_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._ Here seems to be a struggle throughout this chapter between nature and grace. Job complains of his condition, yet with an assurance of God's clemency, Job 23:1. He cannot understand God's dealings, nor hope for relief, yet holds fast his integrity, Job 23:8. He is in deep tr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Job answered_ Job, being exceedingly grieved by the freedom which Eliphaz had taken with him in his last speech, charging him directly with the most enormous sins, (see the 15th and following verses,) turns and appeals to God, according to his custom, and earnestly begs he would hear the matte... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even to-day is my complaint bitter_ Even at this time notwithstanding all your promises and pretended consolations. For your discourses give me neither relief nor satisfaction. Hence in this and the following chapter Job seldom applies his discourse to his friends, but either addresses his speech t... [ Continue Reading ]
_O that I knew where I might find him!_ Namely, God, as his friends well knew. Thou advisest me to acquaint myself with him, I desire nothing so much as his acquaintance and presence; but, alas! he hides his face from me, that I cannot see or come near him. _That I might come even to his seat_ To hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Will he plead against me_ Hebrew, יריב עמדי, _jarib gnimmadi, contend with me; with his great power_ ברב כח, _berob choach, in the greatness_, or extent, _of his strength._ Will he use his sovereign and absolute power to oppress me, as men do those whom they cannot fairly answer? _No, but he would... [ Continue Reading ]
_There_ At that throne of grace, where God lays aside his majesty and power, and judges according to his wonted grace and clemency; _the righteous_ Such as I trust I am in sincerity and truth; _might dispute with him_ Humbly and modestly propound the grounds of their confidence and the evidences of... [ Continue Reading ]
_I go forward_ קדם, _kedem, ad orientem, toward the east:_ אחור, _achor, ad occidentem, toward the west;_ so the Vulgate, which is likewise the interpretation of the Jewish commentators, who by the _left hand_, and the _right_, in the next verse, understand the _north_ and the _south._ They have a t... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he knoweth the way that I take_ My comfort is, that, though I cannot see him, and know all his ways, and the reasons of his dispensations; yet he, being everywhere present, alway sees me, knows my heart and life, and observes the whole course of my conduct, my internal desires and designs, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_My foot hath held his steps_ Either the steps or ways in which God himself walks; the paths of justice, mercy, and holiness, wherein Job had made it his care to _walk with_, or _after_ God, as the phrase is, Genesis 5:24; or, which is the same thing, the steps or paths which God hath appointed men... [ Continue Reading ]
_He is of one mind_ The word _mind_ is not in the Hebrew, which is only באהד, _beehad, he is in one_, namely, in one way, or purpose, or counsel. Notwithstanding all these evidences of my sincere piety, and all my prayers to him, he still continues in the same course of afflicting me. _And who can t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He performeth_, &c. Hebrew, ישׁלום חקי, _jashlim chukki, he will perfect_, or _finish, my appointed portion_, that is, those calamities which he hath allotted to me for my portion. _And many such things are with him._ There are many such examples of God's proceeding with men; and his counsels and p... [ Continue Reading ]
_For God maketh my heart soft_ Or, _tender;_ he hath bruised and broken, or melted it, so that I have no spirit, or courage, or strength in me: so this, or the like phrase, frequently signifies. There is a gracious softness of heart, like that of Josiah, whose heart was tender, and trembled at the w... [ Continue Reading ]