Job 11

Notes on the verses

Chap. XI. Ver. 3. Should thy lies.—Marg. “devices.”—Lowth, “prevarications.” To arise remember it as waters that pass away: above the 17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noon-day; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. Pr. 4.18. remarks, ‘The thee?’ (See (Job 7:20).) Dr. Watts here that is a word Scripture are not called wicked: saints in ” as if which belongs only to those who are far off from God; though a sinner before thee, I am ‘innocent’ he should say, “Thou from the accusations of villany and hypocrisy’ which my mistaken friends have brought against me.” Job adds, ‘‘Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.” On this the same amiable divine remarks,—1. That he looked not to second causes—to Satan, or to the Sabians, &c.

but 2. Faith to God himself; not to creatures, but to the Creator. afflicts not without reason: “Show me believes that God wherefore,’ &c.— There is a need be in all the sorrows which his people,” and many and important are the God brings upon may be learned therefrom. 3. A good man lessons which indeed we are all liable to fall wherefore it is that God under affliction is anxious to know profit by his afflictions; perhaps him, or contends with him; and that to the end that he may in the language of bitter- This chapter ends as it had begun, ness and despair: Job lies down in darkness—the darkness of the shadow of death; where, as Scott (the poet) beautifully translates his concluding words, “Where the light Is one eternal noon of dismal night.”

The speech of Zophar.—The three Chap. XI. Ver. 1—20. him, and become friends of Job, though they all turn against differ considerably in their style and character. his accusers, Eliphaz is mild and insinuating; Bildad, grave and satirical; speech, he winds up By a short Zophar, violent and severe. anions against Job. He condemns the arguments of his com consequently, as he professed relihim as a wicked man, and He advances, however, some subion, a decided hypocrite. time sentiments on the greatness of God, and on the vanity “Vain (empty) man would be and insignificance of man. psa ee eae Se ew ee Ee ee Ver. 6. That they are double to that which is.—Boothroyd: “For they far “They are as the do’ exceed the most profound knowledge.””

Literally: i. e. involved and mysterious.. feelings of knowledge,” i j i the infernal world. Ver. 8. Deeper than hell ‘—Heb. Shoel—the invisible, e } Ver. 10. Who can hinder him?—Dr. Boothroyd renders this very difficult verse thus: “If he seize, or bind one?—in Vulgate ‘And bring to judgment; who then can reply to him?’ The Hebrew word in the former verse means false, Ver. 11, 12. Vain man.—The H the word, in the latter verse, means in which sense it is applied to idols: hollow, and is applied to persons puffed up with self-importance. Scott (the poet) renders the verse: “That the proud may be made wise, - And the colt of the wild ass become a man.” Literally, ‘‘be born a man;” and so Boothroyd.

• As waters passed away,” Boothroyd. Ver. 16. As waters that pass away.— That is, the memory of thy afflictions will be wholly effaced, as the winter torrents are evaporated in summer.—Scott (the poet.) Ver. 13. Thou shalt dig.—That is, dig a foundation for thy habitation. Professor Michaelis understands this of his sepulchre: ‘‘Thou shalt dig (thy sepulchre) and calmly lie down.” Lowth’s Lect. Gregory’s note. Ver. 20. Their hope.—Not “shall be as,” but “their hope is,” the giving up the ghost—the last breath, which launches the soul into eternity.