THE FIRST SPEECH OF JOB (JOB 6:7)
1-13. Job, smarting under the remarks of Eliphaz, which he feels are
not appropriate to his case, renews and justifies his complaints. He
bemoans the heaviness of God's hand, and wishes that He would slay him
outright.
2, 3. Job admits that he was rash in his rema... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE SWALLOWED UP] RV 'have been rash.'... [ Continue Reading ]
It is because he feels that his troubles are due to God that he is
almost beside himself, since he cannot understand their motive. In Job
3 he had not charged God with being the author of his sorrows.
5-7. Job continues to assert that he would not complain without good
cause.... [ Continue Reading ]
The animals cease their cries when their wants are satisfied.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNSAVOURY] without flavour.
THE WHITE OF AN EGG] Some prefer RM 'the juice of purslain.'... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'My soul refuseth to touch _them_ They are as loathsome meat to
me.' Job 6:6 may mean that Job's afllictions are as intolerable to him
as loathsome food.
8-10. Job longs for the stroke of death to descend and release him
from his pain.... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, I WOULD, etc.] RV 'Yea, I would exult in pain that spareth not:
for I have not denied,' etc. Job fears not death, for he is
unconscious of sin towards God. The passage is difficult, since J ob
does not expect retribution after death. The original text may not be
correctly preserved.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROLONG MY LIFE] RV 'be patient.' Since there is nothing but death
before him, how can he help being impatient for its arrival?... [ Continue Reading ]
He is not made of stone or brass that he can bear such troubles.... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'Is it not that I have no help in me, and sound wisdom is driven
quite from me?' He is exhausted and without resource.
14-30. Job complains of the lack of sympathy and false conclusions of
the friends. They have bitterly disappointed the hopes he had set on
them.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE FORSAKETH] RV 'even to him that forsaketh.' Kind words from his
friends might have helped Job to retain his trust in God, which he
feared to lose.
15-20. Job likens the treatment of the friends to sudden torrents,
which fill the deep ravines or wadies of his land after storms. These
flow abu... [ Continue Reading ]
In the winter the torrents are black and turbid with melting snow.
There is plenty of ice in winter in the upper parts of Edom.... [ Continue Reading ]
RV 'The caravans _that travel_ by the way of them turn aside' (in
search of water). They go up into the waste, and perish.
19, 20. TROOPS] RV 'caravans.' TEMA.. SHEBA] in Arabia. The vv.
describe the disappointment (ASHAMED) of the Arab caravans.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE NOTHING] RM 'ye are like thereto,' i.e. to the deceptive
brooks. But it would be better to read 'so have ye been to me.' AND
ARE AFRAID] perhaps of showing sympathy, since they thought him guilty
of sin. 22, 23. All that Job looked for from them was sympathy.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORCIBLE] perhaps 'irritating' would be better, a bitter sarcasm.
WHAT DOTH YOUR ARGUING REPROVE?] At what sin are they aiming?... [ Continue Reading ]
'Are you finding fault with desperate words uttered in distress?'... [ Continue Reading ]
Render, 'Would you sadden the bereaved and wound your friend?'... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK UPON ME] i.e. in the face. FOR _it is_ EVIDENT, etc.] RV 'For
surely I shall not lie to your face.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Render, 'Reconsider my case; do not do me such injustice.' Yes,
reconsider it; my cause is a righteous one!
INIQUITY] RV 'injustice.'... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THERE INIQUITY, etc.] rather, 'Is my tongue perverted?'CANNOT MY
TASTE, etc.] 'Cannot I distinguish between right and wrong as well as
you can?'... [ Continue Reading ]