 2 |
Hear, &c. - If you have no other comfort to administer, at least afford me this.
And it will be a comfort to yourselves in the reflection, to have dealt tenderly with your
afflicted friend. |
| 3 |
Speak - without interruption. Mock - If I do not defend my cause with solid arguments,
go on in your scoffs. |
| 4 |
Is - I do not make my complaint to, or expect relief from you, or from any men, hut
from God only: I am pouring forth my complaints to God. If - If my complaint were to man,
have I not cause? |
| 5 |
Mark - Consider what I am about to say concerning the prosperity of the worst of men,
and the pressures of some good men, and it is able to fill you with astonishment. Lay,
&c. - Be silent. |
| 6 |
Remember - The very remembrance of what is past, fills me with dread and horror. |
| 13 |
Moment - They do not die of a lingering and tormenting disease. |
| 14 |
Therefore - Because of their constant prosperity. Say - Sometimes in words, but
commonly in their thoughts and the language of their lives. |
| 16 |
Lo - But wicked men have no reason to reject God, because of their prosperity, for
their wealth, is not in their hand; neither obtained, nor kept by their own might, but
only by God's power and favour. Therefore I am far from approving their opinion, or
following their course. |
| 17 |
Often - I grant that this happens often though not constantly, as you affirm. Lamp -
Their glory and outward happiness. |
| 19 |
Layeth up - In his treasures, Rom 2:5. Iniquity - The punishment of his
iniquity; he will punish him both in his person and in his posterity. |
| 20 |
See - He shall be destroyed; as to see death, is to die. |
| 21 |
For, &c. - What delight can ye take in the thoughts of his posterity, when he is
dying an untimely death? When that number of months, which by the course of nature, he
might have lived, is cut off by violence. |
| 22 |
Teach - How to govern the world? For so you do, while you tell him that he must not
afflict the godly, nor give the wicked prosperity. That he must invariably punish the
wicked, and reward the righteous in this world. No: he will act as sovereign, and with
great variety in his providential dispensations. High - The highest persons, on earth, he
exactly knows them, and gives sentence concerning them, as he sees fit. |
| 25 |
Another - Another wicked man. So there is a great variety of God's dispensations; he
distributes great prosperity to one, and great afflictions to another, according to his
wise but secret counsel. |
| 26 |
Alike - All these worldly differences are ended by death, and they lie in the grave
without any distinction. So that no man can tell who is good, and who is bad by events
which befall them in this life. And if one wicked man die in a palace, and another in a
dungeon, they will meet in the congregation of the dead and damned; and the worm that
dieth not, and the fire that is not quenched will be the same to both: which makes those
differences inconsiderable, and not worth perplexing ourselves about. |
| 27 |
Me - I know that your discourses, though they be of wicked, men in general, yet are
particularly levelled at me. |
| 29 |
Them - Any person that passes along the high - way, every one you meet with. It is so
vulgar a thing, that no man of common sense is ignorant of it. Tokens - The examples, or
evidences, of this truth, which they that go by the way can produce. |
| 30 |
They - He speaks of the same person; only the singular number is changed into the
plural, possibly to intimate, that altho' for the present only some wicked men were
punished, yet then all of them should suffer. Brought - As malefactors are brought forth
from prison to execution. |
| 31 |
Declare - His power and splendor are so great, that scarce any man dare reprove him. |
| 32 |
And - The pomp of his death shall be suitable to the glory of his life. Brought - With
pomp and state, as the word signifies. Grave - Heb. to the graves; to an honourable and
eminent grave: the plural number being used emphatically to denote eminency. He shall not
die a violent but a natural death. |
| 33 |
Valley - Of the grave, which is low and deep like a valley. Sweet - He shall sweetly
rest in his grave. Draw - Heb. he shall draw every man after him, into the grave, all that
live after him, whether good or bad, shall follow him to the grave, shall die as he did.
So he fares no worse herein than all mankind. He is figuratively said to draw them,
because they come after him, as if they were drawn by his example. |
| 34 |
How - Why then do you seek to comfort me with vain hopes of recovering my prosperity,
seeing your grounds are false, and experience shews, that good men are often in great
tribulation, while the vilest of men prosper. |
Chapter XXII
Eliphaz, checks Job for his complaints of God, ver. 1 - 4. Charges miseries on his
sins, ver, 5 - 14. Compares his case to that of the old world, ver. 15 - 20. Assures him,
that if he would return to God, he would shew him mercy, ver. 21 - 30.
| 2 |
Can, &c. - Why dost thou insist so much upon thy own righteousness, as if thou
didst oblige God by it. |
| 3 |
Is it - Such a pleasure as he needs for his own ease and contentment. Nay, God needs
not us, or our services. We are undone, forever undone without him: but he is happy,
forever happy without us. |
| 4 |
Reprove - Punish thee. Because he is afraid, lest if he should let thee alone, thou
wouldst grow too great and powerful for him: surely no. As thy righteousness cannot profit
him, so thy wickedness can do him no hurt. |
| 5 |
Evil - Is not thy evil, thy affliction, are not thy calamities procured by, and
proportionable to thy sins. |
| 6 |
Surely - He speaks thus by way of strong presumption, when I consider thy unusual
calamities, I conclude thou art guilty of all, or some of these crimes. Brother - Of thy
neighbour. Nought - Without sufficient and justifiable cause. Stripped - By taking their
garment for a pledge, or by robbing them of their rights, all other injuries being
comprehended under this. |
| 8 |
Dwelt - Either by thy sentence or permission, he had a peaceable and sure possession
of it, whether he had right to it, or no. |
| 9 |
Arms - Their supports, and rights. |
| 11 |
Or - Either thou art troubled with fear of further evils or with the gross darkness of
thy present state of misery. Waters - Variety of sore afflictions, which are frequently
compared to water. |
| 12 |
Heaven - And from that high tower looketh down upon men, to behold, and govern, and
recompense all their actions, whether good or bad. How high - Yet God is far higher than
they, and from thence can easily see all things. |
| 14 |
Walketh - His delight is in heaven, which is worthy of his care, but he will not
burden himself with the care of earth: which was the opinion of many Heathen philosophers,
and, as they fancied, was Job's opinion also. |
| 15 |
Old way - Heb. the way of antiquity, of men living in ancient times, their end or
success. |
| 16 |
Out of - Before their time. A flood - Who, together with their foundation, the earth
and all their supports and enjoyments in it, were destroyed by the general deluge. |
| 17 |
Who - He repeats Job's words, chap.21:14,15, but to a contrary purpose.
Job alleged them to shew that they prospered notwithstanding their wickedness; and Eliphaz
produces them to shew that they were cut off for it. |
| 18 |
Yet - Yet it is true, that for a time God did prosper them, but at last, cut them off
in a tremendous manner, But - He repeals Job's words, chap.21:16, not without
reflection: thou didst say so, but against thy own principle, that God carries himself
indifferently towards good and bad; but I who have observed God's terrible judgments upon
wicked men, have much more reason to abhor their counsels. |
| 20 |
Because - Because when wicked men are destroyed, they are preserved. He should have
said their substance; but he changes the person, and saith, our substance; either as
including himself in the member of righteous persons, and thereby intimating that he
pleaded the common cause of all such, while Job pleaded the cause of the wicked, or
because he would hereby thankfully acknowledge some eminent and particular preservation
given to him amongst other righteous men. Remnant - All that was left undestroyed in the
general calamity. Fire - Sodom and Gomorrah. As if he had said, thou mayest find here and
there an instance, of a wicked man dying in peace. But what is that to the two great
instances of the final perdition of ungodly men, the drowning the whole world, and the
burning of Sodom and Gomorrah. |
| 21 |
Him - With God, renew thy acquaintance with God by prayer, and repentance for all thy
sins, and true humiliation under his hand, and hearty compliance with all his commands,
and diligent care to serve and enjoy him. It is our honour, that we are made capable of
this acquaintance, our misery that by sin we have lost it; our privilege, that through
Christ we may return to it; and our unspeakable advantage, to renew and cultivate it. And
be at peace - At peace with God, and at peace with thyself, not fretful or uneasy. Good
shall come unto thee - All the good thou canst desire, temporal, spiritual, eternal. |
| 22 |
Receive - Take the rule whereby thou governest thy thoughts, and words, and whole
life, not from thy own imaginations or passions, but from God, from his law, which is
written in thy own mind, and from the doctrines and instructions of the holy men of God.
And do not only hear them with thine ears, but let them sink into thy heart. |
| 23 |
If - The Hebrew phrase is emphatical, and implies a thorough turning from sin, to God,
so as to love him, and cleave to him, and sincerely devote a man's self to his fear and
service. Built - God will repair thy ruins, and give thee more children, and bless thee
with prosperity. Thou shalt - It is either,
- a spiritual promise, if thou dost sincerely repent, God will give the grace effectually
to reform thyself and family: or,
- a temporal promise, thou shalt put away iniquity, or the punishment of thy sins; as
iniquity is very often used: far from thy tabernacles; from all thy dwellings, and tents,
and possessions.
|
| 26 |
Lift up - Look up to him, with chearfulness and confidence. |
| 27 |
Make - The word is, thou shalt multiply thy prayer. Under all thy burdens, in all thy
wants, cares and fears, thou shalt send to heaven for wisdom, strength and comfort. Pay -
Thou shalt obtain those blessings for which thou didst make vows to God, and therefore,
according to thy obligation, shalt pay thy vows to him. |
| 28 |
Established - Thy purposes shalt not be disappointed, but ratified by God. And in all
thy counsels, and actions, God shall give thee the light of his direction and governance,
and of comfort and success. |
| 29 |
Cast down - All round about thee, in a time of general calamity. There is - God will
deliver thee. He - God. |
| 30 |
He, &c. - God will have so great a respect to thy innocency, that for thy sake he
will deliver those that belong to thee, or live with thee, or near thee, thought in
themselves they be ripe for destruction. Their hands - By thy prayers proceeding from a
pure heart and conscience. So Eliphaz and his two friends, who in this matter were not
innocent, were delivered by the pureness of Job's hands, chap.42:8. |
Chapter XXIII
Here seems to be a struggle throughout this chapter between nature and grace, Job
complains of his condition, yet with an assurance of God's clemency, ver. 1 - 7. He cannot
understand God's dealings, nor hope for relief, yet holds fast his integrity, ver. 8 - 14.
He is in deep trouble, ver. 15 - 17
| 2 |
To - day - Even at this time, notwithstanding all your pretended consolations. Stroke
- The hand or stroke of God upon me. Groaning - Doth exceed my complaints. |
| 3 |
O - I desire nothing more than his acquaintance and presence; but alas, he hides his
face from me. Seat - To his throne or judgment - seat to plead my cause before him. |
| 5 |
Know - If he should discover to me any secret sins, for which he contendeth with me, I
would humble myself before him, and accept of the punishment of mine iniquity. |
| 6 |
No - He would not use his power against me, but for me; by enabling me to plead my
cause, and giving sentence according to that clemency, which he uses towards his children.
|
| 7 |
There - At that throne of grace, where God lays aside his majesty, and judges
according to his wonted clemency. Dispute - Humbly propounding the grounds of their
confidence. So - Upon such a fair and equal hearing. Delivered - From the damnatory
sentence of God. This and some such expressions of Job cannot be excused from irreverence
towards God, for which God afterwards reproves him, and Job abhorreth himself. |
| 8 |
Is not - As a judge to hear and determine my causes, otherwise he knew God was
essentially present in all places. |
| 10 |
Gold - Which comes out of the furnace pure from all dross. |
| 11 |
Steps - The steps or paths which God hath appointed men to walk in. |
| 14 |
Performeth - Those calamities which he hath allotted to me. And - There are many such
examples of God's proceeding with men. |
| 16 |
Soft - He hath bruised, and broken, or melted it, so that I have no spirit in me. |
| 17 |
Because - God did not cut me off by death. Before - These miseries came upon me.
