JOB CHAPTER 6 Job's answer: he wisheth his troubles were duly weighed, for then would his complaints appear just, JOB 6:1: prayeth for death; his hope in it, JOB 6:8. He is unable to bear up under his burden, JOB 6:11,12. He vindicateth himself against his friends, and reproveth them, JOB 6:13. No t... [ Continue Reading ]
MY GRIEF; either, 1. My calamity, as it follows, or the cause or matter of my grief; the act being put for the object, as is usual, _fear for the thing feared_, &c., and the same thing being here repeated in differing words. Or, 2. My sorrow; or, _my wrath_, or _rage_, as thou didst call it, JOB 5:... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WOULD BE HEAVIER, i.e. my grief or calamity, THAN THE SAND OF THE SEA, which is heavier than dry sand. SWALLOWED UP, as this verb is used, PROVERBS 20:25 OBADIAH 1:16. My voice and spirit faileth me. So far am I from speaking too liberally of it, for which I am now accused, that I cannot find nor... [ Continue Reading ]
ARROWS; so he fitly calls his afflictions, because, like arrows, they came upon him swiftly and suddenly, one after another, and that from on high, and they wounded him deeply and deadly. OF THE ALMIGHTY; so he calls them, either generally, because all afflictions come from him; or particularly, bec... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou wonderest that my disposition and carriage is so greatly altered from what it was, JOB 4:3, but thou mayst easily learn the reason of it from the brute beasts, the ass and ox, who when they have convenient and common food, are quiet and contented; but when they want that, they will resent it, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Can or do men use to eat unsavoury meats with delight, or without complaint? This is either, 1. A reflection upon Eliphaz's discourse, as unsavoury, which could not give him any conviction or satisfaction. But his censure of Eliphaz's speech begins not till JOB 6:14, and then it proceeds. Or rather... [ Continue Reading ]
Heb. _As the sicknesses or sorrows of my meat_, i.e. as my sorrowful meat, which I am constrained to eat with grief of heart. The particle _as_, either, 1. Notes not the similitude, but the truth of the thing, as it is oft used, as hath been formerly noted and proved. So the sense is, that such mea... [ Continue Reading ]
MY REQUEST, i.e. the thing which I have so passionately desired, and, notwithstanding all your vain words and weak arguments, do still justly continue to desire, to wit, death, as is expressed JOB 6:9, and more largely JOB 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO DESTROY ME; to end my days and calamities together. _That he would let loose his hand_; which is now as it were bound up or restrained from giving me that deadly blow which I desire. Oh that he would restrain himself and his hand no longer, but let it fall upon me with all its might, so as to CUT... [ Continue Reading ]
The thoughts of my approaching death would comfort me in all my sorrows. This would solace me more than life, with all that worldly safety, and glory, and happiness which thou hast advised me to seek unto God for. I WOULD HARDEN MYSELF IN SORROW, i.e. I would bear up myself with more courage and pat... [ Continue Reading ]
My strength is so small and spent, that although I may linger a while in my torments, yet I cannot live long, and therefore it is vain and absurd for me to hope for such a restitution of my strength and prosperity as thou hast promised to me, JOB 5:22, &c.; and therefore I justly pray that God would... [ Continue Reading ]
I am not made of stone or brass, but of flesh and blood, as others are; and therefore I am utterly unable to endure these miseries longer, and can neither hope for nor desire any continuance of my life, or restoration of my former happiness, but only wish for that death which is the common refuge of... [ Continue Reading ]
Though I have no strength in my body, or outward man, yet I have some help and support within me, or in my inward man, even the conscience of my own innocency and piety, notwithstanding all your bitter accusations and censures, as if I had no integrity, JOB 4:6. IS WISDOM DRIVEN QUITE FROM ME? If I... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM THAT IS AFFLICTED, Heb. _to him that is melted or dissolved with afflictions_, or in the furnace of afflictions; that is, in extreme miseries; for such persons are said to be melted, as PSALMS 22:14, PSALMS 107:26 119:28 NAHUM 2:10. FROM HIS FRIEND: his friend, such as thou, O Eliphaz, preten... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BRETHREN, i.e. my kinsmen or three friends; for though Eliphaz only had spoken, the other two showed their approbation of his discourse, or, at least, of that part of it which contained his censure of Job's person and state. HAVE DEALT DECEITFULLY; under a pretence of friendship and kindness deal... [ Continue Reading ]
