Then Job answered and said, Ver. 1. _Then Job answered and said_] He replied as followeth to Bildad's bitter and taunting invective. His miseries he here setteth forth graphically and tragically, granting to Bildad that he was dealt with no otherwise than if he were that wicked man described in the... [ Continue Reading ]
How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? Ver. 2. _How long will ye vex my soul?_] viz. With your furious and reproachful charges and criminations? Have I not misery enough already, but you must lay more load of scorn and contempt upon me; and so go on to trouble me by adding... [ Continue Reading ]
These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed [that] ye make yourselves strange to me. Ver. 3. _These ten times have ye reproached me_] _i.e._ Oftentimes. Herein Job endured a great fight of affliction, as the apostle styleth it, Hebrews 10:32,33; a manifold fight, as the word there sig... [ Continue Reading ]
And be it indeed [that] I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. Ver. 4. _And be it indeed that I have erred_] Of human frailty; for that there is any way of wickedness in me (as you would have it) I shall never yield. But _nimis angusta res est, nuspiam errare._ Involuntary failings I am no... [ Continue Reading ]
If indeed ye will magnify [yourselves] against me, and plead against me my reproach: Ver. 5. _If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me_] Or, Will you indeed magnify yourselves against me? _sc._ because of mine error, as Job 19:4, which yet ye have not convinced me of? Will ye insult me, ther... [ Continue Reading ]
Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. Ver. 6. _Know that God hath overthrown me_] Do not you therefore add affliction to the afflicted, which is so odious a thing to God, Psalms 41:2; Psalms 69:26; but regard the greatness of mine evils, which draw these complain... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but [there is] no judgment. Ver. 7. _Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard_] Nothing is more natural and usual than for men in misery to cry out for help. Job's great grief was, that neither God nor man would regard his moans or... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. Ver. 8. _He hath fenced up my way, &c._] Here Job, carried away, as it were, with a torrent of grief, amplifieth his miseries by many other comparisons. And first of a traveller, whom nothing so much troubleth in his... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown [from] my head. Ver. 9. _He hath stripped me of my glory_] This is the second comparison, _ab externo corporis cultu et habitu,_ saith Merlin; from the outward habiliments and habits of the body, Genesis 37:23. Our King Richard II, when he was to... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree. Ver. 10. _He hath destroyed me on every side_] Heb. He hath demolished me, he hath pulled me down piece meal, as an old house is taken down part by part. See Lev 14:45 Judges 8:17. God had made and fashion... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as [one of] his enemies. Ver. 11. _He hath also kindled his wrath against me_] Now if his wrath was kindled, yea, but a little, woe be to all those against whom it is bent. He will surely heap mischiefs upon them, he will spend... [ Continue Reading ]
His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. Ver. 12. _His troops come together_] _i.e._ Troops of tribulations and temptations, of pirates and robbers, σπειρατηρια (as the Seventy have it). Sickness and other sorrows are God's soldiers, Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. Ver. 13. _He hath put my brethren far from me_] In their affections at least. Some stuck to him, but for a mischief, for they proved miserable comforters, as did likewise Peter to our Saviour, who fled not with... [ Continue Reading ]
My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. Ver. 14. _My kinsfolk have failed_] scil. In courtesy, as Ruth's kinsman did. Job had many kinsfolk, but few friends; and this was a great grief to him, as it was afterwards also to David, Psalms 31:11; Psalms 38:11; Psalms 69:8; t... [ Continue Reading ]
They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. Ver. 15. _They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, &c._] My tenants, or my guests, or my sojourners, those widows and orphans haply, whom he kept at his own charge, Job 31:32. More than this, my... [ Continue Reading ]
I called my servant, and he gave [me] no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. Ver. 16. _I called my servant, and he gave me no answer_] Though I lay under greatest sores and sorrows, and called them to help me, yet such was their impudence and inhumanity, that they would not vouchsafe an answer.... [ Continue Reading ]
My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's [sake] of mine own body. Ver. 17. _My breath is strange to my wife_] The corruption of his inwards (besides the noisomeness of his outward ulcers) made his breath strong and unwholesome. This his wife (as did that Roman lady, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. Ver. 18. _Yea, young children despised me_] Fools, saith the Vulgate, who are never more pleasant than when they play the buffoons at my expense. Ungodly men, some render it, as Job 16:11. Others, the baser sort of people. And sur... [ Continue Reading ]
All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. Ver. 19. _All my inward friends abhorred me_] Heb. All the mortals of my counsel, _q.d._ My most intimate acquaintance and associates, my highest confidants, to whom I was wont to open my bosom, and with whom I maintain... [ Continue Reading ]
My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. Ver. 20. _My bone cleaveth to my skin_] My skin is a bag of bones. I am become a mere skeleton, and may well cry out, O my leanness, my leanness! So bare I am grown, that little appeareth in me but skin and bon... [ Continue Reading ]
Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Ver. 21. _Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, &c._] To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friends; and to do otherwise is to forsake the fear of the Almighty, Job 6:14; _See Trapp on "_ J... [ Continue Reading ]
Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Ver. 22. _Why do ye persecute me as God?_] Is this that pitying of me thus to press me with reproaches, and therein to think you gratify God, and do him good service? Know ye not, that to persecute him whom he hath smitten is great... [ Continue Reading ]
Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! Ver. 23. _Oh that my words were now written!_] This reiterated wish Job setteth as a preamble to that ensuing memorable testimony of the resurrection, as a matter most weighty and worthy the consideration of all ages; which the... [ Continue Reading ]
That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! Ver. 24. _That they were graven with an iron pen, &c._] That my words were not only _scripta sed sculpta,_ written, but graven in a rock, as the laws of various nations were cut in brass or marble; and as monuments and epitaphs a... [ Continue Reading ]
For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth: Ver. 25. _For I know that my Redeemer liveth_] _Clarissima fidei confessio,_ saith Brentius, A most famous confession of his faith. _Brevis et longa, totaque aurea, est haec apologia,_ saith another,... [ Continue Reading ]
And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God: _Ver 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this body_] Here he pointeth again, as doth likewise David, when in Psalms 34:6, he saith, "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him," &c. So the ancient belie... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me. Ver. 27. _Whom I shall see for myself_] He speaketh confidently, as one fully assured of a resurrection; which, if it should not be, how should there be a remuneration of the body? Say... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? Ver. 28. _But ye should say, Why persecute we him?_] _Nam olim dicitis cur eum persequebamur?_ (Tigur.) This ye shall one day surely say, "Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked," &... [ Continue Reading ]
Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath [bringeth] the punishments of the sword, that ye may know [there is] a judgment. Ver. 29. _Be ye afraid of the sword_] Heb. Be ye afraid for yourselves, from the face of the sword; God's sore, and great, and strong sword, Isaiah 27:1, that hangeth over your head... [ Continue Reading ]