Job 6 - Introduction
_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._ Job shows that he has reason to complain, Job 6:1. He passionately wishes for death, Job 6:8. Reproves his friends for their uncharitable censures, Job 6:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._ Job shows that he has reason to complain, Job 6:1. He passionately wishes for death, Job 6:8. Reproves his friends for their uncharitable censures, Job 6:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Job answered and said_ Eliphaz concluded his discourse with an air of assurance, being very confident that what he had advanced was so plain and so pertinent that nothing could be objected to it. Job, however, is not at all convinced by it, but still justifies himself in his complaints, and condemn... [ Continue Reading ]
_O that my grief_ The cause of my grief; _were thoroughly weighed_ Were fully understood and duly considered! O that I had an impartial judge! that would understand my case, and see whether I have not just cause for such bitter complaints. _And my calamity laid in the balances_ Would to God some mor... [ Continue Reading ]
_For now it_ That is, my grief or calamity; _would be heavier than the sand of the sea_ Which is much heavier than dry sand. _Therefore my words are swallowed up_ My voice and spirit fail me. I cannot find or utter words sufficient to express my sorrow or misery.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The arrows of the Almighty are within me_, &c. The sublimity of style, and beautiful vein of poetry, which run through this verse, are well deserving of the reader's particular attention. He fitly terms his afflictions _arrows_, because, like arrows, they came upon him swiftly and suddenly, one aft... [ Continue Reading ]
_Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass?_ &c. _“Grass_ and _fodder_ here are a figure of abundance and tranquillity, such as the friends of Job enjoyed. To _bray_ and _low_ refer to expressions of grief and uneasiness. Job therefore compares his friends, with some smartness, to a _wild ass_ exult... [ Continue Reading ]
_Can that which is unsavoury_ Or rather, _that which is insipid, be eaten without salt?_ Is it not requisite that every thing insipid should be seasoned, to give it a relish, and make it agreeable? Therefore life itself, when it has lost those comforts, which are the seasoning to it, and give it its... [ Continue Reading ]
_The things that my soul refused_, &c. “Job, persisting in his allegory,” says Schultens, “goes on to show how disagreeable to his stomach the speech of Eliphaz had been.” This learned critic accordingly translates the verse thus: _My soul refuseth to touch such things; they are to me as corrupted f... [ Continue Reading ]
_O that I might have my request!_ The thing which I so passionately desired, and which, notwithstanding all your vain words, and weak arguments, I still continue to desire, and beseech God to grant me. _The thing that I long for!_ Hebrew, תקותי, _tickvati, my hope_ or expectation. _That it would ple... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then should I yet have comfort_ The thoughts of my approaching death would comfort me in all my sorrows, and yield me abundantly more solace than life, with all that worldly safety, and glory, and happiness, for which thou hast advised me to seek unto God. _Yea, I would harden myself in sorrow_ I w... [ Continue Reading ]
_What is my strength that I should hope?_ My strength is so small and spent, that although I may linger a while in my torments, yet I cannot live long, and therefore it is vain for me to hope for such a restitution as thou hast promised me, Job 5:22. _And what is my end?_ What is the end of my life?... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is my strength the strength of stones?_ I am not made of stone or brass, but of flesh and blood, as others are; therefore I am not able to endure these miseries longer, and can neither desire nor hope for the continuance of my life. Bishop Patrick's paraphrase on this verse is, “God hath not made m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is not my help in me?_ Though I have no strength in my body, or outward man, yet I have some help and support within me, or in my inward man, even a consciousness of my sincerity toward God, notwithstanding all your bitter accusations and censures, as if I were a hypocrite and had no integrity in m... [ Continue Reading ]
_To him that is afflicted_ Hebrew, _To him that is melted_, or _dissolved with afflictions:_ or, as Dr. Waterland renders it, _To one that is wasting away; pity should be showed from his friend_ His friend, such as thou, O Eliphaz, pretendest to be to me, should show kindness and compassion in his j... [ Continue Reading ]
_My brethren_ That is, my kinsmen, or three friends; for though Eliphaz only had spoken, the other two had shown their approbation of his discourse; _have dealt deceitfully_ Under a pretence of friendship dealing unmercifully with me, and adding to the afflictions which they said they came to remove... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which are blackish_, &c. Which in winter, when the traveller neither needs nor desires it, are full of water congealed by the frost. _Wherein the snow is hid_ Under which the water from snow, which formerly fell, and afterward was dissolved, lies hid. So he speaks not of those brooks which are fed... [ Continue Reading ]
_What time they wax warm_ When the weather grows milder, and the frost and snow are dissolved; _they vanish_ נצמתו, _nitsmathu, ex cisi sunt, they are cut off_, having no fountain from whence to draw a supply. _When it is hot_ In the hot season, when waters are most refreshing and necessary; _they a... [ Continue Reading ]
_The troops of Tema looked_ This place and Sheba were both parts of the hot and dry country of Arabia; in which waters were very scarce, and therefore precious and desirable, especially to travellers. The word ארחות, _orchoth_, signifies companies of travellers or merchants, such as that mentioned G... [ Continue Reading ]
_They were confounded_ That is, the troops and companies were miserably disappointed; _because they hoped_ Comforted themselves with the expectation of water there to quench their thirst; _they came, and were ashamed_ To think that they should expect relief from such uncertain streams, and had decei... [ Continue Reading ]
_For now ye are nothing_, &c. Just such are you, who, seeing my calamity, afford me no comfort, and seem afraid lest I should want something of you. Thus Job very properly applies the preceding most beautiful description of the torrents in the hot climates, to his three friends who thus disappointed... [ Continue Reading ]
_Did I say_ Or, is it _because I said; Bring unto me?_ Give me something for my support or relief? Is this, or what else is the reason why you are afraid of me, or alienated from me? Did either my former covetousness, or my present necessity, make me troublesome or chargeable to you? _or, Give a rew... [ Continue Reading ]
_Teach me_ Instead of censuring and reproaching, instruct and convince me by solid arguments; _and I will hold my tongue_ I will patiently hear and gladly receive your counsels; _and cause me to understand wherein I have erred_ Show me my mistakes and miscarriages; for I am ready to receive your rep... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do you imagine to reprove words?_ What! is all your wisdom employed for this, to catch hold of and reprove some of my words, without making allowance for human infirmity or extreme misery? _and the speeches of one that is desperate?_ Of a poor, miserable, helpless, and hopeless man; _which are as w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye overwhelm the fatherless_ Your words are not only vain, useless, and uncomfortable to me, but also grievous and pernicious. Hebrew, תפילו, _tappilu, you rush_, or _throw yourselves_ upon him. You fall upon him with all your might, and say all that you can devise to charge and grieve him. You loa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now therefore be content, look upon me_ Hebrew, _Be willing; look upon me_, or, _to look upon me_, the second imperative being put for the infinitive. Be pleased to consider me and my cause further and better than you have done, that you may give a more true and righteous judgment concerning it; _f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Return, I pray, let it not be iniquity_ Or, _Recollect yourselves, I beseech you; call it not wickedness: yea, return again; my righteousness is in it_ Or, _Consider it yet again, righteousness may be in me._ Chappelow. Notwithstanding your suspicion, if you will examine more candidly and strictly,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is there iniquity in my tongue?_ Consider, if there be any iniquity, or untruth, in what I have already said, or shall further speak? Have I hitherto uttered any thing that is faulty? _Cannot my taste discern perverse things_ That is, my understanding, which judges of words and actions, as the pala... [ Continue Reading ]