1Job sheweth that wicked men often go unpunished, and die as all other men.
1WHY, 1seeing 2times are not 3hidden from the Almighty, do they 4that know him not see 5his days?
1 The sense is: If God indeed has always since the beginning of the world punished the wicked in this life here, as Eliphaz had affirmed in Job 22:15, 16, the same would have manifestly appeared, but it has not appeared. For, it pleases God to hide the times of His punishing. And therefore Eliphaz his saying cannot stand.
2 That is, the punishments, which God has appointed to send, or inflict upon the wicked at certain times.
3 Namely, before men. See Acts 1:7.
4 Those who are the true believers and God fearing persons.
5 Namely, in which here God punishes the wicked. Thus the day of the Lord is taken for that day or time, wherein God executes His judgments, Isa. 2:12; 13:6; Jer. 46:10; Joel 2:11. Compare Job 20:28; Prov. 6:34; 11:4, where they are called days of God’s wrath, vengeance, and indignation. Some take it in a general sense for the days of recompense over the good and the bad.
26Some removea7the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and 8feed thereof.
6 Namely, the wicked. Job gives the reason why he had said that the times of the punishments of the Almighty were hidden, which He executes against the wicked at the time known only to Himself.
a Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Prov. 22:28; 23:10.
7 Namely, the landmarks of their neighbor, which they capture with violence to enlarge their own inheritance. See Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Prov. 22:28.
8 Namely, openly in their own land, or even in the land which they have taken away from their neighbors, and that without having any fear towards anyone or to be punished.
3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they 9take the widow's ox for a pledge.
9 Which God forbids, Exod. 22:26; Deut. 24:6, 10, 12, 13, 17.
4They 10turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hideb themselves together.
10 Namely, by their haughtiness, insolence and the violence they practice everywhere, of which the poor and needy are afraid.
b Prov. 28:28.
5Behold, as 11wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: 12the wilderness yieldeth 13food for 14them and for their 15children.
11 That is, as wild asses, which are very wild, unruly and fierce among the wild animals. Compare Gen. 16:12; Job 39:5; Jer. 2:24; Hosea 8:9.
12 Other, the plain field.
13 Hebr. bread.
14 Namely, the wicked and oppressor.
15 That is, their children, family and servants who attend them at prey.
616They reap every one 17his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the 18wicked.
16 Namely, his young men or workmen.
17 Namely, of the wicked, that is, wherewith he feeds himself.
18 Who do not pay them their wages. Otherwise this verse may be translated thus: upon the field, namely, which is none of their own, they mow everyone his fodder, or the fodder of the same, namely, of the field; and, or yea, they gather the vineyard of the wicked, namely, whom they account wicked, or of him, who is as wicked indeed as themselves, whom they for all that, do spare as little as the godly. Or he calls the vineyard of the wicked, which the wicked has bereaved and violently dispossessed his neighbor of. Other thus, and the wicked gathereth the vineyard, namely, of others.
7They cause the 19naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
19 Namely, the poor laborer or workman, to whom they owe his wages.
820They are wet with the showers 21of the mountains, and 22embrace the rock 23for want of a shelter.
20 Namely, the foresaid poor workmen and laborers.
21 That is, the water which runs down the hills.
22 That is, to be safe against the discomfort of the air, of the cold, wind and humidity, they crawl into the caves, which are here and there among the rocks.
23 That is, without any place of shelter, or retreat, where in time of rain and thunder-storm they might hide themselves.
924They pluck the fatherless 25from the breast, and 26take a pledge of the poor.
24 Namely, the wicked.
25 Namely, to drive the mother onward to her slavish task; or, to make the little orphans a slave, to serve them afterwards, or to sell them into slavery.
26 That is, his clothes, or covering.
10They cause 27him to go nakedc without clothing, 28and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
27 Namely, the laborer or workman, as it appears by the sequel. Compare verse 7.
c Lev. 19:13.
28 Other, and they are hungry that bear sheaves, namely, the sheaves of the ungodly tyrants.
1129Which make oil within 30their 31walls, and tread their winepresses, and sufferd thirst.
29 Namely, the poor and needy work-folks, of whom see verses 5, 7, 10.
30 Namely, of the wicked.
31 That is, dwelling-places.
d Deut. 25:4; James 5:4.
12Men 32groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not 33folly to them.
32 The Hebrew word properly signifies the sighing and groaning of those who are oppressed. See Exod. 2:24; 6:4; Ezek. 30:24.
33 See Job 1 on verse 22. The meaning is: Though God permits such iniquities to be practiced, yet He does nothing unbefitting, or that were subject to any censure or admonition.
13They are of those that rebel against the 34light; they know not the 35ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
34 As well that which is innate as that which is to be gotten out of the Word of God, and the beholding of His works.
35 See Gen. 18 on verse 19.
14The murderer rising with 36the light killethe the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
36 Namely, of the day. See Job 17:12 and the annotation.
e Psalm 10:8, 9.
15Thef eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the 37twilight, 38saying, Nog eye shall see me: and 39disguiseth40his face.
f Prov. 7:8, 9.
37 Understand the evening twilight, of which see 2 Kings 7 on verse 5.
38 Namely, by himself, that is, thinking in his heart. See Gen. 20 on verse 11.
g Psalm 10:11.
