Then Job answered and said, Ver. 1. _Then Job answered and said_] He answered to his two friends who had formerly spoken; first, to Eliphaz's speech, Job 4:17, and next to that of Bildad, Job 8:3. Bildad had interrupted him when he would have excused himself, that he did by no means deny the justic... [ Continue Reading ]
I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? Ver. 2. _I know it is so of a truth_] Bildad's argument was, God, who hath punished thee, is just, therefore thou art unjust. Job grants the antecedent here, but denies and refutes the consequent, Job 9:22,23, &c. To Eliphaz also Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. Ver. 3. _If he will contend with him_] If any one would be so fool hardy, or adventurous, as to dispute with God about his judgments, he could not, though he were never so wise, or well skilled, answer him one objection of a thous... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 9:4 [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened [himself] against him, and hath prospered? Ver. 4. _He is wise in heart and mighty in strength_] And must therefore needs be a most just judge, since be neither wanteth wisdom to judge nor power to execute; what then should tu... [ Continue Reading ]
Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. Ver. 5. _Which removeth the mountains, and they know not_] For further proof of God's power first (and then afterwards of his wisdom) Job produceth divers particular acts of his upon the creatures, both unreasonab... [ Continue Reading ]
Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. Ver. 6. _Which shaketh the earth out of her place_] By mighty earthquakes, dislocating the earth, some part of it; for the whole was never removed, though God can take up the whole globe as a man would do a ball, tossing the... [ Continue Reading ]
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. Ver. 7. _Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not_] God, in framing the world, began above, and wrought downward; but Job, in describing the great works of God here, began below; and now goes upward from earth to heaven. It i... [ Continue Reading ]
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Ver. 8. _Which alone spreadeth out the heavens_] Without the help or counsel of any other. As God was alone and by himself in making the world, Isaiah 44:24, so he is in ordering it, Job 37:18 Psalms 104:1,2. The Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. Ver. 9. _Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades_] Those glorious constellations, which do, after a sort, govern the four seasons of the year; but are governed by God, from whose power all their influence and virtue is bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. Ver. 10. _Which doth great things, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Job 5:9 _"_ whence this verse is taken verbatim. If Eliphaz say the truth of God's wisdom and power, Job will soon seal to it; he can find in his heart to speak all... [ Continue Reading ]
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. Ver. 11. _Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not_] As he is powerful in his deeds, so he is secret in his designs, passing, and not repassing daily, but yet unseen; he is everywhere present, and not so far from any... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? Ver. 12. _Behold, he taketh away_] _Raptim aufert; _ He snatcheth away, or taketh by force, as a lion doth his prey, or a thief doth another man's goods. Confer Proverbs 23:28. Which if he do, who can repel or turn... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 9:13 [If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. Ver. 13. _If God will not withdraw his anger_] That is, of his own free accord forbear to execute his judgments, the stoutest must stoop; for "he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth eve... [ Continue Reading ]
How much less shall I answer him, [and] choose out my words [to reason] with him? Ver. 14. _How much less shall I answer him_] If heaven, earth, and sea cannot stand before him; if strongest men, and strongly befriended and seconded, cannot make their party good with him, it is not for me to stout... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge. Ver. 15. _Whom though I were righteous_] Legally righteous, as none ever were, but the first and second Adam. _ Yet would I not answer_] viz. By pleading mine own righteousness, since no created r... [ Continue Reading ]
If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. Ver. 16. _If l had called and he had answered_] If, in confidence of mine own righteousness, I had sought some good thing at his hands, and he had therein condescended to me, yet would I not beli... [ Continue Reading ]
For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. Ver. 17. _For he breaketh me with a tempest_] _q.d._ This is one thing also that maketh me think I am not heard, because I am not helped; but after my prayer I am in as bad a case as before and seem to have a repulse from G... [ Continue Reading ]
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. Ver. 18. _He will not suffer me to take my breath_] I am so far from a period, that I have no pause of my troubles. I cannot get any _interspirias,_ or free breathing space. See Job 7:19. And in the former verse he had complai... [ Continue Reading ]
