_Comforters. "Job's friends or comforters," are become proverbial, to denote people who do the contrary to what they seem to promise. (Haydock) --- Never did men sustain worse the character of comforters. They all magnify their knowledge and piety, and make the most absurd application of their princ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Windy, inconclusive arguments. They all entertain a mean opinion of their adversaries, as they did not agree in the application of the propositions. Hence though they might be true, they were nothing to their present purpose, chap. xv. 3. (Haydock) --- Trouble. You can speak without any pain: but t... [ Continue Reading ]
_My soul. If you had experienced my state of misery, (Haydock) I surely would not have behaved thus to you. (Calmet) Facile, cum valemus, recta consilia ægrotis damus:_ Tu si hic sis, aliter sentias. (Terent. Andria.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wag, or shake my head out of pity, chap. xlii. 11., and Nahum iii. 7. The same sign often indicates astonishment or contempt, Psalm xxi. 8., and Matthew xxvii. 28. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_But. Hebrew, "If I speak," &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Limbs. Hebrew, "company," (Haydock) or family. The assemblage of my limbs is also disordered by the leprosy._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against me, in your opinion, as if I were guilty of lies. Hebrew, "my leanness bears witness, my falsehood has risen up against me and answered me to my face;" which may be understood in the same sense as the argument of Eliphaz. He is designated by the false speaker; (Calmet) unless we explain it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cheek. His friends seemed so enraged, as to be disposed to do so. (Calmet) --- These expressions were strikingly verified in Christ. (Menochius) --- The outrages may also be attributed to the devil; (Calmet) or, by personification, to the malady of Job. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lances. Hebrew, "archers." Septuagint, "they have encompassed me, throwing lances into my veins, or loins, not sparing," &c. (Haydock) --- Bowels. Hebrew and Septuagint, "gall," being afflicted with a dysentery. St. Thomas Aquinas explains it of his children, who were slain. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Flesh. Hebrew, "horn." Septuagint, "strength." (Haydock) --- I have lost all my beauty and splendor, and have put on the garments of penance. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dim. Hebrew and Septuagint, "covered with the shadow of death," (Haydock) greatly impaired. Some have almost lost their sight by weeping; and death seemed ready to close Job's eyes. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hand, which has not been defiled with any injustice. (Menochius) --- When. Hebrew, "and my prayer was pure." I never neglected this sacred duty, (chap. i. 5.) as my friends accuse me, chap. xv. 4. (Haydock) --- They continued in their false accusation: so he repeats the same true answer. (Worthingt... [ Continue Reading ]
_In thee. Let the cry of my blood, which issues from my wounds, and the injury which my reputation has suffered, come before the throne of God. Calumny is a species of murder. See Genesis iv. 10. (Calmet) --- If I be really guilty, I am willing to remain unburied. Let the dogs lick up my blood. (Caj... [ Continue Reading ]
_Full. Hebrew, "scorners." Therefore I appeal to inanimate things; and, above all, to God, who cannot give a wrong judgment._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judged. Hebrew, "might plead." (Haydock) --- Earthly judges may be compelled to pronounce sentence publicly. Job is afraid lest the justice of his cause should remain undecided, till death overtook him, ver. 23. (Pineda)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Years. Hebrew and Septuagint, "of number." Pauperis est numerare pecus. (Haydock) --- Like a man under affliction, Job repeats what he had said, chap. xiv. 5., (Menochius) and chap. x. 20. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVI.... [ Continue Reading ]