Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Ver. 1. _Then Eliphaz the Temanite_] Then, when Job had laid about him in this sort; and, giving his tongue too much liberty to lash out, had uttered words little better than blasphemous and contumelious against God; then Eliphaz, _Temanites ille,_ the f... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 4:2 [If] we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? Ver. 2. _If we assay to commune with thee_] Or may we assay to commune with thee? Art thou in case to be counselled? and will not an essay to this purpose further trouble thy patience and d... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Ver. 3. _Behold, thou hast instructed many_] _sc._ To do each day's duty with Christian diligence, and to bear each day's crosses with Christian patience thou hast done it well. But how comes it now to pass, _quod dicta f... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. Ver. 4. _Thy words have upholden him that was falling_] So forcible are right words, well timed and fitted to the present necessity, they shore up the tottering, they catch him before be comes to ground, and... [ Continue Reading ]
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Ver. 5. _But now it is come upon thee_] This is a galling. But hitherto Eliphaz had commended Job; now he dasheth all, and draweth a black line over that he had spoken once. To commend a man with a but is a wo... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 4:6 [Is] not [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? Ver. 6. _ls not this thy fear, thy confidence, &c._] Or thy folly: _q.d._ Is not thy religion a mere foolery? and hath not thou rather acted religion, played devotion and the fear of God, than been serious... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Ver. 7. _Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent?_] Why? that hath many a one, as the world counteth and calleth perishing: "The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart," Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. Ver. 8. _Even as I have seen_] And therefore can boldly say: for what so sure as sight? See Num 11:23 Genesis 34:1,2. Diligent inspection of a thing, and deep consideration upon it, makes confidence, which is the fruit... [ Continue Reading ]
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. Ver. 9. _By the blast of God they perish_] He puts himself to no great pain to punish them; but blows them away as so many dust heaps; he nods them to destruction, saith the psalmist, Psalms 80:16; he can as easil... [ Continue Reading ]
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. Ver. 10. _The roaring of the lion, &c._] Lest any should think, saith Mr Caryl, that the blast of God mentioned above carrieth away only straws and feathers, light and weak persons, into perditi... [ Continue Reading ]
_The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad._ Ver. 11. _The old lion perishelh for lack of prey_] As not being able to hunt and get it. The meaning is (saith one) that men who reign like lions, that their children who equalled them in cruelty, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. Ver. 12. _Now a thing was secretly brought to me_] Heb. Was brought to me by stealth, closely and privily, so as others were not aware of it: see Acts 22:9; Acts 9:7. Saul's companions heard his voice, but not Christ's.... [ Continue Reading ]
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Ver. 13. _In thoughts from the visions of the night, &c._] Or, in thoughts of the visions of the night. It appeareth by this and other circumstances that this vision was no fiction or holy fraud (as some have conceited) to b... [ Continue Reading ]
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Ver. 14. _Fear came on me, and trembling_] Fear in the inward man, and trembling in the outward. And this is God's method still: the more he draweth nigh to any man the more doth rottenness enter into his bones, and he is horribly... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:_ Ver. 15. _Then a spirit passed before my face_] Some render it a wind, as a messenger or forerunner of God near at hand, as 1 Kings 19:11. But better, a good angel in some bodily shape, Psa 104:4 Luke 24:37; for else how could he... [ Continue Reading ]
It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image [was] before mine eyes, [there was] silence, and I heard a voice, [saying], Ver. 16. _It stood still_] As now ready to speak. An ambulatory voice is hardly heard: the heavens, indeed, are walking preachers, but then they utter but t... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Ver. 17. _Shall mortal man_] Sorry sinful man, a very mixture and hodge podge of dirt and sin, _Miser, aerumnis et peccatis obnoxius._ Be more just than God?] Or, be just rather than God? as Luke 18:14. This is the ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: Ver. 18. _Lo, he put no trust in his servants, &c._] Those menial, domestic servants of his, the holy angels that wait upon him, and are at his hand to do his will. Servant is a name of office; and they delight rather to... [ Continue Reading ]
How much less [in] them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation [is] in the dust, [which] are crushed before the moth? Ver. 19. _How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay_] Or how much more (in reference to the latter part of the preceding verse) may God charge men with folly and de... [ Continue Reading ]
They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding [it]. Ver. 20. _They are destroyed from morning to evening_] Heb. They are beaten to pieces, as in a mortar, with one sorrow upon another, till the very breath be beaten out of their bodies at length; and all thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not their excellency [which is] in them go away? they die, even without wisdom. Ver. 21. _Doth not their excellency which is in them go away?_] Journeyeth not their excellency with them? so Broughton rendereth it. By their excellence here some understand the soul, called by David his glory. A... [ Continue Reading ]