Covered - By hiding me in the grave. |
Chapter XXIV
Job shews that open sinners are often prosperous, ver. 1 - 12. That secret sinners
often pass undiscovered, ver. 13 - 18. That God punishes such by secret judgments, and
reserves them for future judgment, ver. 19 - 25.
| 1 |
Why - Why (how comes it to pass) seeing times, (the fittest seasons for every, action,
and particularly for the punishment of wicked men,) are not hidden from, or unknown to the
Almighty God, (seeing all times, and men that live, and things that are done, or to be
done in their times and seasons, are exactly known to God) do they that know him, (who
love and obey him) not see (whence is it that they cannot discern) his (that is, God's)
days? His times and seasons which he takes for the punishment of ungodly men; which if
they were constant and fixed in this life, they would not be unknown to good men, to whom
God uses to reveal his secrets. |
| 3 |
Pledge - Contrary to God's law, first written in mens hearts, and afterwards in holy
scripture, Exod 22:26,27. |
| 4 |
Way - Out of the path or place in which these oppressors walk and range. They labour
to keep out of their way for fear of their farther injuries. Hide - For fear of these
tyrants. |
| 5 |
Wild asses - Which are lawless, and fierce, and greedy of prey. Desert - Which is the
proper habitation of wild asses. They - The oppressors. Go - To spoil and rob. |
| 6 |
They - The oppressors. Wicked - Of such as themselves: so they promiscuously robbed
all, even their brethren in iniquity. |
| 7 |
Naked - Those whom they stripped of their garments and coverings. |
| 8 |
Wet - With the rain - water, which runs down the rocks or mountains into the caves, to
which they fled for shelter. Rock - Are glad when they can find a cleft of a rock in which
they may have some protection against the weather. |
| 9 |
They - The oppressors. Pluck - Out of covetousness; they will not allow the mother
time for the suckling of her infant. |
| 10 |
The sheaf - That single sheaf which the poor man had got with the sweat of his brow to
satisfy his hunger. |
| 11 |
Walls - Within the walls of the oppressors for their use. Suffer - Because they are
not permitted to quench their thirst out of the wine which they make. |
| 12 |
Groan - Under grievous oppressions. Soul - The life or blood of those who are wounded
to death, as this word properly signifies, crieth aloud to God for vengeance. Yet - Yet
God doth not punish them. |
| 13 |
Light - As well the light of reason and conscience, as the light of Divine revelation,
which was then in good measure imparted to the people of God, and shortly after committed
to writing. Know not - They do not approve, nor love, or chuse them. |
| 14 |
Poor - Where he finds nothing to satisfy his covetousness, he exercises his cruelty. |
| 16 |
They - The robber: having on that occasion inserted the mention of the adulterer as
one who acted his sin in the same manner as the night - thief did, he now returns to him
again. |
| 17 |
Is - Terrible and hateful. |
| 18 |
Swift - That is, he quickly passeth away with all his glory, as the waters which never
stay in one place, but are always hasting away. Portion - His habitation and estate which
he left behind him. He - He shall never more see or enjoy his vineyards, or other pleasant
places and things, which seem to be comprehended under this particular. |
| 20 |
Womb - His mother that bare him in her womb. Wickedness - The wicked man. Broken -
Broken to pieces, or violently broken down, as the word signifies. Tree - Which being once
broken down never grows again. |
| 21 |
He - He here returns to the declaration of his farther wickednesses, the cause of
these judgments. Barren - Barrenness was esteemed a curse and reproach; and so he added
affliction to the afflicted. |
| 22 |
Draweth - Into his net. |
| 23 |
Yet - Yet his eyes are upon their ways: although God gives them such strange
successes, yet he sees and observes them all, and will in due time punish them. |
| 24 |
The way - Out of this world. Other - They can no more prevent or delay their death,
than the meanest men in the world. Corn - In its greatest height and maturity. |
Chapter XXV
Bildad teaches us, to think highly and honourably of God, and to think meanly of
ourselves, ver. 1 - 6.
| 1 |
Answered - Not to that which Job spake last, but to that which seemed most reprovable
in all his discourses; his censure of God's proceedings with him, and his desire of
disputing the matter with him. Perhaps Bildad and the rest now perceived that Job and they
did not differ so much as they thought. They owned that the wicked might prosper for a
while. And Job owned, they would be destroyed at the last. |
| 2 |
Dominion - Sovereign power over all persons and things. Fear - Terror, that which
justly makes him dreadful to all men, and especially to all that undertake to dispute with
him. He - This clause, as well as the following verse, seems to be added to prove God's
dominion and dreadfulness: he keepeth and ruleth all persons and things in heaven, in
peace and harmony. The angels, though they be very numerous, all own his sovereignty, and
acquiesce in his pleasure. The stars, tho' vast in their bulk, and various in their
motions: exactly keep the order which God hath appointed them: and therefore it is great
folly for thee to quarrel with the methods of God's dealings with thee. |
| 3 |
Armies - Of the angels, and stars, and other creatures, all which are his hosts. Light
- The light of the sun is communicated to all parts of the world. This is a faint
resemblance, of the cognisance and care which God takes of the whole creation. All are
under the light of his knowledge: all partake of the light of his goodness: his pleasure
is to shew mercy: all the creatures live upon his bounty. |
| 4 |
Man - The word signifies man that is miserable, which supposes him to be sinful; and
shall such a creature quarrel with that dominion of God, to which the sinless, and happy,
and glorious angels submit? God - Before God's tribunal, to which thou dost so boldly
appeal. |
| 5 |
Moon - The moon, tho' bright and glorious, if compared with the Divine Majesty, is
without any lustre or glory. By naming the moon, and thence proceeding to the stars, the
sun is also included. |
| 6 |
Worm - Mean, and vile, and impotent; proceeding from corruption, and returning to it.
The son - For miserable man in the last branch he here puts the son of any man, to shew
that this is true even of the greatest and best of men. Let us then wonder at the
condescension of God, in taking such worms into covenant and communion with himself! |
Chapter XXVI
Job observes, that Bildad's discourse was foreign to the matter, ver. 1 - 4.
Enlarges on the power and greatness of God, which yet are unsearchable, ver. 5 - 14.
| 4 |
To whom - For whose instruction hast thou uttered these things? For mine? Dost thou
think I do not know, that which the meanest persons are not unacquainted with; that God is
incomparably greater and better than his creatures? Whose spirit - Who inspired thee with
this profound discourse of thine? |
| 5 |
Dead things - Job having censured Bildad's discourse, proceeds to shew how little he
needed his information in that point. Here he shews that the power and providences of God
reaches not only to the things we see, but also to the invisible parts of the world, not
only to the heavens above and their inhabitants, and to men upon earth, of which Bildad
discoursed, chap.25:2,3, but also to such persons or things as are under the
earth, or under the waters; which are out of our sight and reach; yet not out of the ken
of Divine providence. These words may be understood; either,
- of dead, or lifeless things, such as amber, pearl, coral, metals, or other minerals,
which are formed or brought forth; by the almighty power of God, from under the waters;
either in the bottom of the sea, or within the earth, which is the lowest element, and in
the scripture and other authors spoken of as under the waters; this being observed as a
remarkable work of God's providence, that the waters of the sea, which are higher than the
earth, do not overwhelm it. Or,
- of dead men, and of the worst of them, such as died in their sins, and after death were
condemned to farther miseries; for of such this very word seems to be used, Prov
2:18 9:18, who are here said to mourn or groan from under the waters; from the
lower parts of the earth, or from under those subterranean waters, which are supposed to
be within and under the earth; Psalm 33:7, and from under the inhabitants
thereof; either of the waters or of the earth, under which these waters are, or with the
other inhabitants thereof; of that place under the waters, namely, the apostate spirits.
So the sense is, that God's dominion is over all men, yea, even the dead, and the worst
of them, who though they would not own God, nor his providence, while they lived, yet now
are forced to acknowledge and feel that power which they despised, and bitterly mourn
under the sad effects of it in their infernal habitations. |
| 6 |
Hell - Is in his presence, and under his providence. Hell itself, that place of utter
darkness, is not hid from his sight. Destruction - The place of destruction. |
| 7 |
North - The northern part of the heavens, which is put for the whole visible heaven,
because Job and his friends lived in a northern climate. Nothing - Upon no props or
pillars, but his own power and providence. |
| 9 |
Holdeth - From our view, that his glory may not dazzle our sight; he covereth it with
a cloud. Throne - The heaven of heavens, where he dwelleth. |
| 11 |
Pillars - Perhaps the mountains which by their height and strength seem to reach and
support the heavens. Astonished - When God reproveth not them, but men by them,
manifesting his displeasure by thunders, or earthquakes. |
| 14 |
Parts - But small parcels, the outside and visible work. Portion - Of his power and
wisdom, and providence. His Power - His mighty power, is aptly compared to thunder; in
regard of its irresistible force, and the terror which it causes to wicked men. |
Chapter XXVII
Job protests his integrity, ver. 1 - 6. And his dread of hypocrisy, ver. 7 - 10.
Shews the miserable end of the wicked, notwithstanding their long prosperity, ver. 11 -
23.
| 1 |
Parable - His grave and weighty discourse. |
| 2 |
Who - Though he knows my integrity, yet doth not plead my cause against my friends. |
| 6 |
Reproach - With betraying my own cause and innocency. |
| 7 |
Let - I am so far from practicing wickedness, that I abhor the thoughts of it, and if
I would wish to be revenged of my enemy, I could wish him no greater mischief than to be a
wicked man. |
| 8 |
Though - Though they prosper in the world. God, as the judge takes it away, to be
tried, and determined to its everlasting state. And what will his hope be then? It will be
vanity and a lie; it will stand him in no stead. |
| 10 |
Delight - When he has nothing else to delight in? No: his delight is in the things of
the world, which now sink under him. And those who do not delight in God, will not always,
will not long, call upon him. |
| 12 |
Have seen - I speak what is confirmed by your own, as well as others experiences. Vain
- To condemn me for a wicked man, because I am afflicted. |
| 15 |
Remain - Who survive that sword and famine. Widows - For they had many wives. Weep -
Because they also, as well as other persons, groaned under their tyranny, and rejoice in
their deliverance from it. |
| 16 |
As clay - In great abundance. |
| 18 |
A moth - Which settleth itself in a garment, but is quickly and unexpectedly
dispossessed of its dwelling, and crushed to death. A booth - Which the keeper of a garden
or vineyard suddenly rears up in fruit - time, and as quickly pulls down again. |
| 19 |
Lie down - In death. Not gathered - Instead of that honourable interment with his
fathers, his carcase shall lie like dung upon the earth. One openeth his eyes - That is,
while a man can open his eyes, in the twinkling of an eye. He is as if he had never been,
dead and gone, and his family and name extinct with him. |
| 20 |
Terrors - From the sense of approaching death or judgment. Waters - As violently and
irresistibly, as a river breaking its banks, or deluge of waters bears down all before it.
