Job 10

Job renewing his complaints, turneth himself to God, v.1, etc. Rehearsing some points which he complaineth of, 3. And producing reasons, for the deprecating of his heavy afflictions, 9. He sheweth that his plagues are unavoidable, 13. Great, 16. And manifold, 17. Be wisheth himself unborn 18. And yet to be but somewhat comforted now before death should seize upon him, 20. Whom he describeth, 22.

1. My soul is vexed at my life; [understand at, or by reason of the miseries or wretchedness of his life.] I shall leave my complaint upon me; [i.e. I shall not give it over, but let the reins lose to it, that I may power out my heart with grief and lamentation] I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. [See ab.ch.7.11. and the annotation thereupon.]

2. I will say unto God, Condemn me not: [this word doth signify to declare one unrighteous, or, punishable. See Deut.25.on ver.1. and so likewise, 1 Kings 8:32. Psalms 94:21. Proverbs 17:15. Romans 8:34.] make me know for what thou contendest with me. [i.e. what the reasons are of the controversy; for I have feared thee and served thee with a good conscience; and nevertheless thou hast suffered all this misery to come upon me.]

3. Is it good (for) thee [i.e. honourable, profitable, pleasurable.] that thou oppressest? That thou rejectest the labour of thine hands? [i.e. me, thy creature which thou hast made. The Hebrew word doth signify, such a kind of Work, as is most carefully wrought, not without painful and wearisome labour.] and givest brightness over the counsel of the wicked? [God is said to shine, or give brightness over a thing or person, when he doth bless and prosper the same. So below 29.3. comp. Num.6.on v.25.]

4. Hast thou carnal eyes? [Heb. Eyes of flesh? i.e. eyes of men, that judge by the outward appearance, and are carried away by passion, not heeding the truth of things, and the requisites of justice?] dost thou see as a man seeth?

5. Are your days as the days of a man? [the sense is, Have you need of time, like worldly judges, to take knowledge of matters, before you proceed to give sentence, or pass your judgement?] are your years as the years of a man?

6. That thou searchest after mine unrighteousness [viz. By these bitter pains, which I endure, and all the other afflictions which thou hast sent upon me; which are all of them as so many torments unto me, whereby thou seemest to rack and torture me, for to press the confession of my misdeeds out of me.] and enquires after my sin? [as though the same were not fully known unto there before-hand.]

7. It is in thy knowledge [i.e. Thou knowest it full well; compare this manner of speaking with Hosea 10:10. and see the annotation there.] that I am not wicked [i.e. no hypocrite, nor secret wicked wretch, as I am charged to be.] nevertheless there is none that delivereth out of thine hand [me namely, that am not guilty of the crimes my friends do charge me with.]

8. Thy hands put me to pain, although they made me: [the meaning is, that he hands of God, which had made Job, seemed now ready by these terrible affections not only to try and prove, but even utterly to destroy him. Others render the Hebrew word hatzab, to make, form, work, shape or fashion: and then the text might be read thus; Thine hands have wrought and made me, viz. With a great deal of art and care.] they are together round about (me) [viz. To put me to pain and anguish, or, to maintain and govern me in this life, since thou hast made me, Psalms 139:3. Acts 17:27,28. Oth. Together round about, all what I am, viz. Hast thou made] and thou doest swallow me up [this whole verse is likewise read in this manner. Thine hands have wrought me and made me; nevertheless thou swallowest me up together, round about. Or, and made me together, round about: and shouldst thou swallow me up?]

9. Remember ( I prey) that thou didst prepare me as clay, and shalt make me return to dust. [i.e. being descended by my parents seed from Adam, whose body was created out of the earth, and fashioned, even as potter prepareth or shapeth a vessel out of clay; and that thou shalt change me again to dust and earth; the sence is. Remember, that I am of a very weak and frail condition, and therefore deal more gently and tenderly with me.]

10. Hast thou not powered me out like milk, and made me run like cheese? [this is spoken by way of comparison, to express the most wonderful operation of the LORD, whereby mankind by Gods order apprinted in nature, is conceived in the Mothers womb. Comp.Psal.139.15,16.]

