Job 21

Chap. XXI. Ver. 1—34. Job, in reply, again insists upon the prosperity of the wicked, as an argument for a future state.—He introduces the subject by bespeaking their attention, that they might see a confutation of their doctrine: he, a man who feared God, and was thus afflicted, while the wicked grew old and great and prosperous; and he advises them to draw their consolation from the same source as he did—a future state. Then, from ver. 7 to 13, he describes the prosperity of the wicked in their domestic peace, the increase of their families and their cattle, which were the riches of those times, and the mirth of their young people; but then he admits that these things lead to impiety, and even atheism, and sometimes end in sudden death, by which means their families are often involved in great calamity.

But the manner of their end is not uniformly the same. One is cut off in a moment in full health, another by a languishing disease, (ver. 25.) They all, however, lie down in the dust together, and shall there remain till they are brought forth to judgment. “I believe, (says Peters,) that it will appear from the context, that by ‘the day of destruction and the day of wrath,’ can be meant no other than the future day of judgment; which, to the wicked and ungodly, is every where represented in Scripture as a day of wrath, a day of destruction and perdition.” ((2 Thessalonians 1:9); 2 Peter iii. 7; Jude 14, 15.) The chapter concludes with the language of remonstrance: “How then comfort ye me in vain,’ or, in vain attempt to comfort me, seeing in your answers, “there remaineth transgression ?”

that is, there is still a remainder of error, of moral error of a dangerous tendency, in confining rewards and punishments to the present life only: whereas, though God often from being universally the case; and hence the necessity of a future resurrection and a final judgment.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXI. Ver. 2. Let this be your consolation.—(That is, probably, * Let this [i.e. your hearkening diligently to my speech] be the consolations which you afford me.” Some render, “‘ Let this be your retractations - tanchumetheuchem, from nacham, to comfort, and also to repent. |—Bagster. Ver. 4. Is my complaint so man?—He means, his appeal was to God: but if it had been to them, still there was reason for his being angry.— Why should not my spirit be troubled?—See margin: i.e. Why should I not be angry? Heath, Scott. People in anger are apt to speak short. Ver. 13. In wealth.—Heb. “In good;” i.e. In earthly good.: t is the candle.—i.e. the lamp of life. Scott thinks this Ver. 17. How 0 should be prefixed to several of the following sentences, as word “ how oft,’ our translators have done to one of them: Ho 80 Dr.

Good. ‘; Ver. 19. God layeth up his iniquity.—See margin. But it has been asked, Whence could Job derive this doctrine, if he lived before Moses? We answer, in the conduct of Providence towards Ham, the father of Canaan; (Genesis 9:25-29) and Exposition; but the doctrine must always be taken with this exception, that children who renounce and forsake the sins of their fathers, are never punished for them.—He shall know it.—It may be said, “ How can he see his own destruction, or the destruction of his children?” We reply, By being forewarned of them by divine threatenings, as was the case with Saul, and others. He shall know it, by seeing its approach; thus he may “ drink of the wrath of the Almighty,”

even before it is poured out. Ver. 12. What pleasure hath he in his house (his family, which are to survive him) when he knoweth that the number of his (rather its) months is cut off?—That is, when he knoweth that his house shall shortly be destroyed? Ver. 24. His breasts. ‘The original word is Arabic, occurs only here, and is variously rendered. Our current translation, though doubtful, gives a good meaning, and corresponds with the context. The expression alludes to the Ver. 28. The dwelling places.—See margin. tent of the chief of an encampment. SA. w oft doth God distribute? &c. Ver. 32. Shall remain in the tomb.—See margin; i.e. of the sepulchral grotto. But how can the dead watch? It must be taken passively.

Parkhurst &c.; this agrees with toes. y says, “ they shall watch over his tomb, to keep it clean,” the verse following. 7 E Ver. 33. The clods.—Dr. Good, “sods;” a more poetic word. [A valley, with springs of water to keep the turf perpetually green, was accounted a happy sepulture among the Arabians.]—Bagster. BBs