A tempest - God's wrath cometh upon him like a tempest, and withal unexpectedly like a
thief in the night. |
| 21 |
East - wind - Some terrible judgment, fitly compared to the east - wind, which in
those parts was most vehement, and pernicious. Carrieth him - Out of his palace wherein he
expected to dwell forever; whence he shall be carried either by an enemy, or by death. |
| 22 |
Cast - His darts or plagues one after another. Would flee - He earnestly desires to
escape the judgments of God, but in vain. Those that will not be persuaded to fly to the
arms of Divine grace, which are now stretched out to receive them, will not be able to
flee from the arms of Divine wrath, which will shortly be stretched out to destroy them. |
| 23 |
Clap - In token of their joy at the removal of such a publick pest, by way of
astonishment: and in contempt and scorn, all which this gesture signifies in scripture
use. His - In token of detestation and derision. |
Chapter XXVIII
The wisdom of God in the works of nature, ver. 1 - 11. A wisdom like this cannot be
found in man, neither can it be bought at any price, ver. 12 - 21. Death makes a report
concerning it, ver. 22. It is hid in God, ver. 23 - 27. To fear God is man's wisdom, ver.
28.
| 1 |
Surely - Job having in the last chapter discoursed of God's various providences toward
wicked men, and shewed that God doth sometimes, for a season, give them prosperity, but
afterwards calls them to a sad account, and having shewed that God doth sometimes prosper
the wicked all their days, so they live and die without any visible token of God's
displeasure, when on the contrary, good men are exercised with many calamities; and
perceiving that his friends were, scandalized at these methods of Divine providence, and
denied the thing, because they could not understand the reason of such dispensations: in
this chapter he declares that this is one of the depths of Divine wisdom, not discoverable
by any mortal man, and that although men had some degree of wisdom whereby they could
search out many hidden things, as the veins of silver, and gold, yet this was a wisdom of
an higher nature, and out of man's reach. The caverns of the earth he may discover, but
not the counsels of heaven. |
| 3 |
Perfection - Whatever is deeply wrought in the deepest caverns. Stones of darkness -
The precious stones which lie hid in the dark bowels of the earth, where no living thing
can dwell. |
| 4 |
Breaketh out - While men are searching, water breaks in upon them. Inhabitants - Out
of that part of the earth which the miners inhabit. Forgotten - Untrodden by the foot of
man. Dried up - They are dried up, (or, drawn up, by engines made for that purpose) from
men, from the miners, that they may not be hindered in their work. |
| 5 |
Fire - Coals, and brimstone, and other materials of fire. Unless this refer, as some
suppose, to a central fire. |
| 6 |
Sapphires - Of precious stones; the sapphire, is one of the most eminent, being put
for all the rest. In some parts of the earth, the sapphires are mixed with stones, and cut
out of them and polished. Hath - The earth continueth. Dust - Distinct from that gold
which is found in the mass, both sorts of gold being found in the earth. |
| 7 |
A path - In the bowels of the earth. Vulture's eye - Whose eye is very quick, and
strong, and searcheth all places for its prey. |
| 8 |
Lion - Which rangeth all places for prey. The birds and beasts have often led men to
such places as otherwise they should never have found out; but they could not lead them to
these mines, the finding out of them is a special gift of God. |
| 9 |
He, &c. - This and the two next verses mention other eminent works of God, who
overturneth rocks, and produceth new rivers. |
| 10 |
Seeth - Even those which no human art or industry was ever able to discover. |
| 12 |
That wisdom - Man hath one kind of wisdom, to discover the works of nature, and to
perform the operations of art; but as for that sublime wisdom which consists in the
knowledge of God and ourselves, no man can discover this, but by the special gift of Cod. |
| 13 |
Found - Among men upon earth, but only among those blessed spirits that dwell above. |
| 14 |
The depth - This is not to he found in any part of the sea, though a man may dig or
dive ever so deep to find it, nor to be learned from any creature. |
| 20 |
Whence, &c. - By a diligent inquiry, we find at length, that there is a twofold
wisdom; one hid in God, which belongs not to us, the other revealed to man, which belongs
to us and to our children. |
| 21 |
Hid - The line and plummet of human reason, can never fathom the abyss of the Divine
counsels. Who can account for the maxims, measures and methods of God's government? Let us
then be content, not to know the future events of providence, 'till time discover them:
and not to know the secret reasons of providence, 'till eternity brings them to light. |
| 22 |
Death - The grave, the place of the dead, to 'which these things are here ascribed, as
they are to the depths, and to the sea, by a common figure. Though they cannot give an
account of it themselves yet there is a world, on which these dark regions border, where
we shall see it clearly. Have patience, says death: I will fetch thee shortly to a place
where even this wisdom shall be found. When the veil of flesh is rent, and the interposing
clouds are scattered, we shall know what God doth, though we know not now. |
| 23 |
God - God alone. The way - The methods which he takes in the management of all
affairs, together with its grounds and ends in them. The place - Where it dwells, which is
only in his own mind. |
| 24 |
For - He, and he only knows it, because his providence, is infinite and universal,
reaching to all places, and times, past, present, and to come; whereas the most knowing
men have narrow understandings, and the wisdom, and justice, and beauty of God's works are
not fully seen 'till all the parts of them be laid together. |
| 25 |
Winds - God manageth them all by weight, appointing to every wind that blows, its
season, its proportion, its bounds, when, and where, and how much, and how long each shall
blow. He only doth all these things, and he only knows why he doth them. He instanceth in
some few of God's works, and those which seem to be most trivial, and uncertain, that
thereby he might more strongly imply that God doth the same in other things which are more
considerable, that he doth all things in the most exact order, and weight, and measure.
The waters - Namely, the rain - waters, which God layeth up in his store - houses, the
clouds, and thence draws them forth, and sends them down upon the earth in such times and
proportions as he thinks fit. Measure - For liquid things are examined by measure, as
other things are by weight: and here is both weight and measure to signify with what
perfect wisdom God governs the world. |
| 26 |
When - At the first creation, when he settled that course and order which should he
continued. A decree - An appointment and as it were a statute law, that it should fall
upon the earth, in such times, and places, and proportions. |
| 27 |
It - Wisdom, which is the subject of the present discourse. This God saw within
himself; he looked upon it in his own mind, as the rule by which he would proceed in the
creation and government of all things. Declare - Or reveal it. Prepared - He had it in
readiness for doing all his works, as if he had been for a long time preparing materials
for them. So it is a speech of God after the manner of men. Searched - Not properly; for
so searching implies ignorance, and requires time and industry, all which is repugnant to
the Divine perfections; but figuratively, he did, and doth, all things with that absolute
and perfect wisdom, so exactly, and perfectly, as if he had bestowed a long time in
searching, to find them out. |
| 28 |
Man - Unto Adam in the day in which he was created. And in him, to all his posterity.
Said - God spake it, at first to the mind of man, in which he wrote this with his own
finger, and afterwards by the holy patriarchs, and prophets, and other teachers, whom he
sent into the world to teach men true wisdom. Behold - Which expression denotes the great
importance of this doctrine, and withal man's backwardness to apprehend it. The fear of
the Lord - True religion. Wisdom - In man's wisdom, because that, and that only, is his
duty, and safety, and happiness, both for this life and for the next. Evil - From sin,
which is called evil eminently, as being the chief evil, and the cause of all other evils.
Religion consists of two branches, doing good, and forsaking evil; the former is expressed
in the former clause of this verse, and the latter in these words; and this is the best
kind of knowledge or wisdom to which man can attain in this life. The design of Job in
this close of his discourse, is not to reprove the boldness of his friends, in prying into
God's secrets, and passing such a rash censure upon him, and upon God's carriage towards
him; but also to vindicate himself from the imputation of hypocrisy, which they fastened
upon him, by shewing that he had ever esteemed it to be his best wisdom, to fear God, and
to depart from evil. |
Chapter XXIX
Job, after pausing a little while, shews, what comfort he formerly had in his house
and family, ver. 1 - 6. What honour and power he had in his country, ver. 7 - 10. What
good he did as a magistrate, ver. 11 - 17. And what a prospect he had of the continuance
of his prosperity, ver. 18 - 25
| 2 |
Preserved - From all those miseries which now I feel. |
| 3 |
Darkness - I passed safely through many difficulties, and dangers, and common
calamities. |
| 7 |
Seat - When I caused the seat of justice to be set for me. By this, and several other
expressions, it appears that Job was a magistrate. Street - In that open place, near the
gate, where the people assembled for the administration of justice. |
| 10 |
Cleaved - It lay as still as if he had done so. |
| 11 |
Witness - Gave testimony to my pious, and just, and blameless conversation. |
| 14 |
Put on, &c. - Perhaps he did not wear these: but his steady justice was to him
instead of all those ornaments. |
| 18 |
Multiply - See how apt even good men are, to set death at a distance from them! |
| 20 |
Glory - My reputation was growing every day. Bow - My strength which is signified by a
bow, Gen 49:24 1Sam 2:4, because in ancient times the bow and arrows were the
principal instruments of war. |
| 22 |
Dropped - As the rain, which when it comes down gently upon the earth, is most
acceptable and beneficial to it. |
| 24 |
Laughed - Carried myself so familiarly with them, that they could scarce believe their
eyes and ears. Cast not down - They were cautious not to give me any occasion to change my
countenance towards them. |
| 25 |
I chose - They sought to me for advice in all difficult cases, and I directed them
what methods they should take. Sat - As a prince or judge, while they stood waiting for my
counsel. A king - Whose presence puts life, and courage, into the whole army. As one - As
I was ready to comfort any afflicted persons, so my consolations were always welcome to
them. |
Chapter XXX
Job's honour is turned into contempt, ver. 1 - 14. His prosperity, into fears,
pains, and a sense of the wrath of God, ver. 15 - 22. He looks for nothing but death, ver.
23. And rest therein, ver. 24. Reflects on his former sympathy with the afflicted, ver.
25. And describes his own present calamities, ver. 26 - 31.
| 1 |
Younger - Whom both universal custom, and the light of nature, taught to reverence
their elders and betters. Whose fathers - Whose condition was so mean, that in the
opinion, of the world, they were unworthy to be my shepherds the companions of my dogs
which watch my flocks. |
| 3 |
Solitary - Although want commonly drives persons to places of resort for relief, yet
they were so conscious of their own guilt, that they shunned company, and for fear or
shame fled into, and lived in desolate places. |
| 4 |
Who cut - Bitter herbs, which shews their extreme necessity. Juniper - Possibly the
word may signify some other plant, for the Hebrews themselves are at a loss for the
signification of the names of plants. |
| 7 |
Brayed - Like the wild asses, for hunger or thirst. Thorns - Under which they hide
themselves, that they might not be discovered when they are sought out for justice. |
| 10 |
Spit - Not literally, for they kept far from him, but figuratively, they use all
manner of reproachful expressions, even to my face. Herein, also we see a type of Christ,
who was thus made a reproach of men, and despised of the people. |
| 11 |
He - God. Cord - Hath slackened the string of my bow, and so rendered my bow and
arrows useless; he hath deprived me of my strength or defence. Let loose - They cast off
all former restraints of humanity, or modesty, and do those things before mine eyes, which
formerly they trembled lest they should come to my ears. |
| 12 |
Right hand - This was the place of adversaries or accusers in courts of justice. The
youth - Heb. young striplings, who formerly hid themselves from my presence, chap.29:8.