If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]? Ver. 19. _If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong_] Neither by might nor right can I deal with him. Broughton renders it, As for force, he is valiant. The Lord is a man of war, saith Moses, Exodus... [ Continue Reading ]
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Ver. 20. _If I justify myself_] If, in default of other pleaders, I should undertake to manage my cause myself, I should be never the nearer. _ Mine own mouth shall condemn me_] _i.e._... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 9:21 [Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. Ver. 21. _Though I were perfect_] That is, of an unblameable conversation, yet could not I know mine own soul, that is, those secret sins, Psalms 19:12, those litters of lusts that lurk therein; therefore I... [ Continue Reading ]
This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. Ver. 22. _This is one thing, therefore I say it_] And will stand to it, though I stand alone; this being the one thing wherein I differ in opinion from you; and because it is the hinge upon which the whole dispu... [ Continue Reading ]
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. Ver. 23. _If the scourge slay suddenly_] By scourge here is meant a common calamity, such as rides circuit, compassing a country as a scourge doth a man's body round about. Any sweeping judgment is a swinging scourge in God's... [ Continue Reading ]
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, [and] who [is] he? Ver. 24. _The earth is given into the hand of the wicked_] God many times suffereth the wicked most licentiously to reign in the world, Jeremiah 27:6 Daniel 5:18,19. And it... [ Continue Reading ]
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. Ver. 25. _Now my days are swifter than a post, &c._] Not my prosperous days only (as Broughton glosseth), but the whole course of my life; the vanity whereof Job expresseth by many similitudes; and here search is made into three... [ Continue Reading ]
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey. Ver. 26. _They are passed away as the swift ships_] Heb. They are changed (gliding away insensibly) as the ships of desire (so called, because they seem willing to be at the haven as soon as may be), or as the ships o... [ Continue Reading ]
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself]: Ver. 27. _If I say, I will forget my complaint_] And suffer in silence, as thou, Bildad, hast advised me, Job 8:2. Sorrows are not so easily forgotten; Lamentations 3:19, "Remembering mine affliction and my m... [ Continue Reading ]
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. Ver. 28. _I am afraid of all my sorrows_] That come thronging thick about me, and terrify me; they will surely be doubled and trebled upon me; hence my sorrow is incurable; if I should resolve never so much against it, I sho... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 9:29 [If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? Ver. 29. _If I be wicked_] Heb. I am wicked, _sc._ in your thoughts, and you have so earnestly and effectually affirmed it, and confirmed it, that I am almost ready to say as you say, I am wicked. Plato brings in Socrates in his apology to the j... [ Continue Reading ]
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; Ver. 30. _If I wash myself with snow water_] Some take the former words, I am wicked, to be Job's confession of his own sinfulness in comparison of God's surpassing holiness. And then this followeth very fitly, Though I wash myself... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. Ver. 31. _Thou shalt plunge me in the ditch_] Thou shalt declare me to be no less loathsome than he that, having fallen into a foul guzzle, or nasty jakes, abhorreth himself and his own clothes, being ready to lay up his go... [ Continue Reading ]
For [he is] not a man, as I [am, that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together in judgment. Ver. 32. _For he is not a man as I am_] He is not such a one, nor can be, as I am, and must be; he hath other eyes and thoughts and ways than creatures have. He who is just before men is unjust be... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, [that] might lay his hand upon us both. Ver. 33. _Neither is there any daysman betwixt us_] Heb. Any arguer or reprover, as Genesis 31:24. We call him an umpire or referee who hath power to reprove and to lay the blame where he findeth it, and finally to com... [ Continue Reading ]
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: Ver. 34. _Let him take his rod away from me_] Having sufficiently set forth that he will not once offer to contend with God, he here humbly begs of God no further to contend with him, but to grant a truce, at least during the treat... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 9:35 [Then] would I speak, and not fear him; but [it is] not so with me. Ver. 35. _Then would I speak, and not fear him_] I would come boldly to the throne of grace, and freely pour out my soul into his bosom. If he meant that he would maintain his own cause against God's proceedings (as some u... [ Continue Reading ]