1Job entreateth God's forbearance in respect of the shortness and troubles of life, 5and of the certainty of death, which cutteth short man's hope: 13he wisheth for some place of shelter, where to wait his appointed change. 18All created beings are subject to corruption.
1MAN that is born of a woman isa of 1few days, and full of 2trouble.
a Psalm 90:5, 6, 9; 102:11; 103:15; 144:14; James 4:14
1 That is, has a short life. So likewise length of days implies a long life. See Prov. 3:2, and the annotation.
2 Or, unrest. Hebr. of trouble, that is, full of trouble, turmoil, sorrow and vexation, which ever and anon do seize upon him by reason of the many miseries of this life. Compare Eccl. 2:23. See similar speech in Job 7:4, and the annotation.
2He cometh forth like ab flower, and is cut down: he fleeth alsoc as a shadow, and continueth not.
b Psalm 103:15; Isa. 40:6; 1 Peter 1:24.
c Job 8:9; Psalm 90:6, 10; 102:11; 144:4.
3Andd dost thou open thine eyes 3upon such an one, and 4bringest me into judgment with thee?
d Job 7:17, 18; 10:20.
3 Namely, who is so wretched. For, man in himself seems to be too unworthy and despicable, that God, being of such an infinite Majesty, would be willing to be mindful of him, much less employ such might and force against him, to fall so grievously upon him with His punishments.
4 Or, implicatest me. Hebr. bringest me, or, makest me to come, etc.
4Whoe can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? 5not one.
e Gen. 5:3; Psalm 51:5; John 3:6; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3.
5 That is, no one is able to receive a man who is clean and without sin, being born of sinful man according to the common course of nature. Thus he confesses that he was likewise unclean and sinful, desiring that God would not be less gracious to him than to other penitent sinners, and would not punish him more than others.
5Seeingf6his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his 7bounds that he cannot pass;
f Job 7:1.
6 That is, the time of his life. Also Gen. 5:4, 5; 11:32, etc. Compare verse 1 and the annotation. In the same sense his months are to be understood in the words immediately following. Thus in Job 29:2 he calls the preceding time of his life months past.
7 Namely, of the progress and the end of his life.
6Turng8from him, that he may 9rest, till he shall accomplish, as an 10hireling,h11his day.
g Job 7:16, 19; 10:20.
8 Namely, from punishing and afflicting him in this manner.
9 Or, cease, namely, from grieving by reason of the great pains. Other, until he ceaseth, namely, to live, as the Hebrew word is taken Deut. 15:11.
10 He compares him to a laborer who is hired for a day or a certain time; in regard that men are ordained here for a time as God has appointed to him, to finish the work of their calling until they die.
h Job 7:1, 2.
11 Namely, the day of his death, as Job 15:32; that is, till being full of this life, longing to die and be translated into the eternal rest; as an hired laborer, who is wearied of his work, does solace himself, and takes pleasure in the hire of his labor, and longs for the rest of the night. Other, put off his day, that is, end his life; also would he call his entire life time but a day, as verses 1 and 5 days; and that in regard of its shortness, in which sense also the Greeks do call men hemerioi, that is, those living for a day. Otherwise the word day can likewise be taken here for a days-work, or the work of a set time; or of the end of an hireling or day laborer his day, when he comes to rest from his labor, and receive his wages.
712For there is hope 13of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will 14sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
12 The sense is, that a tree, being cut down, may come yet to sprout and grow again, but that a man, being struck down by many plagues and put to death, is not able to recover again the use and enjoyment of this life; and consequently, that in this regard man is in a worse and more wretched condition than the very trees, which he relates to move God to compassion, that He would vouchsafe him to enjoy some rest and refreshing yet in this life. Compare this with Job 7:7, 8, etc.
13 Or, a tree hath expectation, that is, hope, etc. Unto trees and other plants there is ascribed sense and passions, understanding and speech, but improperly and only by comparison; as it is also to those creatures, that have not so much as the vegetable life in themselves, as the abyss, the sea, stones, the earth, etc. to add the more perspicuity and luster to the matter treated of, and the better to rouse up the reader to due attention. See Judges 9:8, and the annotation. Likewise here as in the next verse 9, where the scent is attributed to the tree. See Job 28:14, 22; 31:38.
14 That is, renew.
8Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9Yet through the scent of water 15it will bud, and bring forth boughs like 16a plant.
15 Namely, by means of moisture, which he attracts out of the earth, whereby he is revived and comes to growth again.
16 That is, not otherwise than if it were the root of a young stem.
10But man dieth, and 17wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and 18where is he?
17 Other, and is destroyed, or, quelled. Or, but when a man dieth, he is destroyed. Thus the Hebrew word is taken in Exod. 17:13.
18 Namely, to be found in this earthly life; as if he said: It is done with him; there is no looking for him anymore in this life. See Job 7:8, 9.
11As 19the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
19 The sense is: As waters, being let out from one place into another, do not return again to the former, so the soul of man, being departed once out of the body, does not return again into the same, namely, to live again here on earth. Other, Do the waters run away out of the sea? And doth a river dry up and wither? 12. But man lieth down, etc.