Push - Metaphorically, they endeavour to overwhelm me. Ways - Cause - ways, or banks: so
it is a metaphor from soldiers, who cast up banks, against the city which they besiege.
Destruction - To destroy me. |
| 13 |
Mar - As I am in great misery, so they endeavour to stop all my ways out of it. Set
forward - Increasing it by their invectives, and censures. Even they - Who are themselves
in a forlorn and miserable condition. |
| 14 |
Waste place - In the waste place; in that part of the bank which was broken down. They
rolled - As the waters, come rolling in at the breach. |
| 15 |
Terrors - If he endeavoured to shake them off, they turned furiously upon him: if he
endeavoured to out run them, they pursued his soul, as swiftly and violently as the wind. |
| 20 |
I stand - I pray importunately and continually. |
| 21 |
Turned - As if thou hadst changed thy very nature, which is kind, and merciful, and
gracious. |
| 22 |
Thou - Thou exposest me, to all sorts of storms and calamities; so that I am like
chaff or stubble lifted up to the wind, and violently tossed hither and thither in the
air. Substance - By which, my body is almost consumed, and my heart is melted within me. |
| 23 |
House appointed - The grave is a narrow, dark, cold house, but there we shall rest and
be safe. It is our home, for it is our mother's lap, and in it we are gathered to our
fathers. It is an house appointed for us, by him that has appointed the bounds of all our
habitations. And it is appointed for all living. It is the common receptacle for rich and
poor: we must all be brought thither, and that shortly. |
| 24 |
To the grave - The hand of God's wrath will not follow me beyond death; I shall then
be safe and easy: Tho' men cry in his destruction: tho' most men cry and are affrighted,
while they are dying, while the body is sinking into destruction; yet I desire it, I have
nothing to fear therein, since I know that my redeemer liveth. |
| 25 |
Did not I - Have I now judgment without mercy, because I afforded no mercy to others
in misery? No; my conscience acquits me from this inhumanity: I did mourn over others in
their miseries. |
| 26 |
Upon me - Yet trouble came upon myself, when I expected it not. |
| 27 |
Affliction - Came upon me suddenly, and unexpectedly, when I promised myself peace and
prosperity. |
| 28 |
Without the sun - Heb. black, not by the sun. My very countenance became black, tho'
not by the sun, but by the force of my disease. |
| 29 |
A brother - By imitation of their cries: persons of like qualities are often called
brethren. Dragon - Which howl and wail mournfully in the deserts. |
Chapter XXXI
Job's protestation of his innocence, with regard to wantonness, ver. 1 - 4. Fraud
and injustice, ver. 5 - 8. Adultery, ver. 9 - 12. Haughtiness and severity toward his
servants, ver. 13 - 15. Unmercifulness to the poor, ver. 16 - 23. Confidence in his
wealth, ver. 24, 25. Idolatry, ver. 26 - 28. Revenge, ver. 29 - 31. Neglect of poor
strangers, ver. 32 Hypocrisy, or not reproving others, ver. 33, 34. He wishes God would
answer and that his words might be recorded, ver. 35 - 37. Protests his innocence, as to
oppression, ver. 38 - 40.
| 1 |
I made - So far have I been from any gross wickedness, that I have abstained from the
least occasions and appearances of evil. |
| 2 |
For - What recompence may be expected from God for those who do otherwise. Above - How
secretly soever unchaste persons carry the matter, so that men cannot reprove them, yet
there is one who stands upon an higher place, whence he seeth in what manner they act. |
| 5 |
Walked - Dealt with men. Vanity - With lying, or falsehood. Deceit - If when I had an
opportunity of enriching myself, by wronging others, I have readily and greedily complied
with It. |
| 6 |
Let me - I desire nothing more than to have my heart and life weighed in just
balances, and searched out by the all - seeing God. That God - Or, and he will know; (upon
search he will find out: which is spoken of God after the manner of men:) Mine integrity -
So this is an appeal to God to be witness of his sincerity. |
| 7 |
Heart - If I have let my heart loose to covet forbidden things, which mine eyes have
seen: commonly sin enters by the eye into the heart. A blot - Any unjust gain. |
| 8 |
Increase - All my plants, and fruits, and improvements. |
| 10 |
Then - Not as if Job desired this; but that if God should give up his wife to such
wickedness, he should acknowledge his justice in it. |
| 11 |
This - Adultery. It is - Heb. an iniquity of the judges; which belongs to them to take
cognizance of, and to punish, even with death; and that not only by the law of Moses, but
even by the law of nature, as appears from the known laws and customs of the Heathen
nations. |
| 12 |
Destruction - Lust is a fire in the soul; it consumes all that is good there, the
convictions, the comforts; and lays the conscience waste. It consumes the body, consumes
the substance, roots out all the increase. It kindles the fire of God's wrath, which if
not quenched by the blood of Christ, will burn to the lowest hell. |
| 16 |
If I - Denied them what they desired of me. To fail - With tedious expectation of my
justice or charity. Job is most large upon this head, because in this matter Eliphaz had
most particularly accused him. |
| 18 |
Youth - As soon as I was capable of managing mine own affairs. With me - Under my
care. A father - With all the diligence and tenderness of a father. Her - The widow
mentioned ver.16. From - From my tender years; ever since I was capable of
discerning good and evil. |
| 19 |
Perish - When it was in my power to help them. |
| 21 |
When - When I saw I could influence the judges to do what I pleased. |
| 23 |
For - I stood in awe of God and of his judgments. I could not - I knew myself unable
either to oppose his power, or to bear his wrath. Even good men have need to restrain
themselves from sin, with the fear of Destruction from God. Even when salvation from God
is a comfort to us, yet destruction from God should be a terror to us. Adam in innocency
was awed by a threatning. |
| 26 |
I - This place speaks of the worship of the host of heaven, and especially of the sun
and moon, the most eminent and glorious of that number, which was the most ancient kind of
idolatry, and most frequent in the eastern countries. Shined - In its full strength and
glory. |
| 27 |
Kissed - In token of worship, whereof this was a sign. |
| 28 |
The judge - The civil magistrate; who being advanced and protected by God, is obliged
to maintain and vindicate his honour, and consequently to punish idolatry. Denied God -
Not directly but by consequence, because this was to rob God of his prerogative, by giving
to the creature, that worship which is peculiar to God. |
| 29 |
Lift up - Heb. stirred up myself to rejoice and insult over his misery. |
| 31 |
If - My domesticks and familiar friends. His flesh - This is farther confirmation of
Job's charitable disposition to his enemy. Although all who were daily conversant with
him, and were witnesses of his and their carriage, were so zealous in Job's quarrel, that
they protested they could eat their flesh, and could not be satisfied without. Yet he
restrained both them and himself from executing vengeance upon them. |
| 33 |
As Adam - As Adam did in Paradise. |
| 34 |
Did I fear - No: all that knew Job knew him to be a man of resolution, that boldly
appeared, spoke and acted, in defence of religion and justice. He durst not keep silence,
or stay within, when called to speak or act for God. He was not deterred by the number, or
quality, or insults of the injurious, from reproving them, and doing justice to the
injured. |
| 35 |
Had written - Had given me his charge written in a book or paper, as the manner was in
judicial proceedings. This shews that Job did not live, before letters were in use. And
undoubtedly the first letters were those wrote on the two tables, by the finger of God. He
wishes, his friends, who charged him with hypocrisy, would draw up the charge in writing. |
| 36 |
Take it - As a trophy or badge of honour. |
| 37 |
Him - My judge, or adversary. My steps - The whole course of my life. A prince - With
undaunted courage and confidence. |
| 38 |
Cry - Because I have gotten it by fraud or violence. |
| 39 |
Without money - Either without paying the price for the land, or by defrauding my
workmen of their wages. Life - Killing them that I might have undisturbed possession of
it, as Ahab did Naboth. |
Chapter XXXII
Some account of Elihu, and his sentiments concerning the dispute between Job and
his friends, ver. 1 - 5. He excuses his own youth, ver. 6 - 10. and pleads, that he had
heard all they had to say, ver. 11 - 13. That he had something new to offer, ver. 14 - 17.
Could not refrain from speaking, ver. 18 - 20. And would speak impartially, ver. 21, 22.
| 1 |
Because - So they said: but they could not answer him. |
| 2 |
The Buzite - Of the posterity of Buz, Nahor's son, Gen 22:21. Ram - Or,
of Aram; for Ram and Aram are used promiscuously; compare 2Kings 8:28 2Chron 22:5.
His pedigree is thus particularly described, partly for his honour, as being both a wise
and good man, and principally to evidence the truth of this history. He justified -
Himself not without reflection upon God, as dealing severely with him, he took more care
to maintain his own innocency, than God's glory. The word Elihu signifies, my God is he.
They had all tried in vain to convince Job: but my God is he who both can and will do it. |
| 3 |
No answer - To Job's arguments as to the main cause. Condemned - As a bad man. |
| 4 |
'Till Job - And his three friends. |
| 6 |
Afraid - Of being thought forward and presumptuous. |
| 8 |
Spirit - The spirit of God. Giveth - To whom he pleaseth. |
| 9 |
Judgment - What is just and right. |
| 12 |
Convinced - By solid and satisfactory answers. |
| 13 |
Left - God thus left you to your own weakness, lest you should ascribe the conquering
or silencing of Job to your own wisdom. God - This is alleged by Elihu, in the person of
Job's three friends; the sense is, the judgments which are upon Job, have not been brought
upon him by man originally, but by the hand of God, for his gross, though secret sins:
but, saith Elihu, this argument doth not satisfy me, and therefore bear with me if I seek
for better. |
| 19 |
Bottles - Bottles of new wine. |
| 22 |
I know not - The more closely we eye the majesty of God as our maker, the more we
dread his wrath and justice, the less danger shall we be in of a sinful fearing or
flattering of men. |
Chapter XXXIII
Elihu offers himself to Job as the person he had so often wished for, ver. 1 - 7.
