Job 6

Job 6:2

LAid] Heb. lified up.

in the balances together] Oh, that my grief were laid in one balance, and my calamities in the other, to see whether my grief were immoderate, or no: or, oh that my miseries were weighed with some very heavy thing, as the sand of the sea, vers. 3. to shew how great they are.

Job 6:3

sea] Heb. seas.

my words are swallowed up] That is, I want words to expresse my grief.

Job 6:4

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me] Psa. 38. 2. He compareth his pain to a wound made by a poysoned arrow, shor deep into him by the hand of Almighty God.

the terrours of God do set themselves in aray against me] Psalms 88:15.

Job 6:5

Doth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse?] Think you that I cry without cause, seeing the brute beasts do not complain, when they have what they would?

when he hath grasse?] Heb. at grasse.

Job 6:6

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt?] Can a mans taste delight in that which hath no favour? Meaning, that none can take pleasure in affliction, seeing they cannot away with things that are unsavoury to the mouth, Hebrews 12:11.

Job 6:7

meat] Psalms 102:9.

Job 6:8

the thing that I long for!] Heb. my expectation.

Job 6:9

to destroy me] In vain dost thou, O Eliphaz, exhort me to hope for restitution, chap. 5. 24. for my estate is altogether deplorable, and I look for, and desire nothing more then death, chap. 2. 9. Thus good men may be weary of their lives, Genesis 27:46. 1 Kings 19:4. Jon. 4. 3.

Job 6:10

Then should I yet have comfort] Or, For it should yet be my comfort (and I would strengthen me in my grief, it, he would not spare me) that I have not concealed the words of the holy One.

let him not spare] But kill me.

I have not concealed the words of the holy one] I have religiously professed the truth to Gods glory, Psalms 40:10.

Job 6:11

what is mine end] The space of which remains for me, according to the course of nature, is so short, that there is no reason to hope for restitution to my former prosperity, Chap. 16. 22. Psalms 89:47. and Psalms 119:84.

Job 6:12

the strength of stones] That I should be able to bear misery any longer.

of brasse] Heb. hrasen.

Job 6:13

Is not my help in me?] Or, If there be no help in me, is wisdom, &c.

is wisdom driven quite from me?] Do ye count me a fool, because I cannot rid my self out of these great troubles? Ye should rather pity me, as vers. 14.

Job 6:14

To him that is afflicted] Heb. to him that melteth.

but he forsaketh the fear of th Almighty] Or, but the fear of the Almighty is forsaken. In condemning their brethren unritably.

Job 6:15

My brethren have dealt deceitfully] Eliphaz and his companions that come like brethren to comfort me. See v. 21. and others of his family and kinred, Chap. 19. 13, &c. Psalms 38:11. and Psalms 88:18.

as a brook] He compareth those friends, which comfort us not in misery, to a brook, which in summer, when we need water, is dry: in winter, is hard frozen, and in the time of rain, when we have no need, overfloweth with water.

Job 6:17

they vanish] Heb. they are cut off.

when it is not] Heb. in the heat thereof.

consumed] Heb. extinguished.

Job 6:19

of Tema] Tema and Sheba were places in Arabia, where they travelled with Caravans, and great companies, and had great want of water: so called of one of Ishmaels posterity, Genesis 25:15.

looked] They think to finde water there, but they are deceived, Jeremiah 14:3.

Job 6:20

were ashamed] Or, digged: To wit, to finde water elsewhere.

Job 6:21

For now ye are nothing] Or, for now ye are like to them. Heb. o it.

ye are nothing] Friends of no value, Job 13:4.

nothing] Heb. not.

ye see my casting down] Ye think God hath cast me down for some great wickednesse.

Job 6:22

Did I say] Or, was it because I said.

Bring unto me?] How would you have helped me with your money, that deny me good words?

give a reward for me] To redeem me from the enemy, as vers. 23.

Job 6:25

what doth your arguing reprove?] He that hath a good conscience, doth not shrink at the sharp words of reasonings of others, except they be able to perswade him by good arguments.

Job 6:26

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as winde?] Or, Do ye think that words reprove, and that the speeches of one that is out of hope, are winde? Chap. 15. 3.

Do ye imagine to reprove words] Do ye think that all your words are as so many sentences, and invincible arguments against me, and that mine are but frivolous things, Jeremiah 5:13. Hosea 12:1.

of one that is desperate] Of me that am cast down with troubles, without hope of restitution to prosperity in this world.

Job 6:27

ye overwhelm] Heb. ye cause to fall upon.

the fatherlesse] Me, who am destitute of all help, like a fatherlesse childe, whom all should defend, Psalms 94:6. chap. 22. 9. and 24. 3, 9.

you dig a pit for your friend] He sets out their cruelty against him by two things odious. First, by the undoing of a fatherlesse childe. Secondly, by digging a pit, not for an enemy, but for a friend to fall into.

Job 6:28

content] Or, well pleased.

look upon me] Consider my cause, whether I speak as one that is driven to this impatience through very sorrow, or as an hypocrite, as ye condemn me.

evident unto you] Heb. before your face.

Job 6:29

Return I pray you] Chap. 17. 10. and 19. 28. Weigh the matter more thorowly.

let it not be iniquitie] That is objected to me.

my righteousnesse is in it] I am righteous in this businesse.

in it] That is, in this matter.

Job 6:30

cannot my taste discern perverse things] A metaphor. For as the palate discerns harsh tastes, so the minde knows perverse things, chap. 12. 11. and 34. 3.

my taste [Heb. my palate.