CHAPTER XIII _Job defends himself against the accusations of his friends,_ _and accuses them of endeavouring to pervert truth_, 1-8. _Threatens them with God's judgments_, 9-12. _Begs some respite, and expresses strong confidence in God_, 13-19. _He pleads with God, and deplores his severe tri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:3. _SURELY I WOULD SPEAK TO THE ALMIGHTY_] אולם _ulam, O_ _that: - I wish I could speak to the Almighty_! _I DESIRE TO REASON WITH GOD._] He speaks here to reference to the proceedings in a court of justice. Ye pretend to be advocates for God, but ye are forgers of lies: O that God him... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:4. _YE ARE FORGERS OF LIES_] Ye frame deceitful arguments: ye reason sophistically, and pervert truth and justice, in order to support your cause. _PHYSICIANS OF NO VALUE._] Ye are as feeble in your reasonings as ye are inefficient in your skill. Ye can neither heal the wound of my mi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:5. _HOLD YOUR PEACE! AND IT SHOULD BE YOUR WISDOM._] In Proverbs 17:28 we have the following _apophtheym_: "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips, a man of understanding." There is no reason to say that Solomon quotes from Job: I have alr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:6. _HEAR NOW MY REASONING_] The speeches in this book are conceived as it delivered in a _court of justice_, different counsellors pleading against each other. Hence most of the terms are _forensic_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:7. _WILL YE SPEAK WICKEDLY FOR GOD?_] In order to support your own cause, in contradiction to the evidence which the whole of my life bears to the uprightness of my heart, will ye continue to assert that God could not thus afflict me, unless flagrant iniquity were found in my ways; for... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:8. _WILL YE ACCEPT HIS PERSON?_] Do you think to act by him as you would by a _mortal_; and, by telling lies in his favour, attempt to conciliate his esteem?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:9. _IS IT GOOD THAT HE SHOULD SEARCH YOU OUT?_] Would it be to your credit if God should try your hearts, and uncover the motives of your conduct? Were you tried as I am, how would you appear? _DO YE_ SO _MOCK HIM?_] Do ye think that you can deceive him; and by flattering speeches brin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:10. _HE WILL SURELY REPROVE YOU_] You may expect, not only his disapprobation, but his hot displeasure.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:11. _HIS DREAD FALL UPON YOU?_] The very apprehension of his wrath is sufficient to crush you to nothing.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:12. _YOUR REMEMBRANCES_ ARE _LIKE UNTO ASHES_] Your _memorable_ _sayings_ are _proverbs of dust_. This is properly the meaning of the original: זכרניכם משלי אפר _zichroneycem mishley epher_. This he speaks in reference to the ancient and reputedly wise sayings which they had so copiousl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:13. _HOLD YOUR PEACE_] You have perverted righteousness and truth, and your pleadings are totally irrelevant to the case; you have travelled out of the road; you have left law and justice behind you; it is high time that you should have done. _LET COME ON ME WHAT_ WILL.] I will now def... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:14. _WHEREFORE DO I TAKE MY FLESH IN MY TEETH_] A proverbial expression. I risk every thing on the justice of my cause. _I put_ _my life in my hand_, 1 Samuel 28:21. I run all hazards; I am fearless of the consequences.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:15. _THOUGH HE SLAY ME_] I have no dependence but God; I trust in him alone. Should he even destroy my life by this affliction, yet will I hope that when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. In the common printed Hebrew text we have לא איחל _lo ayachel, I will NOT hope_; but the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:16. _HE ALSO_ SHALL BE _MY SALVATION_] He will save me, _because_ I trust in him. _A HYPOCRITE_] A _wicked man_ shall never be able to stand before him. I am conscious of this, and were I, as you suppose, _a secret_ _sinner_, I should not dare to make this appeal.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:18. _BEHOLD NOW, I HAVE ORDERED_] I am now ready to come into court, and care not how many I have to contend with, provided they speak truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:19. _WHO_ IS _HE_ THAT _WILL PLEAD WITH ME?_] Let my accuser, the _plaintiff_, come forward; I will defend my cause against him. _I SHALL GIVE UP THE GHOST._] I shall cease to breathe. Defending myself will be as respiration unto me; or, While he is stating his case, I will be _so sile... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:20. _ONLY DO NOT TWO_ THINGS _UNTO ME_] These _two_ things are the following: 1. _Withdraw thine hand far from me_-remove the heavy affliction which thy hand has inflicted. 2. _Let not thy dread make_ _me afraid_-terrify me not with dreadful displays of thy majesty. The _reasons_ of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:22. _THEN CALL THOU_] Begin thou first to plead, and I will answer for myself; or, I will first state and defend my own case, and then answer _thou_ me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:23. _HOW MANY_ ARE _MINE INIQUITIES_] Job being permitted to begin first, enters immediately upon the subject; and as it was a fact that he was grievously afflicted, and this his friends asserted was in consequence of grievous iniquities, he first desires to have them specified. What ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:24. _WHEREFORE HIDEST THOU THY FACE_] Why is it that I no longer enjoy thy _approbation_? _HOLDEST ME FOR THINE ENEMY?_] Treatest me as if I were the vilest of sinners?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:25. _WILT THOU BREAK A LEAF_] Is it becoming thy dignity to concern thyself with a creature so contemptible?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:26. _THOU WRITEST BITTER THINGS AGAINST ME_] The indictment is filled with bitter or grievous charges, which, if proved, would bring me to bitter punishment. _THE INIQUITIES OF MY YOUTH_] The levities and indiscretions of my _youth_ I acknowledge; but is this a _ground_ on which to for... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:27. _THOU PUTTEST MY FEET ALSO IN THE STOCKS_] בסד _bassad_, "in a clog," such as was tied to the feet of slaves, to prevent them from running away. This is still used in the West Indies, among _slave-dealers_; and is there called the _pudding_, being a large collar of iron, locked rou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 13:28. _AND HE, AS A ROTTEN THING_] I am like a _vessel_ made of _skin_; rotten, because of old age, or like a _garment_ corroded by the _moth_. So the _Septuagint, Syriac_, and _Arabic_ understood it. The word _he_ may refer to himself.... [ Continue Reading ]