Job 7:1 [Is there] not an appointed time to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days of an hireling? Ver. 1. _Is there not an appointed time to man upon the earth?_] There is, certainly. Our bounds are prescribed us, and a pillar set by him who bears up the heavens, which we are not to... [ Continue Reading ]
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for [the reward of] his work: Ver. 2. _As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, &c._] Heb. Gapeth after, or gaspeth for his shadow; that is, for some place of cool repose after his hard labour in the hot sunshine, as in harve... [ Continue Reading ]
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. Ver. 3. _So am I made to possess months of vanity_] So, but a great deal worse than so is it with me. The labouring servant hath his shade; the painful hireling hath his hire at the set time; but I am made to posses... [ Continue Reading ]
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. Ver. 4. _When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise? &c._] Here is a graphic description of a wearisome night. The night is most laborious and irksome to sick people:... [ Continue Reading ]
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. Ver. 5. _My flesh is clothed with worms_] Here Job showeth how and whence his nights were so wearisome and restless; he was in his grave clothes before he died (saith Mr Caryl), viz. a gown of worms set or em... [ Continue Reading ]
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. Ver. 6. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle] Which is of a very swift and sudden motion. Nights and days pass the shuttle of man's life forward and backward, to and again. The night casts it to the day, and the day to... [ Continue Reading ]
O remember that my life [is] wind: mine eye shall no more see good. Ver. 7. _O remember that my life is wind_] Before, swifter or lighter than a weaver's shuttle (or than a sword or speech, as the Septuagint there render it, ελαφροτερος λαλιας), now my life is a wind, or as a wind (so the Chaldee p... [ Continue Reading ]
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no [more]: thine eyes [are] upon me, and I [am] not. Ver. 8. _The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more_] In death we shall neither see nor be seen, but be soon both out of sight and out of mind too. It is told of Richard III, that he caused... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 7:9 [As] the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no [more]. Ver. 9. _As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away_] A cloud is nothing else but a vapour thickened in the middle region of the air by the cold encompassing and driving it together,... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. Ver. 10. _He shall return no more to his house_] Either to despatch business or to enjoy comforts; he hath utterly done with the affairs of this world. Melancthon telleth of an aunt of his who, having buried her husban... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Ver. 11. _Therefore I will not refrain my mouth_] Heb. I will not prohibit my mouth, _sc._ from speaking, I will bite in my grief no longer; but since death, the certain en... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 7:12 [Am] I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? Ver. 12. _Am I a sea, or a whale_] Can I bear all troubles, as the sea receives all waters, and the whale bears all tempests? This (as is well observed) was too bold a speech to God from a creature, for when his hand is on our ba... [ Continue Reading ]
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; Ver. 13. _When I say, My bed shall comfort me_] The bed was the most proper and probable means of refreshment; but it is not the bed that can give sleep, nor the couch ease. Creatures are not able of themselves to give out the c... [ Continue Reading ]
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: Ver. 14. _Then thou scarest me with dreams_] _Extremam tentationem describit,_ saith Vatablus; and the devil doubtless had a great hand in this business (for it was within his commission, and he would not neglect any part of it);... [ Continue Reading ]
So that my soul chooseth strangling, [and] death rather than my life. Ver. 15. _So that my soul chooseth strangling_] _i.e._ _Quamvis durissimam sed praesentissimam mortem,_ any violent or ignominious death, as long as it were a speedy death. Hippocrates telleth us, that many have been so frightene... [ Continue Reading ]
I loathe [it]; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days [are] vanity. Ver. 16. _I loathe it, I would not live alway_] I loathe or abhor it, that is, my life, or I loathe them, that is, my bones, Job 7:15. "I would not live alway," that is, long in this world, and in this condition. Plotinu... [ Continue Reading ]
What [is] man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? Ver. 17. _What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him?_] _i.e._ Make so much ado about him, or look upon him as a fit match for the great God to grapple with, Psalms 14:3, or to take care of his affai... [ Continue Reading ]
_And [that] thou shouldest visit him every morning, [and] try him every moment?_ Ver. 18. _That thou shouldest visit him every morning_] Be at so much pains, as it were, with him, as to chasten him; and every morning to do it, that is, certainly and early; God took Job to task as soon as he was awa... [ Continue Reading ]
How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? Ver. 19. _How long wilt thou not depart from me_] Here he seems desirous to be rid of God's company, of his afflicting presence, Psalms 139:10; so true is that of the apostle, Hebrews 12:11, "No chastening for t... [ Continue Reading ]
I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? Ver. 20. _I have sinned_] Or, Have I sinned? Have I fallen into any foul offence, as these men charge me? Am I guilty of anything more than involuntary fa... [ Continue Reading ]
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be]. Ver. 21. _And why dost thou not pardon my transgression?_] Heb. Lift up, or take away; for sin was Job's greatest burden, whi... [ Continue Reading ]