39 That is, he masks himself, that he may not be discovered.
40 Hebr. properly, a hiding.
16In the dark 41they dig through houses, which 42they had 43marked for themselves in the daytime: theyh44know not the light.
41 Namely, the murderer, of whom is spoken in verse 14.
42 Namely, the murderer and his associates.
43 That is, which, spying on their neighbors’ goods, they had marked off to break through by night and to overpower the same.
h Job 38:15; John 3:20.
44Not to know at this place is not to desire or inquire after, but to hate and flee away for fear of being discovered and apprehended. Compare Jer. 8:7; Rom. 3:17.
17For the morning is to 45them even 46as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the 47terrors of the shadow of death.
45 That is, them all.
46 Understand, which is most dreadful and terrible, yea, as death itself. So also in the sequel. Compare Job 3 on verse 5; Job 10 on verse 21.
47 That is, such terrors as have come forth by the shadow of death.
1848He is 49swift as the waters; 50their portion is 51cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not 52the way of the vineyards.
48 Namely, the wicked man.
49 That is, awake, nimble, quick, namely, that he makes all the speed he can to escape by sea in ships, if once he is discovered in his thievery, or else, that he is exercising robbery and piracy at sea. Or, as some perceive that they are as quick, speedy and expedite in their thievish practices as a ship upon the waters.
50 Understand the wicked’s portion, of whom he speaks here in the plural number, though in the previous and subsequent part of this verse he had used the singular. It is a permutation of the number. Also verse 23; Job 32:8. Compare Job 21 on verse 10.
51 The habitations or dwelling places, which such highway robbers have on land, are commonly very barren, desolate, wild and unbuilt places. Such land is called cursed, Gen. 3:17. Contrariwise, that which is a cultivated, fruitful land is called blessed, Gen. 27:27. Or, understand in general that they are cursed of God and all men, together with all they have.
52 Understand the public road, which leads along and through the inhabited and populated land, and is walked on by many.
1953Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.
53 That is, as the snow waters, which are sharp and penetrating, being fallen upon a dry ground, are easily absorbed and consumed by the heat of the day; thus many sinners, when their dying day is come, are soon gone and easily departed, without any long and lingering diseases to torment them. Thus he describes the outward felicity, which the wicked enjoy in their very deaths, according to the world’s account.
20The 54womb shall forget him; 55the worm shall feed sweetly on him; 56he shall be no more remembered; and 57wickedness shall be broken as a tree.
54 That is, his mother, who had carried him, namely the wicked, in her womb, and brought him into the world, shall have him no more in remembrance; both in regard of the great sins, which he has committed in his life, as also, because that therefore he shall not remain esteemed by the godly.
55 That is, death, which breeds the worms in the body, is full of ease unto him, and like a sweet rest and sleep, as putting the body to no manner of pain before the judgment day to come. Compare Job 21:33.
56 That is, one lets him alone where he is, without thinking more of him, so that his body enjoys peace and quiet in the grave as well as others.
57 That is, the unrighteous one. Also Psalm 107:42. Likewise Prov. 13:6 sin for sinner, Prov. 14:1 folly for foolish. See also Job 35 on verse 13. The meaning is, that such as practice perverseness and evil, happen oft to die with as much ease, as a dry stick of wood is broken asunder, without any great and long pains or agony.
21He evil 58entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
58Evil entreateth is here taken for troubling, molesting, wronging, burdening, afflicting or bruising; as the word is likewise translated by others. Or, He feedeth away, that is, devours. In this sense the Hebrew word is likewise used Psalm 49:14; 80:13; Jer. 2:16; 6:3; 11:6.
22He 59draweth also 60the mighty with his power: 61he riseth up, and no man 62is sure of life.
59 Namely, under his force. He speaks about the wicked oppressor.
60 That is, who have supremacy, either by authority, or riches, or friends, or force and strength of the body. Therefore, the wicked attacks, not only the insignificant, poor, abandoned and weak ones, but likewise on others who have power through some repute. Compare Job 9:24.
61 That is, he is no sooner risen in the morning, but he goes on in his mischievousness, that everyone must stand in fear of being wronged or ruined by him. Other, he exalteth himself, namely, to damage the mighty.
62 Hebr. one believeth not in life. See the similar expression Deut. 28:66. See in the annotation there.
2363Though it be given 64him to be 65in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his 66eyes are upon 67their ways.
63 Other, Give him God what serveth for safety, whereon he relieth.
64 Namely, the wicked.
65 That is, in a prosperous condition of this life.
66 Understand God’s eyes.
67 Namely, the wicked, in order that He punishes them in this life or in that to come. Understand by these ways, their purposes, words and actions.
2468They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are 69taken out of the way as all other, and 70cut off as 71the tops of the ears of corn.
68 Job confesses that indeed the power and excellence of the wicked is not long lasting, in regard the life of man is but short here, but he declares immediately, that their death outwardly differs not from the death of other men, yea, it happens to them mostly without prolonged vexation. Compare Eccl. 2:16.
69 Namely, into the grave.
70 That is, very suddenly, easily, without any labor as it were, and therefore also without any great painfulness unto the wicked themselves.
71 Hebr. the head.
25And 72if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
72 That is, if anyone thinks that my saying is not true.