Job 18

Bildad taxeth Job for talking much, v.1. &c. For his daring, 3. And anger, 4. He recounteth the judgements of God, that fall upon the wicked, 5. To the terror of them that come after, 20. Be concludeth with an asseveration of his discourse, 21.

1. Then answered Bildad the Suhite, and said:

2. How long is it, (ere) you will make an end of words? [i.e. how long will it be yet, ere ye make an end of your discourse? Hebr. Put ends to words? Bildad, as is conceived by many, doth speak to Job here in the plural number, comprehending together with him some of the standers by, that were of his mind and maintained his defence. Others are of opinion, that he addresseth his speech to Job and his own companions Eliphaz and Zophar together, checking them jointly of two things, 1. That they were too long in their disputes, 2.that they did not duely weigh one anothers arguments, before they answered the same. Others think, that he only taxeth his two friends here, for making too many words, and yet not redarguing Job with grounds sufficient.] Mark ye, [or, attend, give heed to, viz. The whole matter. So the Hebrew word is likewise taken, Ezra 8:15. Nehem.13.7. Prov.7.7. Oth. Make (us) to understand] and then shall we speak.

3. Wherefore are we counted [viz. I my self, and my two companions] As beasts [i.e. as dull, blunt, silly men, without understanding. He seemeth to reflect upon what Job had said, above chap.12.7. and 17.3.9.] And are unclean [as convicted of ignorance and perverseness, he seemed to have a regard to what Job had said, above chap.17.v.4. and 10.] In your eyes? [i.e. in Jobs judgement and account, together with theirs that held with him. To be in a mans eyes, is, to be accounted, or held for such and such in his judgement. So below chap.19.15. and 32.1. Prov.3.7. Isa.5.21. &c. Compare Levit.13.5. and the Annot.]

4. O thou, that teareth his soul through his anger: [he speaketh of Job in the third person: whom presently after he addresseth himself unto in the second. See the like enter change of the person, above chap.12.4. and 16.7. and 30.19. Obad.3. His meaning is, that Job through impatiency, extreamly weakened, wronged and destroyed himself] Shall the Earth be forsaken for thy sake, and shall a Rock be moved out of his place, [the meaning is that God would surely not alter his order for Jobs sake, having always kept and maintained the same in his government and judgements, by punishing the wicked and blessing the godly, which could no more cease, then the world be forsaken and the rocks removed?]

5. Ye the light of the wicked shall be extinguished, [as if he said, for all thy gainsaying it holds true and sure enough, that the wicked are punished: and consequently, thou being now punished, yea most fearfully deprived and turned out of all thy welfare, that thou art a wicked man indeed. By the light of the wicked he understands their prosperity in this life, consisting in honour, power, wealth, health, joy and pleasure, which many of them do enjoy here on Earth. The word light is taken for all manner of prosperity and joy. See Esther 8:16. & 22.28. & 30.26. & 38.15. Psal.97.11. Prov.13.9. Isa.59.9. etc. Compare here with above chap.11.on v.17.] And the spark of his fire shall not glister. [his, i.e. the wicked, or of every one of them. The sense is, he shall not enjoy fruition of the least of his weal or welfare. The word fire here doth signify the same thing, that light doth, i.e. outward success, prosperity and happiness. Compare Gen.15.on v.17.]

6. The light [See the precedent verse] Shall grow dark in his Tent [i.e. dwelling place, and so in the sequel, See 2 Kings 13.on v.5.] And his lamp shall be put over him [understand the same thing, that is said of the light in the former v. And so Psal.18.29. Prov.13.9. and 20.20.]

7. The steps of his might shall be straightened; [i.e. the strong and great success of his temporal power, and prosperity shall be curbed and weakened, that he shall not be able to mount so high or spread so far, as to enlarge and extend his power according to his unlimited and haughty presumption.] And his counsel shall throw him down. [i.e. he shall perish by his own devises, plots and practises.]

8. For with his feet he shall be cast into the net. [Oth. By his feet: i.e. he shall run and entangle himself by his own ways and wiles into or upon such dangers, as by the just judgement of God shall be prepared for him.] And shall walk in the reviled yarn. [i.e. he shall be in a thousand straights continually.]

9. The snare shall take him by the heels; [Oth. He shall apprehend the snare with his feet. i.e. by his own unadvisedness shall he put and enthral his foot into the Snare] The high-way robber shall subdue him. [See above chap.5.on v.5.]

10. His ginne is hid in the earth; [i.e. by Gods secret and righteous judgement so disposed that he must be taken by, and perish in it.] And his trap upon the path. [it is conceived that the Hebrew word rendered trap here doth signify a certain trap or engine which is set or spread by the way, to take birds or other creatures with.]

