Job maketh a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties.
1I MADE a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon 1a maid?
1 Namely, to look upon her with unchaste and dishonest desires. Compare Mat. 5:28; 1 John 2:16.
2For what 2portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty 3from on high?
2 Namely, which God gives. Understand the punishment appointed by God for the unchaste. Compare Job 20 on verse 29. Some understand it of the reward of chastity, which he would lose and forfeit by unchaste actions.
3 That is, out of heaven. See Job 16 on verse 19.
3Is not destruction to the wicked? and 4a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
4 Hebr. strangeness, that is, which is rare, unusual and extraordinary.
4Dotha not 5he see my 6ways, and 7count all my steps?
a 2 Chron. 16:9; Job 34:21; Prov. 5:21; 15:3. Jer. 32:19.
5 Namely, God. Also verse 6.
6 See Gen. 6 on verse 12.
7 That is, does He not observe all I do or leave undone, to reward it graciously if it be good, or to punish it justly if it be evil? See Job 14 on verse 16.
5If I have walked with 8vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
8 That is, lies and falsehood, in dealings, contracts. Also Exod. 23:1; Deut. 5:20; Isa. 5:18.
6Let me be weighed in 9an even balance, that God may know mine 10integrity.
9 Hebr. in balances of righteousness, that is, let my mind, purposes, words and actions be duly searched and examined.
10 Namely, that I was no hypocrite, as my friends have taken and judged me to be.
7If my step hath turned out of 11the way, and mine heart 12walked after mine eyes, and if any 13blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
11 That is, from the rule and the precept of life, which God has set before us. He speaks of willful and presumptuous sins, in which they continue.
12 That is, has desired in an unrighteous manner what was pleasing to the eye and belonging to another.
13 Namely, of other men’s goods. Other, spot or stain; that is, any wicked action.
8Then 14let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my 15offspring be rooted out.
14 He wishes to himself the judgment of God, whereof we read in Lev. 26:16; Deut. 28:30, 33, 38, 39, 40.
15 That is, plants; what I had planted in the ground.
9Ifb mine heart have been deceived 16by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
b Job 24:15; Prov. 7:25.
16 Namely, to desire and enjoy her dishonestly or unlawfully, when I might have had the opportunity.
10Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
11For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished 17by the judges.
17 That is, deserves to be condemned and punished by the judges. Also verse 28.
12For 18it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
18 That is, it causes a fire, namely, that of Divine vengeance. See Job 22 on verse 20. For, as the fire does speedily consume the stubble, so does God’s wrath and righteous vengeance such wicked sinners. Compare Deut. 4 on verse 24 and Nahum 1:6.
13If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
14What then shall I 19do whenc God 20riseth up? and when he 21visiteth, what shall I answer him?
19 Namely, in my defense before God, that is, how would I be able to answer it before Him. For, the slaves (such as most servants were then) had no liberty in those days to bring any complaint against their masters before the civil magistrates.
c Psalm 44:21.
20 Namely, to judge between me and them; which comes to pass when God inflicts His punishments upon such unrighteous and cruel oppressors, either in this life or that to come.
21 That is, did punish. See Gen. 21 on verse 1; Lev. 18 on verse 25.
15Didd not he that made me in the womb make 22him? and did not 23one fashion us in the womb?
d Job 34:19; Prov. 14:31; 17:5.
22 Namely, my servant.
23 Namely, God. Other, hath not he prepared him in the womb after one manner? Or, in one kind of womb?
16If I have 24withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused 25the eyes of the widow to fail;
24 Namely, by not satisfying him according to my power. Hebr. If I have restrained the poor from desire.
25 One’s eyes are made to fail when He is made to wait and attend long for the good he desires; which is said by similitude of the eyes, whose vigor, if they look steadily and without ceasing after anything in vain, must needs grow faint and be consumed. Also Psalm 69:3; 119:82, 123; Lam. 4:17.
17Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
18(For from my youth 26he was 27brought up with me, as with a father, and I have 28guided 29her from 30my mother’s womb;)
26 Namely, the fatherless, of whom was spoken in the previous verse. Compare Job 29:16.
27 Or, brought up. Hebr. grown great.
28 That is, helped and assisted with comfort, good advice and compensation.
29 Namely, the widow spoken of in verse 16.
30 An hyperbolical expression; implying the first time of his youth, wherein God had infused into his heart such a tenderness and care in the widows’ and orphans’ behalf.
