JOB CONTINUED - Margin, as in Hebrew “added to take up.” Probably he had paused for Zophar to reply, but since he said nothing he now resumed his argument. HIS PARABLE - A parable properly denotes a comparison of one thing with another, or a fable or allegorical representation from which moral instr... [ Continue Reading ]
AS GOD LIVETH - A form of solemn adjuration, or an oath by the living God. “As certainly as God lives.” It is the form by which God himself often swears; see Ezekiel 14:16; Ezekiel 33:11, and is often employed by others; 1Sa 20:3; 1 Samuel 25:26. WHO HATH TAKEN AWAY MY JUDGMENT - Who hath rejected m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS IN MY NOSTRILS - As long as I live. The “spirit of God” here means the breath that God breathed into man when he created him, Genesis 2:7. It would seem probable that there was an allusion to that fact by the language here, and that the knowledge of the way in which man was... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LIPS SHALL NOT SPEAK WICKEDNESS - This solemn profession made on oath might have done something to allay the suspicions of his friends in regard to him, and to show that they had been mistaken in his character. It is a solemn assurance that he did not mean to vindicate the cause of wickedness, or... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD FORBID - לי חלילה _châlı̂ylâh_ _lı̂y_. “Far be it from me.” Literally, “Profane be it to me;” that is, I should regard it as unholy and profane; I cannot do it. THAT I SHOULD JUSTIFY YOU - That I should admit the correctness of your positions, and should concede that I am an hypocrite. He was... [ Continue Reading ]
MY RIGHTEOUSNESS I HOLD FAST - I hold on to the consciousness of integrity and uprightness. I cannot, will not, part with that. Job had lost his property, his health, and his domestic comforts, but he had in all this one consolation - he felt that he was sincere. He had been subjected to calamity by... [ Continue Reading ]
LET MINE ENEMY BE AS THE WICKED - This is probably said that he might show that it was not his intention to justify the wicked, and that in all that he had said it was no part of his purpose to express approbation of their course. His friends had charged him with this; but he now solemnly disclaims... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT IS THE HOPE OF THE HYPOCRITE? - The same sentiment which Job here advances had before been expressed by Bildad; see it explained in the notes at Job 8:13 following It had also been expressed in a similar manner by Zophar (see the notes on Job 20:5, and had been much insisted on in their arg... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL GOD HEAR HIS CRY WHEN TROUBLE COMETH UPON HIM? - Coverdale has rendered this Job 27:8 so as to make excellent sense, though not strictly in accordance with the original. “What hope hath the hypocrite though he have great good, and though God give him riches after his heart’s desire? Doth God he... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL HE DELIGHT HIMSELF IN THE ALMIGHTY? - A truly pious man will delight himself in the Almighty. His supreme happiness will be found in God. He has pleasure in the contemplation of his existence, his perfections, his law, and his government. Coverdale renders this, “Hath he such pleasure and delig... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL TEACH YOU BY THE HAND OF GOD - Margin, “or, being in.” Coverdale, “In the name of God.” So Tindal, Noyes, “Concerning the hand of God.” Good, “Concerning the dealings of God.” The Chaldee renders it אלהא בנביאת - “By the prophecy of God.” Luther, “I will teach you by the hand of God.” The ide... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, ALL YE YOURSELVES HAVE SEEN IT - You have had an opportunity of tracing the proofs of the wisdom of God in his works. WHY THEN ARE YE THUS ALTOGETHER VAIN - Why is it that you maintain such opinions - that you evince no more knowledge of his government and plans - that you argue so inconclu... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE PORTION OF A WICKED MAN WITH GOD - There has been much diversity of view in regard to the remainder of this chapter. The difficulty is, that Job seems here to state the same things which had been maintained by his friends, and against which he had all along contended. This difficulty has... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HIS CHILDREN BE MULTIPLIED, IT IS FOR THE SWORD - That is, they shall be slain in war. The first calamities which it is here said would come upon a man, relate to his family Job 27:14; the next are those that would come upon himself, Job 27:19. All the sentiments here expressed are found in the v... [ Continue Reading ]
THOSE THAT REMAIN OF HIM - Those that survive him. SHALL BE BURIED IN DEATH - Hebrew “shall be buried BY death” (במות _bamâveth_), that is. “Death shall be the grave-digger” - or, they shall have no friends to bury them; they shall be unburied. The idea is highly poetical, and the expression is ver... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH HE HEAP UP SILVER AS THE DUST - That is, in great quantities - as plenty as dust; compare 1 Kings 10:27, “And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones.” AND PREPARE RAIMENT - Oriental wealth consisted much in changes of raiment. Sir John Chardin says that in the East it is common to... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JUST SHALL PUT IT ON - The righteous shall wear it. It shall pass out of the hands of him who prepared it, into the hands of others. The meaning is, that the wicked, though they become rich, would not live to enjoy their ill-gotten gains. These two verses contain a beautiful illustration of what... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BUILDETH HIS HOUSE AS A MOTH - The house which the moth builds is the slight fabric which it makes for its own dwelling in the garment which it consumes. On this verse compare Job 8:14. The dwelling of the moth is composed of the materials of the garment on which it feeds, and there may be an all... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RICH MAN - That is, the rich man who is wicked. SHALL LIE DOWN - Shalt die - for so the connection demands. BUT HE SHALL NOT BE GATHERED - In an honorable burial. The slain in battle are gathered together for burial; but he shall be unburied. The expressions “to be gathered,” “to be gathered to... [ Continue Reading ]
TERRORS-TAKE HOLD ON HIM AS WATERS - That is, as suddenly and violently as angry floods; compare the notes at Job 18:14. A TEMPEST STEALETH HIM AWAY - He is suddenly cut off by the wrath of God. A tempest comes upon him as unexpectedly as a thief or robber comes at night. Death is often represented... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EAST WIND CARRIETH HIM AWAY - He is swept off as by the violence of a tempest. Severe storms are represented in this book as coming from the East; compare the notes at Job 15:2. The ancients believed that people might be carried away by a tempest or whirlwind; compare Isaiah 41:16; see also Home... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD SHALL CAST UPON HIM - That is, God shall bring calamities upon him, or cast his thunderbolts upon him, and shall not pity him. HE WOULD FAIN FLEE - He would gladly escape from the wrath of God, but he is unable to do it.... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN SHALL CLAP THEIR HANDS AT HIM - That is, they shall combine to drive him out of the world, and rejoice when he is gone. The same sentiment was also expressed by Bildad, Job 18:18 : “He shall be driven fromm light into darkness, And chased out of the world.” There can be no doubt, I think, that... [ Continue Reading ]