XIV. (1) MAN THAT IS BORN OF A WOMAN IS OF FEW DAYS. — He now takes occasion to dilate on the miserable estate of man generally, rising from the particular instance in himself to the common lot of the race. It is not improbable that these words should be connected with the last of the former chapte... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN BRING A CLEAN THING... — How can man be clean that is born of woman, who is unclean? This question is reiterated by Bildad (Job 25:4). We ought perhaps, however, rather to render “Oh, that the clean could come forth from the unclean! but none can.”... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCOMPLISH. — Rather, _have pleasure in; rejoice at the day when his wages are paid him._ Job had used the same image before (Job 7:2). Job now proceeds to enlarge on the mortality of man, comparing him, as is so often done in all literature, to the vegetable produce of the earth (Isaiah 40:7; Isaia... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE WATERS FAIL FROM THE SEA seems commonly to have been misunderstood from its having been taken as a comparison; but there is no particle denoting comparison in the Hebrew. Moreover, the water never fails from the sea, nor do great rivers like the Nile or the Euphrates ever dry up. The comparis... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN DIE, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? — Why ask the question if it were absolutely certain that he would not? “All the days of my warfare — _i.e.,_ as long as I live — I will hope, till my change or transition from life to death comes, that Thou shalt call and I shall answer Thee, that Thou wilt long f... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NOW THOU NUMBEREST MY STEPS: DOST THOU NOT WATCH OVER MY SIN? — “It is sealed up in a bag, and Thou fastenest up mine iniquity. But persecution so persistent would wear out the strongest, even as the mountain and the rock are gradually worn away. How much more then must I be the subject of decay... [ Continue Reading ]