He charges him with reflecting upon God, ver. 8 - 11. He aggravates this by shewing him
God's sovereign power over man, and the various means he uses to do him good, ver. 12 -
14. Particularly dreams, ver. 15 - 18. And sickness, ver. 19 - 30. He requests Job to
answer him, or let him go on, ver. 31 - 33.
| 3 |
My words - I will not speak passionately or partially, but from a sincere desire to do
thee good. Clearly - What I speak will be plain, not hard to be understood. |
| 4 |
Life - I am thy fellow creature, and am ready to discourse with thee upon even terms,
according to thy desire. |
| 6 |
Behold - I will plead with thee in God's name and stead, which thou hast often wished,
and I am God's creature like thyself. |
| 9 |
Clean - Not absolutely, for he often confesses himself to be a sinner, but no such
transgression, as might give God just occasion to punish him so severely, as is implied,
where he blames God for finding occasions against him, implying that he had given him none
by his sins. And thus far Elihu's charge was just, and herein it differs from the charge
of Job's three friends, who often accuse him, for asserting his own innocency; although
they did it, because they thought him an hypocrite, whereas Elihu does it upon other
grounds, even because Job's justification of himself was accompanied with reflections upon
God. |
| 11 |
Marketh - He narrowly prys into all my actions, that he may find matter against me. |
| 12 |
Not just - Thou art in the wrong. Greater - Not only in power and majesty, but also in
justice, and wisdom, and goodness, and therefore thou dost foolishly, in censuring his
judgments, thou castest off that awe and reverence which thou shouldest constantly
maintain towards thy sovereign Lord. |
| 13 |
He - Useth not to give an account to his creatures of the grounds and reasons of his
judgments or dispensations as being the supreme governor of all persons and things, in
whose will it becometh all men to acquiesce. |
| 14 |
Yet - Although he doth not give men an account of his matters, yet he doth that which
is sufficient for them. Twice - When once speaking doth not awaken men, God is graciously
pleased to give them another admonition: though he will not gratify men's curiosity in
enquiring into his hidden judgments, yet he will acquaint them with their duty. God speaks
to us by conscience, by providence, and by ministers, of all which Elihu here treats at
large, to shew Job, that God was now telling him his mind, and endeavouring to do him
good. He shews first, how God admonishes men by their own consciences. |
| 16 |
Sealeth - He imprints those instructions upon their minds. |
| 17 |
Pride - And God by this means is said to hide pride from man, because by these
glorious representations of his Divine majesty to man, he takes him off from the
admiration of his own excellency, and brings him to a sight of his own weakness, and to an
humble and ready submission to his will. |
| 18 |
Keepeth - By his gracious admonitions whereby he leads him to repentance. |
| 19 |
Pain - The second way whereby God instructs men and excites them to repentance. |
| 22 |
The destroyers - The pangs of death, here called the destroyers, are just ready to
seize him. |
| 23 |
A messenger - A prophet or teacher. To expound the providence, and point out the
design of God therein. One, &c. - A person rightly qualified for this great and hard
work, such as there are but very few. To shew - To direct him to the right way how he may
please God, and procure that mercy which he thirsts after; which is not by quarrelling
with God, but by an humble confession. and supplication for mercy through Christ the
redeemer. |
| 24 |
He - God. A ransom - Although I might justly destroy him, yet I will spare him, for I
have found out a way of ransoming sinners from death, which is the death of my son, the
redeemer of the world, and with respect to which I will pardon them that repent and sue
for mercy. Observe how God glories in the invention! I have found, I have found a ransom;
a ransom for poor, undone sinners! I, even I am he that hath done it. |
| 26 |
Render - He will deal with him as with one reconciled to him through the mediator, and
turning from sin to righteousness. |
| 28 |
Life - His life which was endangered, shall be restored and continued. Yea, farther,
God shall Deliver his soul from going into the pit of hell: and his life shall see the
light, all good, in the vision and fruition of God. |
| 29 |
Lo - All these ways God uses to convince, and save sinners. |
| 30 |
To bring - That he may save men from being forever miserable, and make them forever
happy. "Lord, what is man, that thou shouldest thus visit him? This should engage us,
to comply with God's designs, to work with him for our own good, and not to counter - work
him. And this will render those that perish inexcusable, that, so much was done to save
them, and they would not he healed." So Mr. Henry. Excellent words! But how much did
God do to save them? Did he ever do any thing to save them? Did he ever design to save
them? If not, how does that which was never done, no nor designed, "render them
inexcusable?" |
Chapter XXXIV
Elihu proceeding bespeaks the attention of the company, ver. 1 - 4. Charges Job
with other indecent expressions, ver. 5 - 9. Shews God's justice, sovereignty, power,
omniscience, ver. 10 - 25. His severity against sinners, ver. 26 - 28. His over - ruling
providence, ver. 29, 30. Teaches Job what he ought to say, ver. 31, 32. Appeals to his own
conscience, and concludes with reproving him for murmuring, ver. 33 - 37.
| 2 |
Ear - The ear, is put for the mind to which things are conveyed by it. |
| 4 |
Let us - Not contend for victory, but for truth and equity. Know - Let us shew one
another who hath the best cause. |
| 5 |
Said - I am so far righteous, that I have not deserved, such hard usage from God. Had
taken - So Job had said, chap.27:2, he denies me that which is just and
equal, to give me a fair hearing. |
| 6 |
Should I lie - So Job had said in effect, chap.27:4,5,6, should I falsely
accuse myself of sins of which I am not guilty? Without transgression - Without any such
crying, sin, as might reasonably bring down such terrible judgments upon my head. |
| 7 |
Like water - Abundantly and greedily: who doth so break forth into scornful
expressions, not only against his friends, but in some sort against God himself. |
| 8 |
Who goeth - Although I dare not say, that he is a wicked man, yet in this matter he
speaks and acts like one of them. |
| 9 |
He said - Not in express terms, but by consequence; because he said that good men were
no less, nay, sometimes more miserable here than the wicked. |
| 12 |
Pervert - As Job hath affirmed. |
| 13 |
Who - Who or where is his superior that made the world, and, then delivered the
government of it to God? God himself is the sole creator, the absolute Lord of all, and
therefore cannot do unjustly: because the creator and Lord of the world must needs have
all possible perfections in himself, and amongst others, perfect justice. Disposed - Or,
committed, to him, to be governed by him, in the name, of his Lord, to whom he must give
an account. |
| 15 |
All - The design of this and the foregoing verse is the same with that of ver.13,
namely, to declare God's absolute and uncontrollable sovereignty over all men. |
| 17 |
Shall he - That is unrighteous. Govern - Elihu's argument is the same with that of
Abraham, Gen 18:25, and that of St. Paul, Rom 3:5,6. If God be
unrighteous, how shall he judge or govern the world? And the argument is undeniable: if
God were unjust, there would be nothing but injustice and confusion in the world, whereas
we see there is a great deal of justice administered in the world, and all this must
proceed from him who is the fountain of all justice, and rule, and authority. And he that
makes men just, shall he be unjust? Most just - God, who hath given so many clear and
unquestionable evidences of his justice, in giving just and holy laws, in encouraging and
rewarding righteous persons in this life, and inflicting dreadful judgments upon tyrants
and oppressors. |
| 18 |
Wicked - Though a king may be wicked, yet his subjects neither may nor dare call him
so. |
| 21 |
For - God doth not destroy either prince or people unjustly, no nor out of his mere
pleasure, but for their sins, which he sees exactly, although they use all possible arts
to hide them. |
| 26 |
As - Because they are wicked men. In the open light - In publick view for their
greater shame, and for the greater glory of his justice. |
| 28 |
Cry of the poor - Their case is bad, who have the prayers and tears of the poor
against them: for these will draw down vengeance sooner or later, on the heads of their
oppressors. |
| 29 |
Whether - God can carry on his work either of mercy or justice, as irresistible upon
an whole nation as upon one particular person. |
| 30 |
Reign not - May not continue his tyranny, lest the people be ensnared, lest the people
should be longer kept in the the snares of oppression; God doth this to free poor
oppressed people from the snares which ungodly men lay for them. |
| 32 |
That - The secret sins which I cannot discover, manifest thou to me. |
| 33 |
Should it be - Doth God need thy advice how to govern the world, and whom, and when to
reward or punish? Refuse - To submit as is expressed, ver.32. Therefore - If
thou canst say any thing for thyself, I am ready to hear thy defence. |
| 34 |
Let - I am content that any wise man should judge of my words, and let such consider
what I say. |
| 36 |
End - Throughly and exactly, 'till the cause be brought to an issue. Wicked men - On
their behalf; he hath put arguments into their mouths against God and his providence. |
| 37 |
Addeth - He sinned before, by impatience under his afflictions, now he is grown
obstinate, and instead of humbling himself for his sins, justifies himself, and accuses
the blessed God. Clapped - Insulting and triumphing. Against God - In effect, though not
directly. |
Chapter XXXV
Our righteousness profits ourselves, not God, ver. 1 - 7. Our wickedness hurts not
him, but other men, whom God would help, if they cried to him sincerely, ver. 8 - 13. Why
he delayed to help Job, ver. 14 - 16.
| 2 |
Thou saidst - Not that Job said this in express terms, but he said those things from
which this might seem to follow, as that God had punished him more than he deserved. |
| 3 |
Thou saidst - Another imputation upon God. Unto thee - Unto me; such changes of
persons being frequent in the Hebrew language. What profit, &c. - God does not reward
so much as I deserve. But it was not fair to charge this upon Job, which he had neither
directly nor indirectly affirmed. |
| 5 |
Clouds, &c. - They are far above us, and God is far above them. How much then is
he out of the reach either of our sins or our services? |
| 9 |
Cry - Thus one man's wickedness may hurt another. |
| 10 |
None - Few or none of the great numbers of oppressed persons. God - They cry out to
men, but they seek not God, and therefore if God do not hear their cries it is not unjust.
Maker - Who alone made me, and who only can deliver me. Who when our condition is ever so
dark and sad, can turn our darkness into light, can quickly put a new song in our mouth, a
thanksgiving unto our God. |
| 11 |
Who - This is an aggravation of mens neglect of God in their misery. God hath given
men, what he hath denied to beasts, wisdom to know God and themselves. Therefore they are
inexcusable, for not using that wisdom, by calling on God in the time of trouble. |
| 12 |
Because - God doth not answer their cries, because they are both evil, wicked and
impenitent, and proud, unhumbled for those sins for which God brought these miseries upon
them. |
| 13 |
Vanity - Vain persons, that have no wisdom or piety in them. |
| 14 |
See him - Thou canst not understand his dealings with thee. Here Elihu answers another
objection of Job's: and tells him that though God may for a season delay to answer, yet he
will certainly do him right. Judgment - Justice is at his tribunal, and in all his ways
and administrations. Trust - Instead of murmuring, repent of what is past, humble thyself
under God's hand, wait patiently in his way, 'till deliverance come; for it will certainly
come if thou dost not hinder it. |
| 15 |
Because - Because Job doth not acknowledge God's justice and his own sins. He - God.
Anger - Hath laid grievous afflictions upon him. He - Job is not sensible of it, so as to
be humbled under God's hand. |
Chapter XXXVI
Elihu desires a farther hearing, ver. 1 - 4. Describes the methods of providence,
ver. 5 - 15. Warns and counsels Job, ver. 16 - 21. Shews God's sovereignty and
omnipotence, ver. 22 - 33.
| 3 |
Afar - From remote times, and places, and things. I will not confine my discourse to
thy particular case, but wilt justify God by declaring his great and glorious works of
creation and providence both in the heaven and in the earth, and the manner of his dealing
with men in other parts and ages of the world. Ascribe - I will clear and maintain this
truth, that God is righteous in all his ways. |
| 4 |
He, &c. - Thou hast to do with a God of perfect knowledge, by whom all thy words
and actions are weighed. |
| 5 |
Despiseth - His greatness doth not make him (as it doth men) despise, or oppress the
meanest. Wisdom - His strength is guided by wisdom, and therefore cannot do any thing
unbecoming God, or unjust to his creatures. |
| 6 |
But - He will certainly in his time deliver his oppressed ones. |
| 7 |
He - Never ceases to care for and watch over them. Exalted - They continue to be
exalted; they are not cast down from their dignity, as the wicked commonly are. |
| 8 |
If - Through the vicissitude of worldly affairs, they are brought from their throne
into a prison, as sometimes hath been done. |
| 9 |
Work - Their evil works, by these afflictions he brings them to a sight of their sins.