12So man 20lieth down, 21and riseth not: 22till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
20 That is, dies; for, death is here compared to the lying down to sleep. See hereof Deut. 31 on verse 16.
21 Namely, to return into this earthly and transitory life.
22 That is, until the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, 2 Peter 3:10, and the first heaven and the first earth perish, Rev. 21:1, for, the resurrection from the dead shall first then take place.
1323O that 24thou wouldest hide me 25in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me 26a set time, and 27remember me!
23 Hebr. Who shall give that, etc. See Job 6 on verse 8.
24 He speaks unto God, being compelled to it by the excessive and deep sense of his suffering.
25 That is, cause me for a time to be dead and buried, that in the mean while Thy wrath, which is so fiercely kindled against me, might pass by, and I then rise up again out of the grave, to live yet for a while in rest and quiet here, to Thy glory and the instruction of men.
26 That is, a set time, how long I would remain in the grave.
27 Namely, by the raising up of my body again, to show a new mercy unto me. How remembrance is ascribed to God see Gen. 8 on verse 1.
1428If a man die, shall he live again? 29all the days of my appointed 30time 31will I 32wait, till my 33change come.
28 Here Job brings in this opposition to show that indeed he neither believed nor expected any such resurrection from the grave to an earthly and transitory life; for, this kind of asking infers a strong denial. See Gen. 18 on verse 17.
29 Understand the entire time that it shall please God thus to visit me here on earth.
30 Or, a warfare. Of the word time, see Job 7:1, and compare verse 5, and the annotation of the word bounds.
31 Namely, if it were so that a man might be made alive again.
32 Namely, if Thou wouldst hide me but for a certain time in the grave, to draw me afterwards forth out of it again to the quiet and peaceable enjoying of this earthly life.
33 That is, my resurrection to a new earthly or temporal life.
15Thou shalt 34call, and I will 35answer thee: thou wilt have a 36desire to 37the work of thine hands.
34 Namely, to rouse and raise me up again out of the grave, wherein I would have lain until the day of my change.
35 That is, obey Thy calling voice by coming forth out of the grave.
36 That is, Thou wouldst graciously accept this, and show favor and kindness.
37 Thus he calls himself. See Job 10:8; Psalm 119:73.
1638Fori now thou 39numberest my 40steps: dost 41thou not watch over my sin?
38 As if he said: I wish in vain that I may rest in the grave for a time, for as much as Thou hast determined to punish me most severely in this life for my sins, which Thou observest so closely. Compare Job 33:11
i Job 31:4; 34:21; Psalm 56:8; 139:2, 3, 4; Prov. 5:21; Jer. 32:19.
39To number the steps or goings of men signifies not only to look on them, but also to observe and take special notice of them, either to assure and to bless them, Psalm 56:8, or to condemn and punish, as here. See Job 31:4.
40 That is, all the intents and purposes, all the commissions and omissions of my life, be they ever so small. Also Job 31:4; 34:21; Prov. 16:9; Jer. 10:23.
41 That is, Thou dost take no care of my well-being, but seekest to afflict and ruin me, and for that end and purpose settest all my sins before Thee. Other, doest thou not keep watch over my sin? That is, dost Thou not take special notice of my sins to punish me concerning them? Or, Thou sparest nothing of my sin.
17My transgression is 42sealed up in a bag, and 43thou sewest up mine iniquity.
42 That is, closely locked up and kept together as it were under seal, in order that they would not slip out of Thy remembrance. Sealing for shutting up, locking in, close committing and keeping Deut. 32:34; Job 37:7.
43 That is, Thou dost weave and join unto my previous sins with the present ones also, to aggravate my cause yet further, and to punish me yet harder.
18And surely the mountain 44falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
44 Which things may come to pass by some earthquake, fierce winds, waterflood, or such like accident. The sense is: Even as a mountain, sinking or falling piecemeal to the ground, does come to nothing, and a rock is removed out of its place, and the water hollows out the stones, and inundates the dust of the earth which comes forth by itself, which is God’s doing, so it is yet easier for Him to overthrow and bring to nothing the prosperous state of man, who is far more weak and frail than the foresaid creatures.
19The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which 45grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
45 See of the Hebrew word 2 Kings 19 on verse 29; Isa. 37:30.
20Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he 46passeth: thou changest his 47countenance, and sendest him away.
46 That is, departs from here through death.
47 That is, the substance of his body, the courage of his spirit, that state of his life, the glory of his house, the greatness of his means, the renown of his name, etc.
21His sons 48come to honour, and 49he knoweth it not; and they are brought 50low, but 51he perceiveth it not of them.
48 Namely, by great prosperity, abundance of wealth, advantage of high places, etc.
49 Namely, as being departed out of this world, and thus can yield no comfort to him the well-being of his children.
50 Or, by adversity, poverty and low condition, etc.
51 Or, he doth not enquire after them, or, he taketh no thought for them, that is, being dead, he troubles himself no more about them. Compare Eccl. 9:5.
2252But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
52 The meaning is: that a man, while he is here yet on earth, is only sensible to the misery of this life and the adversities of his family.