11. The troubles [viz. Of conscience within and other outward ones, which God maketh use of to plague the wicked withal] Shall affright him round about; and scatter him up and down through the multitude of his distracted thoughts, which shall pierce his heart through from within, See Isa.57.20,21.]

12. His might [understand hereby, all that, whereby he hath any power and authority among men] shall be hunger-bitten; [i.e. grow very faint and impotent, decay and come to nothing, Hungry or hunger-bitten, such are called, as are in any want, distress, or disability. Compare 1 Sam.2.5. Psal.107.9,36. Isa.32.6. Luke 1:53.] And destruction is ready at his side, [i.e. very near, or round about him.]

13. The first born of death [i.e. a fierce violent and fearful kind of death: of as the first-born was the chiefest among his brethren, and had most authority among them, so the first-born of death is called, that kind of death, which of all others is the most violent and terrible. So Isaiah calleth the first-born of the poor those that were the poorest of all, Isa.14.30. Or, by the first-born of death may be understood the Divel, having the power of death, Heb.2,14.] Shall devour the grates of his house; [understand the bones, whereby the skin is kept in plight and the whole frame of the body sitly sustained and supported. Oth. Members, or the branches i.e. the veins and sinews which are spread all over the body like twigs and branches, the Hebrew word hath various significants.] Its grates he shall devour.

14. His confidence [i.e. whatsoever he relieth upon. So the word confidence is taken above chap.8.14. and 31.24. Prov.25.19.] Shall be plucked out of his tent; [Compare above 8.13,14,15.] This shall make him to step. [or, thou shalt make him to step, speaking to God.] Unto the King of terrors. [thus death is called, because nothing terrifieth the wicked more. Or, we may understand the greatest and most fearful terror, as in the former verse by the first-born of death there is understood a most fearful and terrible death. Also the Divel himself may be understood hereby, whose dominion is full of terror, frights and slavery, Heb.2.15.]

15. It shall dwell in his tent, [That terror namely, or every one of these terrors. See 1 Kings 22.on v.15.] Where it is not his [Heb. Without being his, i.e. where it doth not properly belong unto him, viz. For that he had not set it up, by his own honest means, but with the substance which he violently or fraudulently took from others.] His dwelling shall be overspread with brimstone. [This seemeth to be a threatening of drought and barrenness of the land, Deut.29.23. Isa.34.9. It may likewise have a regard to the judgement that fell upon Sodom and Gomorra, Gen.19.24. and to put it the nearer home to Job, he seemeth to point at that, which had befallen his own Servants and sheep, they being devoured by fire from heaven, above 1.16.]

16. From beneath his roots shall wither, and from above his branch shall be cut off, [i.e. he shall utterly and altogether, like a tree whose root doth wither, and branches are cut off. The Hebrew word rendered branch here is likewise used in that signification, above chap.14.9. and below chap.29.19. and Isa.27.10.]

17. His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name upon the streets [Heb. Upon the face of the streets i.e. he shall not have repute or fame, or renown of a good and honest man, among others in public, and in common meetings or assemblies.]

18. They shall thrust him [Heb. They shall drive, or, expel him, i.e. he shall be driven, or, one shall drive him, life, or, out of all his dignities, prosperity, wealth and welfare. See above on v.5.] Into the darkness [viz. Of death and hell, as the following words seems to import. See the like example in the rich glutton, Luke 16:23. Otherw. The word darkness may be taken here for adversity and misery. See Gen.15.on v.12.] And they shall chase him out of the world.

19. He shall have no son nor nephew [or grand-child] among his people: and none shall be left remaining in his dwellings.

20. The posterity shall be abashed. [understand these that shall live after him] Over his day. [i.e. the day of his ruine and destruction, wherein God appointed to execute his just judgement against him. So Ezek.21.25. and thus by a human day there is to be understood a human judgement, 1 Cor.4.3. Compare above chap.15.32. and the annot.] and the ancient [or, the precedent. i.e. those that were before the posterity, and not only, lived yet. When he was in the height of his prosperity but survived likewise his fearful end and utter destruction.] Shall be seized with horror. [The Hebrew word doth signify such a kind of horror, as makes mans hair stand on end. So Ezek.27.35. and 32.10. The sense is expressed above chap.4.15.]

21. Verily such are the habitations of the perverse (man) and this is the place [i.e. the estate and condition. Compare above 8. The annot.on v.18.] (Of him that) doth not know God [i.e. that doth not regard God, nor care to have a right knowledge of his being, will and workings; to the end that he might please and serve him, Compare Exod.5.2. Jud.2.10. Psal.79.6. 2 Thes.1.8.]