_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._ Job's preface to his answer, Job 21:1. He describes the prosperity of wicked men, Job 21:7. Hardening them in their impiety, Job 21:14. He foretels their final ruin, Job 21:17. He observes a great variety in the ways of God, Job 21:22. He shows, that though sinners are alway... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Job answered and said_ It has been thought strange that Job should never resume the argument of a resurrection, which was so full of piety and conviction; but, when resuming the dispute with his friends, should stick to that he first set out with. Whether this be the case or not, we shall see i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear diligently my speech_ If you have no other comfort to administer, at least afford me this: be so kind, so just, as to give me a patient hearing: _and let this be your consolations_ I shall accept of it instead of those consolations which you owed to me in this my distressed condition, and whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is my complaint to man?_ No: if it were, I see it would be to little purpose to complain. I do not make my complaint to, or expect relief from you, or from any men; but from God only. I am pouring forth my complaints to him; to him I appeal. Let him be judge between you and me. Before him we stand... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mark me, and be astonished_ Consider what I am about to say, concerning the wonderful prosperity of the worst of men, and the pressures of some good men; and it will fill you with astonishment at the mysterious conduct of Divine Providence herein. _And lay your hand upon your mouth _ Be silent: qui... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even when I remember I am afraid_, &c. The very remembrance of what is past fills me with dread and horror. As Job well knew that the account he was about to give of the prosperity of wicked men, however necessary to his argument, would have something shocking in it to the ears of those to whom it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore do the wicked live?_ That is, long and happily: _become old?_ Namely, in their prosperous state: _yea, are mighty in power?_ Are preferred to places of authority and trust, and not only make a great figure, but bear a great sway? Now, if things be as you say, how comes this to pass? Where... [ Continue Reading ]
_They spend their days in wealth_ Hebrews בשׂוב, _batob, in good:_ εν αγαθοις, LXX., _in good things: in deliciis, in delights_, Arab. ver: that is, in the enjoyment of all the good things of this life without any mixture of evil. _And in a moment go down to the grave_ They do not die of a lingering... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore_ Because of their constant prosperity, _they say unto God_ Sometimes in words, but commonly in their thoughts and affections, and by the language of their lives, _Depart from us_ Let us not be troubled with the apprehension of our being under God's eye, nor be restrained by the fear of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?_ What is he to us? What excellence is there in him? What advantage have we, or can we expect from him? Strange that ever creatures should speak so insolently respecting their Creator, on whom they are every moment dependant for life, and breath, and a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lo, their good is not in their hand_ These words, says Chappelow, will be more consistent with what goes before, if read with an interrogation; namely, Lo, is not their good in their hand? that is, Is not every thing in their power? Do they not enjoy whatever they desire? To this purpose, he observ... [ Continue Reading ]
_How oft is the candle of the wicked put out!_ Or, _lamp_, that is, their glory or outward happiness. I grant that this happens often, though not constantly, as you affirm. This certainly best agrees, both with the use of this phraseology in Scripture, in which it always signifies that a thing is do... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are as stubble before the wind_, &c. That is, their destruction shall be speedy, certain, and irrecoverable. Thus he goes on to concede to his adversaries, “that wicked men are sometimes thus severely punished, as they in their speeches had been fond of representing; but then he had before sho... [ Continue Reading ]
_God layeth up_ Namely, in his treasures; _his iniquity _ Or rather, _the punishment of his iniquity;_ that is, He will punish him both in his person and in his posterity. _His eyes shall see his destruction_ That is, he shall be destroyed, as _to see death_, is to die, Psalms 89:48; Hebrews 11:5; a... [ Continue Reading ]
_What pleasure hath he in his house after him?_ As for what befalls his children when he is dead, he concerns not himself; he is not affected with their felicity or misery, irreligion commonly making men unnatural. And therefore God punishes both him and his children while he lives, Job 21:19. Or, t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall any teach God knowledge_ How to govern the world? For so you do while you tell him that he must not afflict the godly, nor give the wicked prosperity; that he must invariably punish the wicked, and reward the righteous in this world. No: he will act as sovereign, and with great variety in his... [ Continue Reading ]
_One dieth in his full strength_ In a state of perfect health, and strength, and prosperity; all which this phrase implies. _His breasts are full of milk_ The Hebrew word, עשׂין, _gnatin_, here rendered breasts, is not elsewhere used in Scripture, and therefore is translated different ways. Houbigan... [ Continue Reading ]
_Another dieth_ Another wicked man, or any other man promiscuously considered, either good or bad. _In the bitterness of his soul _ With heart-breaking pains and sorrows; _and never eateth with pleasure _ Hath no pleasure in his life, no, not so much as at meal-time, when men usually are most free a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I know your thoughts_ I perceive what you think and will object for your own defence; _and the devices_ Hebrew, ומזמות, _umezimmoth, machinationes pravas, the evil thoughts_, or, _wicked designs and contrivances; which ye wrongfully imagine_ תחמסו, _thachmosu, wrest_, or _violently force_,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have ye not asked them that go by the way?_ In these verses we have an answer to the preceding question; as if he had said, Even the travellers that pass along the road can inform you: it is so vulgar a thing that no man of common sense is ignorant of it. They can give you _tokens_, examples, or ev... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who shall declare his way?_ That is, his wicked course and actions, and whither they lead him; _to his face_ That is, plainly, and while he lives, as the same phrase is used Deuteronomy 7:10. His power and splendour are so great that scarcely any man dare reprove him for his sin, or show him his da... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet_ Hebrew, _And_, the pomp of his death shall be suitable to the glory of his life; _shall he be brought to the grave_ With pomp and state, as the word יובל, _jubal_, signifies. Hebrew, לקברות, _likbaroth, to the graves_, that is, to an honourable and eminent grave; the plural number being often... [ Continue Reading ]
_The clods of the valley_ Or, the grave, which is low and deep like a valley; _shall be sweet unto him_ He shall sweetly rest in his grave, free from all cares, and fears, and troubles, Job 3:17. _Every man shall draw after him_ Hebrew, _He shall draw every man after him_, into the grave; all that l... [ Continue Reading ]
_How then comfort ye me in vain?_ See then how ill you discharge the office of comforters, whose arguments have so little truth in them. Or, Why do you seek to comfort me with vain hopes of recovering my prosperity if I repent, seeing your grounds are manifestly false, and common experience shows, w... [ Continue Reading ]