Exceeded - That they have greatly sinned by abusing their power and prosperity; which even
good men are too prone to do. |
| 10 |
Openeth - He inclines them to hearken to what God speaks by the rod. |
| 13 |
Cry not - Unto God for help. Bindeth - With the cords of affliction. |
| 14 |
Die - They provoke God to cut them off before their time. Unclean - Or, Sodomites; to
whose destruction, he may allude. They shall die by some exemplary stroke of Divine
vengeance. Yea, and after death, their life is among the unclean, the unclean spirits, the
devil and his angels, for ever excluded from the new Jerusalem, into which no unclean
thing shall enter. |
| 15 |
Openeth - Causeth them to hear, and understand, and do, the will of God. |
| 16 |
He would - If thou hadst opened thine ear to God's counsels. Into - A state of ease
and freedom. |
| 17 |
The judgment - Or, the sentence, thou hast justified the hard speeches which wicked
men utter against God. Therefore - Therefore the just judgment of God takes hold on thee.
Thou hast maintained their cause against God, and God passes against thee the sentence of
condemnation due to wicked men. |
| 18 |
Wrath - Conceived by God against thee. Then - If once God's wrath take hold of thee,
no ransom will be accepted for thee. |
| 19 |
Thy riches - If thou hadst as much of them as ever. Forces - The strongest forces. |
| 20 |
The night - The night of death, which Job had often desired, for then, thou art
irrecoverably gone: take heed of thy foolish and often repeated desire of death, lest God
inflict it upon thee in anger. |
| 21 |
Chosen - Thou hast chosen rather to quarrel with God, and censure his judgments, than
quietly to submit to them. |
| 22 |
Behold - God is omnipotent; and therefore can, either punish thee far worse, or
deliver thee, if thou dost repent. He is also infinitely wise; and as none can work like
him, so none can teach like him. Therefore do not presume to teach him how to govern the
world. None teacheth with such authority and convincing evidence, with such condescension
and compassion, with such power and efficacy as God doth, he teaches by the bible, and
that is the best book; by his son, and he is the best master. |
| 24 |
Remember - Call to mind this thy duty. Magnify - Every work which he doth; do not
condemn any of his providential works, but adore them as done with admirable wisdom, and
justice. Behold - With admiration and astonishment. |
| 25 |
It - The power, and wisdom, and greatness of God are so manifest in all his works,
that all who are not stupid, must see and acknowledge it. Afar off - The works of God are
so great and conspicuous, that they may be seen at a great distance. Hence Elihu proceeds
to give some instances, in the works of nature and common providence. His general aim is
to shew,
- That God is the first cause and supreme director of all the creatures; whom therefore we
ought with all humility and reverence to adore,
- That it is presumption in us to prescribe to him in his special providence toward men,
when the operations even of common providence about the meteors, are so mysterious and
unaccountable.
|
| 26 |
Neither - He is eternal, as in his being, so in all his counsels; which therefore must
be infinitely above the comprehension of short - lived men. |
| 27 |
For - Having affirmed that God's works are incomprehensibly great and glorious, he now
proves it from the most common works of nature and providence. And hence he leaves it to
Job to consider how much more deep and inconceivable the secret counsels of God must be.
Water - He orders matters so wisely, that the waters which are in the clouds, do not fall
down at once in spouts, which would be pernicious to the earth and to mankind; but by
degrees, and in drops. According - According to the proportion of vapours which the heat
of the sun hath drawn up by the earth or sea. So it notes that great work of God by which
the rain is first made of vapours, and afterwards resolved into vapours, or into the
matter of succeeding vapours, by a constant rotation. |
| 29 |
Understand - Whence it comes to pass, that a small cloud, no bigger than a man's hand,
suddenly spreads over the whole heavens: how the clouds come to be suddenly gathered, and
so condensed as to bring forth thunder and lightning. Noise - The thunder produced in the
clouds, which are often called God's tent or tabernacle. |
| 30 |
Light - The lightning; fitly God's light, because God only can light it. It - Upon the
cloud, which is in a manner the candlestick in which God sets up this light. The sea - The
lightning spreads far and wide over all the parts of the sea, and pierceth deep, reaching
even to the bottom of it. |
| 31 |
Judgeth - By thunder and lightning, and rain from the clouds, he executes his
judgments against ungodly people. Meat - Giveth meat. By the same clouds, he provides
plentiful showers dropping fatness on the earth. |
| 32 |
Clouds - With thick and black clouds spread over the whole heavens. Light - The sun.
The cloud - Which God interposes as a veil between the sun and earth. |
| 33 |
The noise - The thunder gives notice of the approaching rain. Also - And as the
thunder, so also the cattle sheweth, concerning the vapour, concerning the coming of the
rain, by a strange instinct, seeking for shelter, when a change of weather is near. |
Chapter XXXVII
Elihu observes the hand of God, in thunder and lighting, ver. 1 - 5. In frost and
snow, rain and wind, ver. 6 - 13. Challenges Job to account for these, ver. 14 - 22.
Concludes, that God is great and greatly to be feared, ver. 23, 24
| 2 |
Hear - It is probable that while Elihu was speaking it thundered, and that tempest was
begun, wherewith God ushered in his speech. And this might occasion his return to that
subject of which he had discoursed before. Voice - The thunder is called God's voice.
Because by it God speaks to the children of men, to fear before him. Mouth - That is
produced by God's word or command, which is often signified by his mouth. |
| 3 |
Directeth - His voice: which he guideth like an arrow to the mark, that it may do that
work for which he sends it. |
| 4 |
After - After the lightning, which is seen before the thunder is hard. Them - The
lightnings spoken of in the beginning of the verse. |
| 6 |
Strength - Those storms of rain which come with great force and irresistible violence.
|
| 7 |
Sealeth - By these snows and rains he drives men out of the fields, and seals or binds
up their hands from their work. That - They may seriously contemplate on these, and other
great and glorious works of God. |
| 9 |
Cold - Freezing winds. |
| 10 |
The waters - The waters which had freely spread themselves before, are congealed and
bound up in crystal fetters. |
| 11 |
Watering - The earth. They spend themselves and are exhausted watering the earth,
until they are weary. Wearieth - Them with much water, and making them to go long journeys
to water remote parts, and at last to empty themselves there: all which things make men
weary; and therefore are here said to make the clouds weary by a common figure. Scattereth
- As for the white and lightsome clouds, he scatters and dissolves them by the wind or
sun. |
| 12 |
Turned - The clouds are carried about to this or that place. Not by chance (though
nothing seems to be more casual than the motions of the clouds) but by his order and
governance. |
| 13 |
Correction - To scourge or correct men by immoderate showers. Earth - The whole earth,
which is said to be the Lord's, Psal 24:1 50:12, and so this may denote a
general judgment by excessive rains inflicted upon the earth, and all its inhabitants,
even the universal deluge, which came in great measure out of the clouds. Mercy - For the
benefit of mankind and for the cooling of the air and improving the fruits of the earth. |
| 14 |
Consider - If there be so much matter of wonder in the most obvious works of God, how
wonderful must his secret counsels be? |
| 15 |
Them - The things before mentioned, the clouds, rain, snow, and other meteors. Did God
acquaint thee with his counsels in the producing and ordering of them? His cloud -
Probably the rainbow, seated in a cloud, which may well be called God's cloud, because
therein God puts his bow, Gen 9:13. |
| 16 |
Balancings - How God doth as it were weigh the clouds in balances, so that although
they are full of water, yet they are kept up by the thin air. |
| 17 |
Quieteth - The air about the earth. From the south - By the sun's coming into the
southern parts, which makes the air quiet and warm. |
| 18 |
With him - Wast thou his assistant in spreading out the sky like a canopy over the
earth? Strong - Which though it be very thin and transparent, yet is also firm and compact
and steadfast. Looking glass - Made of brass and steel, as the manner then was. Smooth and
polished, without the least flaw. In this, as in a glass, we may behold the glory of God
and the wisdom of his handy - work. |
| 19 |
Teach us - If thou canst. Say unto him - Of these things. Order - To maintain
discourse with him, both because of the darkness of the matter, God's counsels being a
great depth; and because of the darkness of our minds. |
| 20 |
Shall - I send a challenge to God, or a message that I am ready to debate with him
concerning his proceedings? Speak - If a man should be so bold to enter the lists with
God. Swallowed up - With the sense of his infinite majesty. |
| 21 |
Light - The sun; which is emphatically called light, and here the bright light: which
men cannot behold or gaze on, when the sky is very clear: and therefore it is not strange
if we cannot see God, or discern his counsels and ways. Them - The sky by driving away
those clouds which darkened it. |
| 22 |
North - From the northern winds which scatter the clouds, and clear the sky. Elihu
concludes with some short, but great sayings, concerning the glory of God. He speaks
abruptly and in haste, because it should seem, he perceived God was approaching, and
presumed he was about to take the work into his own hands. |
| 23 |
Find - We cannot comprehend him: his power, wisdom, justice, and his counsels
proceeding from them are past our finding out. Power - Therefore as he doth not need any
unrighteous action to advance himself, so he cannot do it, because all such things are
acts of weakness. Judgment - In the just administration of judgment, he never did, nor can
exercise that power unjustly, as Job seemed to insinuate. Afflict - Without just cause. |
| 24 |
Fear - Fear or reverence him, and humbly submit to him, and not presume to quarrel or
dispute with him. Wise of heart - Wise in their own eyes. |
Chapter XXXVIII
God begins with an awakening challenge, ver. 1 - 3. Proceeds to several proofs of
Job's inability to contend with him, because of his ignorance and weakness: for he knew
nothing of the founding of the earth, ver. 4 - 7. The limiting of the sea, ver. 8 - 11. Of
the morning light, ver. 12 - 15. The recesses of the sea and earth, ver. 16 - 21. Of the
treasures in the clouds, ver. 22 - 27. He could do nothing toward the making of his own
soul, the producing of rain, frost, lightning, or the directing of the stars and their
influences, ver. 28 - 38. He could not provide for the lions or the ravens, ver. 39 - 41.