19If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or 31any poor without covering;
31 Namely, without receiving cover and apparel from me.
20If 32his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
32 Understand the loins of the needy, whom Job had covered and clothed with his fleece. The sense is: If he, whose loins were, did not thank Job, did not wish happiness and did not give praise, by reason of the ease and comfort he enjoyed by it. So the word blessed is taken Gen. 12:3; Deut. 24:13; 2 Sam. 8:10; Psalm 62:4.
21If I have 33lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my 34help in the 35gate:
33 Namely, to strike, or to beat, or to threaten, or to oppress him somewhat with violence. Compare 1 Kings 13:4.
34 Namely, because the judges would have been ready enough to pronounce justice on my behalf against them, for fear of my power and authority, or the desire of my friendship.
35 That is, in the place of judicature, or the tribunal, which were kept of old in the gates of the city. See Gen. 22 on verse 17.
22Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the 36bone.
36 Hebr. reed. Understand the upper-bone of the arm, extending from the elbow to the shoulder.
23For 37destruction from God was a terror to me, and 38by reason of his highness I 39could not endure.
37 That is, which God sends upon the oppressors of the poor.
38 That is, I had no power at all, namely, to stand before Him and to endure His avenging hand.
39 That is, by reason of His terrible majesty and immense power.
24If I have made gold my 40hope,e or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
40 Likewise is the Hebrew word taken Job 8:14; Prov. 3:26.
e Mark 10:24; 1 Tim. 6:17.
25Iff I rejoiced because my 41wealth was great, and because mine hand had 42gotten much;
f Psalm 62:10.
41 That is, riches and means. Also Gen. 34:29; Num. 31:9; Deut. 8:17.
42 Hebr. had found. Also Deut. 8:17, 18; Isa. 10:10, etc.
26Ifg I 43beheld the 44sun 45when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
g Deut. 4:19.
43 Namely, to render such divine worship as the idolaters are apt to do.
44 Or, light, that is, the sun; for, here are mentioned two great lights (also named in Gen. 1:16; Psalm 136:7), the sun and moon, with which beauty and operations the heathens were enamored that they yielded them divine honor, Jer. 43:13; yea, even the Israelites themselves 2 Kings 21:3; 23:4, 5, 11; Ezek. 8:16.
45 The idolaters have worshipped the sun for the most part, when it arose in its brightness, and the moon, when it was full; which here is called its walking in brightness.
27And my heart hath been 46secretly 47enticed, 48or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
46 Contrary to my public profession, which I do make of serving only the true and living God in spirit and in truth. See Deut. 27:15.
47 Namely, to exhibit them religious honor.
48 That is, that I brought my hand up to my mouth unto a sign of reverence and subjection. See of the idolatrous kiss, done in honor of the idols 1 Kings 19 on verse 18. See likewise Gen. 41 on verse 40.
28This also were an 49iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have 50denied the God that is 51above.
49 See on verse 11.
50 Namely, to give the honor, which only belongs to Him, unto the creatures; for both cannot be served together. See Joshua 24:22, 23; 1 Kings 18:21; Mat. 4:10; 6:24; 2 Cor. 6:16.
51 That is, Who is in heaven and from there regards, governs and blesses us. Also Deut. 4:39; 1 Kings 8:23.
29Ifh I rejoiced at the 52destruction of him that hated me, or 53lifted up myself when 54evil 55found him:
h Prov. 17:5.
52 That is, damage, experience adversity, ruin, destruction. Also Job 30:24; Prov. 24:22.
53 Namely, unto joy and merriment.
54 Namely, the evil of punishment, that is, misery and adversity. See Gen. 19 on verse 19.
55 That is, came or fell upon him. See Gen. 44 on verse 34.
30Neither have I suffered my 56mouth to sin byi wishing a curse to 57his soul.
56 Or, palate, that is, my tongue or mouth.
i Mat. 5:44; Rom. 12:14.
