Job 16

Job 16:2

MIserable comforters] Or, troublesome, Chap. 13. 4.

Job 16:3

Shall vain words have an end?] Which serve for vain ostentation, and for no true comfort.

vain words] Heb. words of winde, chap. 15. 2.

what emboldeneth thee] For Eliphaz did reply against Jobs answer.

Job 16:4

and shake mine head at you] Mock at your misery, as ye do at mine, 2 Kings 19:21. Psal. 22. 7, 8. Lamentations 2:15.

Job 16:5

But I would strengthen you with my mouth] Though I could mock, yet I would comfort you, and not do as ye do to me.

Job 16:6

Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged] It is true as true as ye say, my complaints bring no deliverance: yet if I should not complain, how should I ease my self? chap. 13. 13.

what am I eased?] Heb. what goeth from me? Or, how will it go from me?

Job 16:7

he] That is, God. Or, it, to wit, my grief.

thou hast made desolate all my company] My family. His children were destroyed, his wife was an enemy rather then a wife.

Job 16:8

which is a witnesse against me] That thou art angry with me.

Job 16:9

gnasheth upon me with his teeth] Psalms 37:12.

mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me] Looks thorow me with his eyes, as if he would pierce me.

Job 16:10

they have gaped upon me] My friends have mocked me boldly, v. 20. and others, chap. 30. 1, 9, 10. or, have assaulted me with open mouth, to devour me, Psalms 22:13.

they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully] Smiting on the cheek was a signe of reproach, Lamentations 3:30. Micah 5:1. 1 Kings 22:24.

they have gathered themselves together against me] They have filled themselves: they have glutted themselves with my sorrows, Exodus 15:9. or, they have filled themselves with matter to plead against me.

Job 16:11

hath delivered me] Heb. hath shut me up.

into the hands of the wicked] The Caldeans and Sabeans that took away my cattell.

Job 16:12

set me up for 〈◊〉 mark] Chap. 7. 20. Lamentations 3:12.

Job 16:13

His archers compasse me round about] Sicknesses and sores wound me to the heart.

doth not spare] Lamentations 2:2; Lamentations 2:21.

he poureth out my gall upon the ground] So that my life is in danger.

Job 16:15

I have sowed sackcloth] The sackcloth I put on for the losse of my children, cleaves to my sores, as if it were sowed on.

and defiled my horn in the dust] Psalms 7:5. My glory is brought lowe. A metaphor from beasts, whose strength is in their horns.

Job 16:16

on my eye-lids is the shadow of death] Mine eyes be dark, as if I were dying.

Job 16:17

Not for any injustice in mine hands] Chap. 31. 13. and 21. 28. Signifying, that he is not able to comprehend the cause of this his grievous punishment; for he was not guilty of injustice toward man, nor of hypocrisie before God, Isaiah 53:9.

Job 16:18

O earth, cover not thou my blood] If I have committed murder, let the earth reveal it, Genesis 4:10. Isaiah 26:21. and let not God hear my prayer in my misery, Isaiah 1:15.

Job 16:19

now, behold, my witnesse is in heaven] Though man condemn me, and I be in misery, yet now God is witnesse of my integrity.

on high] Heb. in the high places.

Job 16:20

My friends scorn me] Heb. are my scorners. Psalms 109:4. My sorrow is the more, because they are not strangers, but friends that deride me: having therefore no hope on earth, I pray to God to clear me.

but] Or, therefore.

Job 16:21

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour] It may be read thus; And he will plead for a man with God, and the son of man, for his friend; That is, Christ, who is God and man, will plead my cause with his father: he can prevail, because he is God; he will undertake it, because he will be man like me. Or, he desireth that a man might plead his cause before God, as an advocate doth for his client, chap. 9. 32, 33, &c.

neighbour] Or, friend.

Job 16:22

When a few yeers are come] Heb. yeers of number] I desire to have God cleer me quickly, that I may die with comfort, for I cannot live long.

go the way whence I shall not return] Chap. 7. 9, 10.