How then should he direct God's secret counsels? Here God takes up the argument, begun by
Elihu, and prosecutes it in inimitable words, exceeding his, and all other mens in the
loftiness of the style, as much as thunder does a whisper.
| 1 |
Lord - The eternal word, Jehovah, the same who spake from mount Sinai. Answered - Out
of a dark and thick cloud, from which he sent a tempestuous wind, as the harbinger of his
presence. In this manner God appears and speaks to awaken Job and his friends, to the more
serious attention to his words; and to testify his displeasure both against Job, and them,
that all of them might be more deeply humbled and prepared to receive, and retain the
instructions which God was about to give them. |
| 2 |
Counsel - God's counsel. For the great matter of the dispute between Job and his
friends, was concerning God's counsel and providence in afflicting Job; which Job had
endeavoured to obscure and misrepresent. This first word which God spoke, struck Job to
the heart. This he repeats and echoes to, chap.42:3, as the arrow that stuck
fast in him. |
| 3 |
Gird up - As warriors then did for the battle. |
| 4 |
Where - Thou art but of yesterday; and dost thou presume to judge of my eternal
counsels! When - When I settled it as firm upon its own center as if it had been built
upon the surest foundations. |
| 5 |
Measures - Who hath prescribed how long and broad and deep it should be. Line - the
measuring line to regulate all its dimensions. |
| 6 |
Foundations - This strong and durable building hath no foundations but God's power,
which hath marvelously established it upon itself. Cornerstone - By which the several
walls are joined and fastened together, and in which, next to the foundations, the
stability of a building consists. The sense is, who was it that built this goodly fabrick,
and established it so firmly that it cannot be moved. |
| 7 |
Stars - The angels, who may well be called morning - stars, because of their excellent
lustre and glory. Sons of God - The angels called the sons of God, because they had their
whole being from him, and because they were made partakers of his Divine and glorious
image. Shouted - Rejoiced in and blessed God for his works, whereby he intimates, that
they neither did advise or any way assist him, nor dislike or censure any of his works, as
Job had presumed to do. |
| 8 |
Doors - Who was it, that set bounds to the vast and raging ocean, and shut it up, as
it were with doors within its proper place, that it might not overflow the earth? Break
forth - From the womb or bowels of the earth, within which the waters were for the most
part contained, and out of which they were by God's command brought forth into the channel
which God had appointed for them. |
| 9 |
The cloud - When I covered it with vapours and clouds which rise out of the sea, and
hover above it, and cover it like a garment. Darkness - Black and dark clouds. Swaddling
band - Having compared the sea to a new - born infant, he continues the metaphor, and
makes the clouds as swaddling - bands, to keep it within its bounds: though indeed neither
clouds, nor air, nor sands, nor shores, can bound the sea, but God alone. |
| 10 |
Break up - Made those hollow places in the earth, which might serve for a cradle to
receive and hold this great and goodly infant when it came out of the womb. And set -
Fixed its bounds as strongly as if they were fortified with bars and doors. |
| 12 |
Morning - Didst thou create the sun, and appoint the order and succession of day and
night. Since - Since thou wast born: this work was done long before thou wast born. To
know - To observe the punctual time when, and the point of the heavens where it should
arise; which varies every day. |
| 13 |
That - That this morning light should in a moment spread itself, from one end of the
hemisphere to the other. Shaken - From the face of the earth. And this effect the morning
- light hath upon the wicked, because it discovers them, whereas darkness hides them; and
because it brings them to condign punishment, the morning being the usual time for
executing judgment. |
| 14 |
It - The earth. Turned - Is changed in its appearance. By the seal - The seal makes a
beautiful impression upon the clay, which in itself hath no form, or comeliness. So the
earth, which in the darkness of night lies like a confused heap without either form or
beauty, when the light arises and shines upon it, appears in excellent order and glory.
They - The men and things of the earth, whether natural, as living creatures, herbs and
trees; or artificial, as houses or other buildings. Stand - Present themselves to our
view. Garment - Wherewith the earth is in a manner clothed and adorned. |
| 15 |
Withheld - That light which enjoyed by others is withholden from them, either by their
own choice, because they chuse darkness rather than light; or by the judgment of God, or
the magistrate, by whom they are cut off from the light of the living. Arms - Their great
strength which they used to the oppression of others. |
| 16 |
Springs - Heb. the tears; the several springs out of which the waters of the sea flow
as tears do from the eyes. Walked - Hast thou found out the utmost depth of the sea, which
in divers places could never be reached by the wisest mariner? And how then canst thou
fathom the depths of my counsels? |
| 17 |
Death - Hast thou seen, or dost thou know the place and state of the dead; the depths
and bowels of that earth in which the generality of dead men are buried. Death is a grand
secret? We know not when or by what means we shall be brought to death: by what road we
must go the way, whence we shall not return. We cannot describe what death is; how the
knot is untied between soul and body, or how the spirit goes "To be we know not what,
and live we know not how." With what dreadful curiosity does the soul launch out into
an untried abyss? We have no correspondence with separate souls, nor any acquaintance with
their state. It is an unknown, undiscovered region, to which they are removed. While we
are here in a world of sense, we speak of the world of spirits, as blind men do of
colours, and when we remove thither, shall be amazed to find how much we were mistaken. |
| 18 |
Breadth - The whole compass and all the parts of it? |
| 19 |
Dwelleth - Hath its constant and settled abode. Whether goes the sun when it departs
from this hemisphere? Where is the tabernacle and the chamber in which he is supposed to
rest? And seeing there was a time when there was nothing but gross darkness upon the face
of the earth, what way came light into the world? Which was the place where light dwelt at
that time, and whence was it fetched? And whence came that orderly constitution and
constant succession of light and darkness? Was this thy work? Or wast thou privy to it, or
a counsellor, or assistant in it? |
| 20 |
Take it - Bring or lead it: and this it refers principally to the light, and to
darkness, as the consequent of the other. Bound - Its whole course from the place of its
abode whence it is supposed to come, to the end of its journey. Know - Where thou mayst
find it, and whence thou mayst fetch it. |
| 22 |
Treasures - Dost thou know where I have laid up those vast quantities of snow and hail
which I draw forth when I see fit? |
| 23 |
Trouble - When I intend to bring trouble upon any people for their sins. |
| 24 |
Distributed - In the air, and upon the face of the earth. This is variously
distributed in the world, shining in one place and time, when it doth not shine in
another, or for a longer time, or with greater brightness and power than it doth in
another. All which are the effects of God's infinite wisdom and power, and such as were
out of Job's reach to understand. Which - Which light scattereth, raises the east - wind,
and causes it to blow hither and thither upon the earth? For as the sun is called by the
poets, the father of the winds, because he draws up those exhalations which give matter to
the winds, so in particular the east - wind is often observed to rise together with the
sun. |
| 25 |
Overflowing - For the showers of rain which come down orderly, and gradually, as if
they were conveyed in pipes or channels; which, without the care of God's providence,
would fall confusedly, and overwhelm the earth. Lightning - For lightning and thunder? Who
opened a passage for them out of the cloud in which they were imprisoned? And these are
joined with the rain, because they are commonly accompanied with great showers of rain. |
| 26 |
To cause - That the clouds being broken by lightning and thunder might pour down rain.
No man - To water those parts by art and industry, as is usual in cultivated places. |
| 27 |
To bring forth - Hitherto God has put such questions to Job, as were proper to
convince him of his ignorance. Now he comes to convince him of his impotence. As it is but
little that he can know, and therefore he ought not to arraign the Divine counsels, so it
is but little he can do; and therefore he ought not to oppose Divine providence. |
| 28 |
Father - Is there any man that can beget or produce rain at his pleasure? |
| 31 |
Bind - Restrain or hinder them. Pleiades - The seven stars, which bring in the spring.
Bands - By which it binds up the air and earth, by bringing storms of rain and hail or
frost and snow. Orion - This constellation rises in November, and brings in winter. Both
summer and winter will have their course? God indeed can change them when he pleases, can
make the spring cold, and so bind the influences of Pleiades, and the winter warm, and so
loose the bands of Orion; but we cannot. |
| 32 |
Bring forth - Canst thou make the stars in the southern signs arise and appear?
Arcturus - Those in the northern. His sons - The lesser stars, which are placed round
about them; and attend upon them, as children upon their parents. |
| 33 |
Ordinances - The laws which are firmly established concerning their order, motion, or
rest, and their powerful influences upon this lower world. Didst thou give these laws? Or
dost thou perfectly know them? Canst thou - Manage and over rule their influences. |
| 34 |
Cover thee - Thy land when it needs rain. |
| 38 |
Mire - By reason of much rain. |
| 39 |
Hunt - Is it by thy care that the lions who live in desert places are furnished with
necessary provisions? This is another wonderful work of God. |
| 41 |
Raven - Having mentioned the noblest of brute creatures, he now mentions one of the
most contemptible; to shew the care of God's providence over all creatures, both great and
small. Their young ones are so soon forsaken by their dams, that if God did not provide
for them in a more than ordinary manner, they would be starved to death. And will he that
provides for the young ravens, fail to provide for his own children. |
Chapter XXXIX
The more fully to convince Job of his ignorance, God here discourses, Of the wild
goats and hinds, ver. 1 - 4. Of the wild ass, ver. 5 - 8. Of the unicorn, ver. 9 - 12. Of
the peacock and ostrich, ver. 13 - 18. Of the horse, ver. 19 - 25. Of the hawk and eagle,
ver, 26 - 30.
| 4 |
Young ones - Notwithstanding their great weakness caused by their hard entrance into
the world. Grow up - As with corn, that is, as if they were fed with corn. Go forth -
Finding sufficient provisions abroad by the care of God's providence. |
| 5 |
Sent - Who hath given him this disposition that he loves freedom, and hates that
subjection which other creatures quietly endure? Loosed - Who keeps him from receiving the
bands, and submitting to the service of man. |
| 7 |
Scorneth - He feareth them not when they pursue him, because he is swift, and can
easily escape them. Driver - He will not be brought to receive his yoke, nor to do his
drudgery. |
| 8 |
Mountains - He prefers that mean provision with his freedom, before the fattest
pastures with servitude. |
| 9 |
Unicorn - It is disputed whether this be the Rhinoceros; or a kind of wild bull. |
| 16 |
Her labour - In laying her eggs is in vain, because she hath not the fear and tender
concern for them, which she should have. |
| 17 |
Deprived - Because God hath not implanted in her that instinct, and affection, which
he hath put into other birds and beasts toward their young. |
| 18 |
Lifteth - To flee from her pursuer: to which end she lifts up her head and body, and
spreads her wings. Scorneth - She despises them thro' her swiftness; for though she cannot
fly, yet by the aid of her wings she runs so fast, that horse - men cannot reach her. |
| 19 |
Thunder - A strong metaphor, to denote force and terror. |
| 21 |
Valley - Battles used to be pitched in valleys, or low grounds, especially horse
battles. |
| 23 |
Quiver - The quiver is here put for the arrows contained in it, which being shot
against the horse and rider, make a rattling noise. |
| 24 |
Swalloweth - He is so full of rage and fury, that he not only champs his bridle, but
is ready to tear and devour the very ground on which he goes. Believeth - He is so pleased
with the approach of the battle, and the sound of the trumpet calling to it, that he can
scarce believe his ears for gladness. |
| 25 |
Ha, ha - An expression of joy and alacrity declared by his proud neighings. Thunder -
The loud and joyful clamour begun by the commanders, and followed by the soldiers when
they are ready to join battle. |
| 26 |
Fly - So strongly, constantly, unweariedly, and swiftly. South - At the approach of
winter, when wild hawks fly into warmer countries, as being impatient of cold. The birds
of the air are proofs of the wonderful providence of God, as well as the beasts of the
earth. God instances in two stately ones. |
| 27 |
Mount - Flies directly upward 'till she be out of thy sight; which no other bird can
do. |
| 29 |
Her eyes - Her sight is exceeding sharp and strong, so that she is able to look upon
the sun with open eyes, and to behold the smallest prey upon the earth or sea, when she is
mounted out of our sight. |
| 33 |
Blood - There are divers eagles who do not feed upon carcases, but many eagles do feed
on them. She - In an instant, flying thither with admirable celerity. |
Chapter XL
Job humbles himself before God, ver. 1 - 5. God challenges him to vie with him, in
justice, power, majesty, and dominion over the proud, ver. 6 - 14. And gives an instance
of his power in the Behemoth, ver. 15 - 24.
| 1 |
Answered - Having made a little pause to try what Job could answer. This is not said
to be spoken out of the whirlwind, and therefore some think God said it in a still, small
voice, which wrought more upon Job, (as upon Elijah) than the whirlwind did. Tho' Job had
not spoken any thing, yet God is said to answer him. For he knows mens thoughts, and can
return a fit answer to their silence. |
| 2 |
Reproveth - That boldly censureth his ways or works; it is at his peril. |
| 5 |
Answer - Speak again; I will contend no more with thee. Twice - Often, the definite
number being used indefinitely. |
| 6 |
Whirlwind - Which was renewed when God renewed his charge upon Job, whom he intended
to humble more throughly. |
| 8 |
Wilt thou - Every word is emphatical, wilt (art thou resolved upon it) thou (thou Job,
whom I took to be one of a better mind) also (not only vindicate thyself, but also accuse
me) disannul (not only question, but even repeal and make void, as if it were unjust) my
judgment? My sentence against thee, and my government and administration of human affairs?