57 That is, by wishing him dead with a curse. Other, so as by a curse to desire his soul.
31If the men 58of my tabernacle 59said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
58 That is, of my house. See 2 Kings 13 on verse 5. Understand his family, men servants and maid servants.
59 It seems by this that Job was not only given much to hospitality, but likewise entertained his guests so liberally that he fed them with the choicest and daintiest of his flesh and meat; insomuch, that his household, wishing they might have the like daily entertainment, might come to say: O that we had, etc. Others are of the opinion that Job’s household and family feared, seeing Job so profuse in hospitality, they might in time be in want of meat to satisfy themselves. Others hold it to be a revengeful expression of theirs against his enemies, whom they were ready to have torn in pieces, if Job would have yielded to their passions.
32Thej stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors 60to the traveller.
j Heb. 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9.
60 That is, right over against the highway, so that I might receive the passing traveler in my house; or, for the traveller. See Job 6 on verse 19.
33If I covered my transgressions 61as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity 62in my bosom:
61 Compare Hosea 6 on verse 7. Other, like a man, that is, as men are apt to do.
62 Hebr. in or with loving me. Other, in my bosom, that is, by myself covertly or in secret.
34Did I fear a 63great multitude, or did the 64contempt of families 65terrify me, 66that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
63 Namely, by my power and authority, that they would not have dared to reveal or discover my failings; so that I needed not to stand in fear of them, for any blame or discredit, which they might have brought upon me.
64 Hebr. the contempt, that is, those who were at least of all regarded in some families.
65 Namely, if having trespassed or forgot myself, I had been admonished or warned by any of them.
66 Namely, for manners, shame and fear. Other, yet I have kept myself quiet, and went not forth through the door.
3567Oh that one would hear me! behold, my 68desire is, that the 69Almighty would 70answer me, and that 71mine adversary had written a 72book.
67 The sense is: If I may not be believed in what I said, let my cause come to trial, and be judged righteously, but O, that I had a judge now, who, being informed of all, would judge aright. Compare Job 9:32; 19:23.
68 Hebr. my token. Other, my purpose.
69 Whom I wish above all others to be the Judge in this controversy with my friends.
70 Namely, why He afflicts me as such, knowing that I am not such a one as my friends characterize me. Compare Job 10:2; 13:22, 23.
71 Hebr. the man of my contention.
72 Containing the charges and accusations made against me.
3673Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as 74a crown to me.
73 Namely, rejoicing myself therewith and showing that, having a good conscience, I am sure enough that it could contain no solid proof to convince me of hypocrisy.
74 Hebr. as crowns, that is, as an extraordinary ornament. Compare Prov. 12 on verse 4.
37I would declare unto 75him the number 76of my steps; 77as a prince would I go near unto him.
75 Understand his accuser. To whom Job would be ready to discover all his course and actions, relying so firmly upon the goodness of his cause, that the adverse party would not be able to make any part of their charge good against him.
76 That is, of my words and actions.
77 That is, with a very courageous and undaunted heart. Other, as to a prince should I draw near him; that is, although he would be my enemy, nevertheless I would look upon him as a prince with cheerfulness, because of the assurance I have to gain the cause.
38If my land 78cry against me, or that the 79furrows likewise thereof complain;
78 Namely, as for revenge, forasmuch as I would have gotten and possessed it wrongfully. See similar phrase Gen. 4:10; Hab. 2:11; likewise see Job 8 on verse 18.
79 The Hebrew word properly signifies the raised ground or ridges between two furrows. Also Job 39:13; Psalm 65:10; Hosea 10:4.
39If I have eaten the 80fruits thereof without money, or have caused the 81owners thereof 82to lose their life:
80 That is, its substance or strength. Also Gen. 4:12.
81 Hebr. masters or lords, that is, possessors, or users.
82 That is, have oppressed and overcharged them by fraud or violence and tyranny. Or, and made to breath out the soul, that is, I have been the cause of their sudden death. Compare Job 11:20.
40Let thistles grow instead 83of wheat, and cocklek instead of barley. 84The words of Job are ended.
83 Namely, by a most exemplary punishment.
k weeds
84 Namely, those which he had spoken to his friends.