Which in winter, when the traveller neither needs nor desires it, are full of water, then congealed by the frost. WHEREIN THE SNOW IS HID; either, 1. Under which the water, made of snow, which formerly fell, and afterwards was dissolved, lies hid. So he implies that he speaks not of those brooks wh... [ Continue Reading ]
When the weather grows milder, and the frost and snow is dissolved. WHEN IT IS HOT; in the hot season of the year, when waters are most refreshing and necessary. OUT OF THEIR PLACE; in which the traveller expected to find them to his comfort, but they are gone he knows not whither.... [ Continue Reading ]
i.e. The course of those waters is changed, they are gone out of their channel, flowing hither and thither, till they be quite consumed; as it here follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TROOPS, as this word is used, GENESIS 37:25 ISAIAH 21:13. Heb. _the ways_, put for _the travellers in the ways_, by a usual metonymy. And so it must needs be meant here, and in the next clause, because the following verse, _They were confounded_, &c., plainly showeth that he here speaks of perso... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE CONFOUNDED, i.e. the troops and companies. Because they had hoped; they comforted themselves with the expectation of water there to quench their thirst. WERE ASHAMED; as having deceived themselves and others with vain and false hopes.... [ Continue Reading ]
He gives the reason why he charged them with deceitfulness, and compared them to these deceitful brooks. _Nothing_, or, _as nothing_; the note of similitude being oft understood. Heb. _as not_, i.e. you are to me as if you had not been, or as if you had never come to me, for I have no benefit nor co... [ Continue Reading ]
DID I SAY? or, _Is it because I said_ ? Is this, or what else is the reason why you are afraid of me, or alienated from me? _Bring unto me_; give me something for my support or relief. Did either my former covetousness or my present necessity make me troublesome or chargeable to you? Give a reward f... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER ME by power and the force of your arms, as Abraham delivered Lot. REDEEM ME by price, or ransom.... [ Continue Reading ]
TEACH ME; instead of censuring and reproaching, instruct and convince me by solid arguments. I WILL HOLD MY TONGUE; I will patiently hear and gladly receive your counsels; or, I will be silent; I will neither contradict you, nor complain of my own griefs. Compare JOB 40:4,5 PR 30:32. WHEREIN I HAVE... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHT WORDS, i.e. the words of truth or solid arguments, have a marvellous power to convince and persuade a man; and if yours were such, I should readily yield to them. YOUR ARGUING REPROVE; or, _your arguing argue_. There is no truth in your assertions, nor weight in your arguments, and therefore a... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YE IMAGINE TO REPROVE WORDS? i.e. do you think that all your arguments are solid and unanswerable, and all my answers are but idle and empty words? Or do you think it is sufficient to cavil and quarrel with some of my words and expressions, without considering the merits of the cause, and the tru... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA; your words are not only vain, and useless, and uncomfortable to me, but also grievous and pernicious. YE OVERWHELM, Heb. _you rush or throw yourselves_ upon him. For words in _hiphil_ are oft put reciprocally as Hebricians know. You fall upon him with all your might, and say all that you can de... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK UPON ME; be pleased either, 1. To look upon my countenance, if it betrays any fear or guilt, as if I spoke contrary to my own conscience. Or rather, 2. To consider me and my cause further and better than you have done, that you may give a more true and righteous judgment concerning it. IS EVI... [ Continue Reading ]
Turn from your former course of perverse judgment; lay aside passion and prejudice against me; let me beg your second thoughts and a serious review of my case. LET IT NOT BE INIQUITY, to wit, in your thoughts or debates; I beg not your favour, but your justice; judge according to right, and do not c... [ Continue Reading ]
Consider again, and more thoroughly examine, if there be any untruth or iniquity in what I have already said, or shall further speak to you. MY TASTE. i.e. my judgment, which discerns and judgeth of words and actions as the taste or palate doth of meats. PERVERSE THINGS, i.e. false opinions or sinfu... [ Continue Reading ]