_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._ Job's answer: man cannot stand in judgment with God, because of God's justice, wisdom, power, and sovereignty, Job 9:1. Job condemns himself, as not able to contend with God, Job 9:14. Shows that we cannot judge of men by their outward condition, Job 9:22. And complains of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Job answered and said_ “In reply to Bildad, Job begins with hinting, that their opinions seemed a little to clash; Eliphaz had insisted, from revelation, that the common failings of men were a sufficient justification of providence, even in the most afflicting dispensations. Bildad says, if he... [ Continue Reading ]
_I know it is so of a truth_ Namely, as you say, that God must be just and righteous; that purity and uprightness are qualities belonging to him; that he cannot possibly be biased or prejudiced in judging and determining the state and condition of mankind. I am likewise satisfied, that the time we h... [ Continue Reading ]
_If he will contend with him_ If God be pleased to contend with man, namely, in judgment, or to debate, or plead with him; _he cannot answer him one of a thousand_ One accusation among a thousand which God might produce against him. So far would he be from being able to maintain his own innocence ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_He is wise in heart_ He is infinitely wise, and searcheth all men's hearts and ways, and discovers a multitude of sins, which men's short-sighted eyes cannot see; and therefore can charge them with innumerable evils, of which they thought themselves innocent, and sees far more malignity than men ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which removeth the mountains_ He proceeds to give particular evidences of the divine power and wisdom, which he mentioned Job 9:4. _And they_ That is, the mountains, to which he figuratively ascribes sense and knowledge; _know not_ He removes them suddenly and unexpectedly ere they are aware of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not_ Nor are the heavens less subject to his power; for neither sun nor stars can shine if he forbid them. “Bishop Warburton supposes, that this alludes to the miraculous history of the people of God, such as the Egyptian darkness, and the stopping the sun's co... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which alone_ That is, by his own single power, without any other help. _Spreadeth out the heavens_ He spread them out like a curtain, Psalms 104:2, when he first created them, and he, in a manner, spreads them again every day; that is, keeps them spread for the comfort and benefit of this lower wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades_, &c. Who ordereth and disposeth them, as the word _making_ is sometimes used in the Scriptures; governeth their rising and setting, and all their influences. These he names as constellations of greatest eminence; but under them he seems to comprehend all... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which doeth great things_, &c. Job here says the same that Eliphaz had said Job 5:9, and in the original, in the very same words, with design to show his full agreement with him, touching the divine perfections.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lo he goeth by me_ Or _besides_, or _before_ me, in my presence; that is, he worketh by his providence in ways of mercy or judgment. _And I see him not_ I see the effects, but I cannot understand the causes or grounds of his actions, for they are incomprehensible to me, or any other man: for though... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, he taketh away_ If he determine to take away from any man his children, or servants, or estate, who is able to restrain him from doing it? Or, who dare presume to reprove him for it? And, therefore, far be it from me to quarrel with God, whereof you untruly accuse me.... [ Continue Reading ]
_If God will not withdraw his anger_ There is nothing in the Hebrew for _if_. The words, literally rendered, are, _God will not withdraw his anger;_ or, continuing the interrogation, used twice in the preceding verse, which Chappelow thinks ought to be continued, _Will not God withdraw?_ &c.; the co... [ Continue Reading ]
_How much less shall I answer him_ Since no creature can resist his power, and no man can comprehend his counsels and ways, how can I contend with him; answer his allegations and arguments produced against me? _Whom though I were righteous_ Though I had a most just cause, and were not conscious to m... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I had called_ That is, prayed, as the word קראתי, _karati_, commonly means, namely, unto my judge for a favourable sentence, as he had just said; _and he had answered me_ Had given me what I asked; _yet would I not believe_, &c. So weak and imperfect are my best prayers; and, I am so infinitely... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he breaketh me with a tempest_ As with a tempest; that is, unexpectedly, violently, and irrecoverably. This is the reason of his forementioned diffidence, that even when God seemed to answer his supplication in words, yet the course of his actions toward him was of a quite contrary nature and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_He will not suffer me to take my breath_ My pains and miseries are continual, and I have not so much as a breathing time free from them; _but filleth me with bitterness_ My afflictions are not only long and uninterrupted, but also exceeding sharp and violent, contrary to the common course of God's... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I speak of strength_ If my cause were to be decided by power; _he is strong_ Infinitely stronger than I; _and if of judgment_ If I would contend with him in a way of right; _who shall set_, &c. There is no superior judge that can summon him and me together. Heath thus explains the words: “If I t... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I justify myself_ If I plead against God my own righteousness and innocence; _my own mouth shall condemn me_ God is so infinitely wise, and just, and holy, that he will find sufficient matter of condemnation from my own words, though spoken with all possible care and circumspection; or he will d... [ Continue Reading ]
_Though I were perfect_, &c. Hebrew, תם אני, _tam ani, the perfect I, would not know my soul_ Namely, _myself_ as the word נפשׁ, _nephesh_, is rendered, Esther 4:13; or, _my heart_, or _spirit._ That is, my thinking myself perfect, or completely innocent and faultless, would be an evidence that I di... [ Continue Reading ]
_This one thing_ In the other things which you have spoken of, God's greatness, power, and justice, I do not contend with you; but this one thing I do, and must affirm against you. _Therefore I said it_ I did not utter it rashly, but upon deep consideration. _He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked... [ Continue Reading ]
_The earth is given into the hand of the wicked_ Hebrew, רשׁע, _rashang, of the wicked man._ The possession and dominion of a large portion of it are frequently given, by the great Lord and Proprietor of all, in the course of his providence, into the power of a wicked man. _He covereth the faces of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now my days_ The days of my life; _are swifter than a post_ Who rides upon swift horses; _they see no good_ I enjoy no good in them; seeing being often put for experiencing either good or evil. Thus Job now exemplifies in himself what he had said of the calamities which God frequently inflicts on g... [ Continue Reading ]
_As the swift ships_ Hebrew, ships of desire; that is, such as are longed for, and long to be at their destined port, and crowd all the sail they can for that purpose. Or, as in the Chaldee paraphrase, ships loaded, _pretiosis_, with things of value; and are therefore named _swift ships_, because th... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I say, I will forget my complaints_, &c. If I resolve within myself that I will cease complaining, and endeavour to take comfort. _I am afraid of all my sorrows_ Or, of my pains and griefs: I find all such endeavours vain; for if my griefs be suspended for a time, yet my fears continue. _I know... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I be wicked, &c_. The Hebrew, אנכי ארשׁע _anochi ershang_, is, _I am_, or, _I shall be wicked_, or _guilty_, without any supposition. That is, Whether I be holy or wicked, if I dispute with thee I shall be found guilty; or, I shall be treated as guilty; I shall not be acquitted, or exempted from... [ Continue Reading ]
_If I wash myself with snow-water_, &c. If I clear myself from all imputations, and fully prove my innocence before men; _yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch_ That is, in miry and puddle water, whereby I shall become most filthy. As Job's _washing_ himself is to be understood only of his clearing... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he is not a man as I am_ But one infinitely superior to me in majesty and power, wisdom and justice. _That I should answer him _ That I should presume to debate my cause with him, or answer his allegations against me. _That we should come together in judgment_ Face to face, to plead upon equal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let not his fear terrify me_ The fear and dread of his majesty and justice. Let him not deal with me according to his perfect justice, but according to his grace and clemency. _Then would I speak, and not fear_ I would speak freely for myself, being freed from that dread, which takes away my spirit... [ Continue Reading ]