11. With skin and flesh hast thou clothed me: with ones also, and sinews hast thou plated me together: [viz. Like as the pales or fences about a close or garden, are bound in and plated together with withes, and the like. Oth. Covered me over.]

12. Besides the life, thou haste done kindness unto me: [i.e. thou haste not onely given me life, but likewise in the same, shewed many kindnesses unto me, as well in the preservation and maintaining of it, as in the continual governing thereof.] and thy survey [or, visitation, i.e. care or regard, inspection.] hath kept my spirit. [i.e. my soul, whereby I live.]

13. But these things thou hast hidden in thine heart: [i.e. these plagues and punishments, as if he said, thou hast indeed shewed many kindnesses unto me heretofore, but this evil that now doth come upon me, thou hast kept secret by thy self, and not revealed it unto me.] I know that this hath been with thee. [i.e. that thou hadst determined it with thy self, to send these great afflictions upon me, and to distress and grieve me in this sort.]

14. If I sin thou shalt observe me, [viz. To punish me. Compare below 14.16. & 31.4.] and of my misdeed thou shalt not hold me guiltless. [or, clean, otherwise the whole verse may be read thus. If I have sinned, shalt thou therefore keep the watch over, and not declare me guiltless of my misdeed? Compare above chap.7. verse 12.]

15. If I am wicked, wo (is) me; and if I am righteous, I shall not lift up mine head, [those are said to lift up their heads, which having received good hopes and encouragement, do yet expect something better, Luke 21:28.] I am full [satur] of reproaches; [i.e. I am overcharged and cloyed with reproach. See above chap.7. on verse 4. Otherwise. Be satisfied with my reproach, viz. Which I endure now, and see thee] but regard my misery.

16. For it [the misery namely] exalteth it self: thou chicest me like a fierce Lion; [a comparison taken from the Lions that hunt and chase the wild Beasts with great violence, rage and cruelty] thou turnest again, and settest thy self wonderfully against me. [he complaineth, that God had not only visited him, with one or two fearful plagues, but being returned a fresh upon him afterwards, he had shewed himself most strange and uncouth with divers other plagues in afflicting his person.]

17. Thou renewest thy witnesses [i.e. these plagues and punishments, which do bear witness of thy fierce wrath and indignation.] over against me, and multiplyest thy wrath against me: changes, [viz. Of afflictions, i.e. many sorts of miseries and wretchednesses, which are all by turns heaped and hoarded upon me. Other.extripations, as if he called his plagues thus, because they seemed ready to destroy him utterly] yea, an host, [so his miseries are called likewise, by reason of their multitude, power and cruelty.] are against me.

18. And why haste thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh, that I had given (up) the spirit [viz. In my mothers womb, before I came into the world.] and no eye had seen me [viz. Alive.]

19. I should be as if I had not been: from (the mothers) belly, should I have been brought to the grave [see above cha.3.on v.10.]

20. Are not my days few? Surcease: [viz. From punishment me thus] set off from me [forbear to besiege and surround me in this manner; Compare Psalms 3:7. Isaiah 22:7.] that I may refresh my self a little;

21. Before I pass away (and return not again) [viz. Into this temporal life] into land of darkness [i.e. into the grave, which it self also is called darkness below chap.17.13.] and of the shadow of death, [i.e. deadly shadow. Understand a very thick and dark shadow, united, or accompanied with death; such as is the shadow of the grave, and so in the next verse.]

22. A very dark land, as darkness it self, the shadow of death, and without orderings, [viz. Of day and night. Light and darkness, Summer and Winter, Spring and Fall, heat and cold. The sense is, that these enter changes of the air, and times and seasons, which here do follow one another by turns in their order, shall not be seen in the darkness of the grave, there being nothing else but disorder and confusion.] and it giveth brightness like darkness. [i.e. the brightest splendour that is in the grave, is nothing but a thick, palpable and ghastly darkness.]