Wilt thou make me unrighteous that thou mayst seem to be righteous? |
| 10 |
Deck - Seeing thou makest thyself equal, yea, superior to me, take to thyself thy
great power, come and sit in my throne, and display thy Divine perfections in the sight of
the world. |
| 13 |
Hide - Kill every one of them at one blow. Bind - Condemn or destroy them. He alludes
to the manner of covering the faces of condemned persons, and of dead men. In secret - In
a secret place, bury them in their graves. |
| 15 |
Behemoth - Very learned men take the leviathan to be the crocodile, and the behemoth
to be the river - horse, which may fitly be joined with the crocodile, both being well
known to Joband his friends, as being frequent in the adjacent parts, both amphibious,
living and preying both in the water and upon the land. And both creatures of great bulk
and strength. Made - As I made thee. Grass - The river - horse comes out of the river upon
the land to feed upon corn, and hay, or grass, as an ox doth, to whom also he is not
unlike in the form of his head and feet, and in the bigness of his body, whence the
Italians call him, the sea - ox. |
| 16 |
Strength - He hath strength answerable to his bulk, but this strength by God's wise
and merciful providence is not an offensive strength, consisting in, or put forth by horns
or claws, as it is in ravenous creatures, but only defensive and seated in his loins, as
it is in other creatures. |
| 17 |
Tail - Which though it be but short, yet when it is erected, is exceeding stiff and
strong. Thighs - The sinews of his thighs. His thighs and feet are so sinewy and strong,
that one of them is able to break or over - turn a large boat. |
| 19 |
The chief - He is one of the chief of God's works, in regard of its great bulk and
strength. |
| 20 |
Mountains - Though he lives most in the water, yet he often fetches his food from the
land, and from the mountains or hills, which are nigh the river Nile. Play - They not only
feed securely, but sport themselves by him, being taught by experience that he is gentle
and harmless. |
| 22 |
Brook - Or, of the Nile, of which this word is often used in scripture. His constant
residence is in or near this river, or the willows that grow by it. |
| 23 |
River - A great quantity of water, hyperbolically called a river. Hasteth not - He
drinks not with fear and caution; but such is his courage, that he fears no enemy either
by water or by land. He drinks as if he designed, to drink up the whole river. He mentions
Jordan, as a river well known, in and nigh unto Job's land. |
| 24 |
Sight - Can any man take him in his eyes? Openly and by force? Surely not. His
strength is too great for man to overcome: and therefore men are forced to use wiles and
engines to catch him. |
Chapter XLI
To convince Job of his wickedness, he is here challenged to subdue and tame the
leviathan, ver. 1 - 10. A particular description of him. ver. 11 - 34.
| 1 |
Leviathan - Several particulars in the following description, agree far better with
the crocodile, than the whale. It is highly probable, that this is the creature here
spoken of. Cord - Canst thou take him with a hook and a line, as anglers take ordinary
fishes. |
| 2 |
Thorn - Or, with an iron hook, or instrument as sharp as a thorn; wherewith thou usest
to carry little fishes. |
| 3 |
Supplications - Doth he dread thine anger or power? Or will he earnestly beg thy
favour? It is a metaphor from men in distress, who use these means to them to whose power
they are subject. |
| 7 |
Fill - A whale's you may: but the skin of a crocodile is so hard that an iron or spear
will not pierce it. |
| 8 |
Lay - Seize upon him, if thou darest. Battle - But ere thou attempt it consider what
thou art doing, and with whom, thou art going to fight. Do no more - Proceed no farther,
draw back thy hand. |
| 9 |
Hope - The hope of taking or conquering him. |
| 10 |
Stand - To the battle. Me - To contend with me who created him? |
| 11 |
Prevented - Hath laid the first obligation upon me, for which I am indebted to him.
Who can be before - hand with me in kindnesses, since all things under heaven are mine. |
| 13 |
Discover - Or, uncover, or take off from him. Face - The upper or outward part of his
garment, or, the garment itself: the word face being often redundant. And by the garment
is meant the skin which covers the whole body; who dare attempt to touch his very skin?
Much less to give him a wound. His double bridle - His fast jaws, which have some
resemblance to a double bridle: whence the Greeks call those parts of the face which reach
to the jaws on both sides, the bridles. |
| 14 |
Doors - His mouth. If it be open, none dare enter within, and if it be shut, none dare
open it. |
| 15 |
Shut - Closely compacted together, as things that are fastened together by a seal.
This likewise is true of the crocodile, but the skin of the whale is smooth and entire
without any scales at all. |
| 18 |
Sneesings - This the crocodile is said frequently to do. Eyes - To which they seem
very fitly compared, because the eyes of the crocodile are dull and dark under the water,
but as soon as they appear above water, cast a bright and clear light; like the morning
light, suddenly breaking forth after the dark night. |
| 19 |
Lamps - This also better agrees with the crocodile, which breathes like the river -
horse, of which ancient authors affirm, that his nostrils are very large, and he breathes
forth a fiery smoke like that of a furnace. |
| 21 |
Kindleth coals - An hyperbolical expression, denoting extraordinary heat. |
| 22 |
And sorrow - Sorrow is his companion and harbinger, which attends upon him wheresoever
he goes. So anger and fear are said by the poets to accompany the God of war. |
| 24 |
Nether mill - stone - Which being to bear the weight of the upper, ought to be the
harder and stronger of the two. |
| 25 |
Raiseth - Upon the top of the waters. Mighty - Even the stout - hearted. Breakings -
By reason of their great danger and distress; which is expressed by this very word, Psal
60:2 Jonah 2:4. Purify - Those who ordinarily live in the neglect of God, they cry
unto God in their trouble, and endeavour to purge their consciences from the guilt of
their sins. |
| 26 |
Hold - Heb. cannot stand, cannot endure the stroke, but will be broken by it. The
crocodile's skin, no sword, nor dart, nor musquet bullet can pierce. |
| 28 |
Turned - Hurt him no more than a blow with a little stubble. |
| 30 |
Stones - His skin is so impenetrable, that the sharpest stones or shells are as easy
unto him as the mire. |
| 31 |
Boil - To swell, and foam, and froth by his strong and vehement motion, as any liquor
does when it is boiled in a pot, especially boiling ointment. The sea - The great river
Nile, is called a sea, both in scripture, as Isa 11:15, and in other authors,
as Euphrates is called the sea of Babylon, Isa 21:1 Jer 51:36. Lakes also are
most frequently called seas both in the Old and New Testament: and in such lakes the
crocodiles are as well as in the Nile. |
| 32 |
Shine - By the white froth or foam upon the waters. The same may be observed in the
wake of a ship by night. |
| 34 |
King, &c. - He can tame both the behemoth and leviathan, as strong and stout -
hearted as they are. This discourse concerning them was brought in, to prove that it is
God only, who can look upon proud men and abase them, bring them low, and hide them in the
dust, he it is that beholdeth all high things, and wherein men dealt proudly, he is above
them. He is king over all the children of pride, brutal or rational, and makes them either
bend or break before him. |
Chapter XLII
Job throughly humbles himself before God, ver. 1 - 6. God reproves his friends, for
whom Job intercedes, and God accepts them, ver. 7 - 9. God blesses and restores Job to his
prosperity, ver. 10 - 15. His age and death, ver. 16,17
| 2 |
Thou canst, &c. - Job here subscribes to God's unlimited power, knowledge and
dominion, to prove which was the scope of God's discourse out of the whirlwind. And his
judgment being convinced of these, his conscience also was convinced, of his own folly in
speaking so irreverently concerning him. No thought can be withholden from thee - No
thought of ours can be withholden from thy knowledge. And there is no thought of thine,
which thou canst be hindered from bringing into execution. |
| 3 |
Who - What am I that I should be guilty of such madness! Therefore - Because my mind
was without knowledge. Knew not - I have spoken foolishly and unadvisedly of all things
far above my reach. |
| 4 |
Hear - Hear and accept my humble confession. Enquire - I will no more dispute the
matter with thee, but beg information from thee. The words which God had uttered to Job by
way of challenge, Job returns to him in way of submission. |
| 5 |
Seeth thee - The knowledge which I had of thy nature, perfections and counsels, was
hitherto grounded chiefly, upon the instructions of men; but now it is clear and certain,
as being immediately inspired into my mind by this thy glorious apparition and revelation,
and by the operation of thy holy spirit; which makes these things as evident to me, as if
I saw them with my bodily eyes. When the mind is enlightened by the spirit of God, our
knowledge of Divine things as far exceeds what we had before, as knowledge by ocular
demonstration, exceeds, that by common fame. |
| 7 |
Eliphaz - As the eldest of the three, and because he spoke first, and by his example
led the rest into the same miscarriages. Two friends - Elihu is not here reproved, because
he dealt more mercifully with Job, and did not condemn his person, but only rebuked his
sinful expressions. Ye have not, &c. - This is not to be understood absolutely, but
comparatively. Job was not so much to be blamed as they, because his opinion concerning
the methods of God's providence, and the indifferency of its dispensations towards good
and bad men was truer than theirs, which was, that God did always reward good men and
punish sinners in this life. |
| 8 |
My servant - Whom though you condemned as an hypocrite, I own for my faithful servant.
Offer - By the hand of Job, whom I hereby constitute your priest to pray and sacrifice for
you. Lest I deal - Lest my just judgment take hold of you for your false and foolish
speeches. |
| 9 |
Accepted Job - And as Job prayed and offered sacrifice for those who had grieved and
wounded his spirit, so Christ prayed and died for his persecutors, and ever lives, making
intercession for transgressors. |
| 10 |
Captivity - All his bodily distempers were thoroughly healed, and probably in a
moment. His mind was calmed, his peace returned, and the consolations of God were not
small with him. Prayed - Whereby he manifests his obedience to God and his true love to
them. |
| 11 |
Then - When Job had humbled himself, and God was reconciled to him. Sisters - His
kindred. Eat - Feasted with him, to congratulate with him God's great and glorious favour.
Bemoaned - They declared the sense which they had of his calamities while they were upon
him, although they had hitherto wanted opportunity to express it. |
| 12 |
Blessed - Not only with spiritual, but also with temporal blessings. Just double to
what they were, chap.1:3. This is a remarkable instance of the extent of the
Divine providence, to things that seem minute as this, the exact number of a man's cattle;
as also of the harmony of providence, and the reference of one event to another: for known
unto God are all his works, from the beginning to the end. |
| 14 |
Jemima - The day, either because of her eminent beauty, or because she was born in the
day of his prosperity, after a dark night of affliction. Kezia is the name of a spice of a
very fragrant smell, commonly called Cassia. Keren - happuch signifies plenty restored. |
| 15 |
So fair - In the Old Testament we often find women praised for their beauty, but never
in the New, because the beauty of holiness is brought to a much clearer light by the
gospel. |
| 16 |
After this, &c. - Some conjecture, that he was seventy when his trouble came. If
so his age was doubled, as his other possessions. |
| 17 |
Full of days - So coming to his grave, as Eliphaz had spoken, like a ripe shock of
corn in its season. |
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