CHAPTER VII _Job continues to deplore his helpless and afflicted state_, 1-6. _He expostulates with God concerning his afflictions_, 7-12; _describes the disturbed state of his mind by visions in the_ _night season; abhors life_, 13-16; _and, showing that he is unworthy of the notice of God, be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:2. _EARNESTLY DESIRETH THE SHADOW_] As a man who labours hard in the _heat_ of the day earnestly desires to get under a _shade_, or wishes for the _long evening shadows_, that he may rest from his labour, get his day's wages, retire to his food, and then go to rest. _Night_ is probably w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:3. _SO AM I MADE TO POSSESS_] But night is no relief to me, it is only a continuance of my anxiety and labour. I am like the _hireling_, I have my _appointed_ labour for the _day_. I am like the _soldier_ harassed by the enemy: I am obliged to be continually on the watch, always on the l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:4. _WHEN I LIE DOWN_] I have so little rest, that when I do lie down I long for the return of the light, that I may rise. Nothing can better depict the state of a man under continual afflictions, which afford him no respite, his days and his nights being spent in constant anguish, utterl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:5. _MY FLESH IS CLOTHED WITH WORMS_] This is perhaps no figure, but is literally true: the miserably ulcerated state of his body, exposed to the open air, and in a state of great destitution, was favourable to those insects that sought such places in which to deposit their _ova_, which m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:6. _SWIFTER THAN A WEAVER'S SHUTTLE_] The word ארג _areg_ signifies rather the _weaver_ than his _shuttle_. And it has been doubted whether any such instrument were in use in the days of Job. Dr. Russell, in his account of Aleppo, shows that though they wove many kinds of curious cloth,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:7. _MY LIFE_ IS _WIND_] Mr. _Good_ translates, "O remember that, if my life pass away, mine eye shall turn no more to scenes of goodness;" which he paraphrases thus: "O remember that, if my life pass away, never more shall I witness those scenes of Divine favour, never more adore thee fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:8. _SHALL SEE ME NO_ MORE] If I die in my present state, with all this load of undeserved odium which is cast upon me by my friends, I shall never have an opportunity of vindicating my character, and regaining the good opinion of mankind. _THINE EYES_ ARE _UPON ONE, AND I_ AM _NOT._] Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:9. As _THE CLOUD IS CONSUMED_] As the cloud is dissipated, so is the breath of those that go down to the grave. As that cloud shall never return, so shall it be with the dead; they return no more to sojourn with the living. See on the following verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:10. _HE SHALL RETURN NO MORE TO HIS HOUSE, NEITHER SHALL_ _HIS PLACE KNOW HIM ANY MORE._] He does not mean that he shall be _annihilated_ but that he shall never more become an inhabitant of the earth. The word שאול, which we properly enough translate _grave_, here signifies also the _s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:11. _THEREFORE I WILL NOT REFRAIN_] All is hopeless; I will therefore indulge myself in complaining.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:12. AM _I A SEA, OR A WHALE_] "Am I condemned as the Egyptians were who were drowned in the Red Sea? or am I as Pharaoh, who was drowned in it in his sins, that thou settest a keeper over me?" _Targum_. Am I as dangerous as the sea, that I should be encompassed about with barriers, lest... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:14. _THOU SPAREST ME WITH DREAMS_] There is no doubt that Satan was permitted to haunt his _imagination_ with dreadful dreams and terrific appearances; so that, as soon as he fell asleep, he was suddenly roused and alarmed by those appalling images. He needed rest by sleep, but was afrai... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:15. _CHOOSETH STRANGLING_] It is very likely that he felt, in those interrupted and dismal slumbers, an oppression and difficulty of breathing something like the _incubus_ or _nightmare_; and, distressing as this was, he would prefer death by this means to any longer life in such miserie... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:16. _I LOATHE_ IT; _I WOULD NOT LIVE ALWAY_] Life, in such circumstances, is hateful to me; and though I wish for long life, yet if length of days were offered to me with the sufferings which I now undergo, I would despise the offer and spurn the boon. Mr. _Good_ is not satisfied with o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse. Job 7:17. _WHAT_ IS _MAN THAT THOU SHOULDEST MAGNIFY HIM? AND THAT_ _THOU SHOULDEST SET THINE HEART UPON HIM?_] Two different ideas have been drawn from these words: - 1. Man is not worth thy notice; why therefore dost thou contend with him? 2. How astonishing is thy kindness that thou shou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:19. _TILL I SWALLOW DOWN MY SPITTLE?_] This is a proverbial expression, and exists among the Arabs to the present day; the very language being nearly the same. It signifies the same as, _Let_ _me draw my breath; give me a moment's space; let me have even the_ _twinkling of an eye_. I am... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:20. _I HAVE SINNED; WHAT SHALL I DO_] Dr. _Kennicott_ contends that these words are spoken to _Eliphaz_, and not to GOD, and would paraphrase them thus: "You say I must have been a sinner. What then? I have not sinned against thee, O thou spy upon mankind! Why hast thou set up _me_ as a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 7:21. _AND WHY DOST THOU NOT PARDON_] These words are spoken _after the manner of men_. If thou have any design to save me, if I have sinned, why dost thou not pardon my transgression, as thou seest that I am a dying man; and to-morrow morning thou mayest seek me to do me good, but in all... [ Continue Reading ]