And Job answered and said, Ver. 1. _And Job answered and said_] Being nipped and nettled with his friends' hard usage of him, and harsh language to him, but especially with Zophar's arrogant and lofty preface in the former chapter, he begins now to wax warm, and more roughly and roundly to shape th... [ Continue Reading ]
No doubt but ye [are] the people, and wisdom shall die with you. Ver. 2. _No doubt but ye are the people_] The select peculiar people, the only ones, as a man is put for a good man, Jeremiah 5:1, a wife for a good wife, Proverbs 18:22, a name for a good name, Ecclesiastes 7:1. As Athens was said to... [ Continue Reading ]
But I have understanding as well as you; I [am] not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? Ver. 3. _But I have understanding as well as you_] Think not that you have engrossed all the knowledge, and that you have the monopoly of wisdom in your breasts; for surely I may come int... [ Continue Reading ]
I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn. Ver. 4. _Iam as one mocked of his neighbour_] Those that should countenance and comfort me contemn and scorn me. I am their laughter and pastime; so he took it, since they... [ Continue Reading ]
He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. Ver. 5. _He that is ready to slip with his feet_] He who is in a declining, tottering condition, ready to fall and perish under the burden of his afflictions, though formerly he was looked upon a... [ Continue Reading ]
The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly]. Ver. 6. _The tabernacles of robbers prosper_] By robbers here understand all such as sin against the second table, but especially oppressors and wrong dealers, whether by force or fr... [ Continue Reading ]
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Ver. 7. _But ask now the beasts of the earth, and they shall teach thee_] Even the wildest of them that abide in the wilderness. There is not one of these, or else of the fowls of the air, but can... [ Continue Reading ]
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Ver. 8. _Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee_] Teach thee? what? Surely many good lessons; as that of humility and modesty, considering our origin, _Terra quam terimus docet terram quam ger... [ Continue Reading ]
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? Ver. 9. _Who knoweth not in all these, &c._] Or, by all these before mentioned creatures, &c., and therefore, Zophar, you have showen no more wisdom in your lofty discourse than the birds, beasts, and fishes have taught and t... [ Continue Reading ]
In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. Ver. 10. _In whose hand is the soul of every living thing_] That is, the life of every beast, flowing from a sensitive soul, Leviticus 17:10,11. This, God both giveth to the creature and conserveth it; he suffereth it... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? Ver. 11. _Doth not the ear try words? &c._] The mind may as easily conceive of these truths as the ear judgeth certainly of the variety of sounds, and the tongue of the diversity of tastes; neither may you think that I will, without any exam... [ Continue Reading ]
With the ancient [is] wisdom; and in length of days understanding. Ver. 12. _With the ancient is wisdom_] Heb. With the decrepit, who have a long, long being upon earth, and are now become wondrous old, even fourscore and upward; with such is wisdom, or else it is a shame for them. See 1Jn 2:12 Heb... [ Continue Reading ]
With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. Ver. 13. _With him is wisdom and strength, &c._] Wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding, are all concentred in the Ancient of days; complete he is in all excellence and perfection, all which meet in him, and continue always... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. Ver. 14. _Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again_] As he did the old world, Sodom and Gomorrah, many monarchies and empires, the tower of Babel, and other castles and houses wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. Ver. 15. _Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up_] He not only, when he pleaseth, imprisoneth men, but waters also, that they cannot get out of the clouds, those bottles of rain, t... [ Continue Reading ]
With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver [are] his. Ver. 16. _With him is strength and wisdom_] _i.e._ Such strength as he exerciseth most wisely, mightily, and righteously. _Sic volo, sic iubeo,_ I wish so, so I command, saith the tyrant, Right or wrong, thus it shall be. _... [ Continue Reading ]
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. Ver. 17. _He leadeth counsellors away spoiled_] viz. Of wit, wealth, and honour. This should be a warning to them, not to take ill causes in hand, not to call evil good and good evil, not to justify the wicked for a reward, and to ta... [ Continue Reading ]
He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. Ver. 18. _He looseth the bonds of kings_] He degradeth them, taking away all command and authority from them, which is the bond that bindeth the people to obedience and subjection, Job 30:11 Isaiah 45:1; Isaiah 45:5; as our Henry... [ Continue Reading ]
He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. Ver. 19. _He leadeth away princes spoiled_] Or priests. _Ducit sacerdotes inglorios,_ so the Vulgate translateth, He leadeth away the priests without glory, dishonoured. Priests were generally much esteemed and privileged in all ages. Al... [ Continue Reading ]
He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. Ver. 20. _He removeth away the speech of the trusty_] Or, of the eloquent, as Demosthenes, the most eloquent of the Greeks, being by them frequently sent as an ambassador to Philip, king of Macedonia, thrice s... [ Continue Reading ]
He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. Ver. 21. _He poureth contempt upon princes_] Or nobles, or gentlemen, which are, or should be, free, bounteous, munificent benefactors (ευεργεται): if they be not Nedibim, but Nebalim, liberal, but churlish (see these oppos... [ Continue Reading ]
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. Ver. 22. _He discovereth deep things out of darkness_] As he did to Joseph and Pharaoh by dreams, to the prophets by visions and revelations, and still doth to his people by his Spirit: "for the Spirit search... [ Continue Reading ]
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again]. Ver. 23. _He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them_] It is all one with God whether against a single man or a whole nation, Job 34:29, when he once taketh them to do. "The wicked shall be t... [ Continue Reading ]
He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness [where there is] no way. Ver. 24. _He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people_] That is, of the greatest part of the people of the world (say some). These God suffereth to walk in t... [ Continue Reading ]
They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like [a] drunken [man]. Ver. 25. _They grope in the dark without light_] This is the second simile, setting forth this judiciary act of God in taking away the heart of the heads of the earth; grope they do, and would fain find out... [ Continue Reading ]