Job 19

Job finds fault with his friends for their being uncivil and unmerciful towards him, v.1. &c. And having no regard to his sufferings, 6. Wherein he seemed to be forsaken, 7. He describeth the greatness and variety of his sufferings, 8. Exhorteth his friends to have compassion on him, 21. Wisheth, that his sufferings and his words, uttered therein, might be recorded forever, 23. He comforteth himself with his Redeemer and the Resurrection of the body, 25. Exhorteth his friends to their duty, 28.

1. But Job answered, and said;

2. How long will ye make sad my soul, and bruise me with words? [i.e. disturb and dull me with your prating and babbling. Or, oppress me with groundless and hostile charges.]

3. Ye have put me to shame now ten times; [i.e. very often a certain number for an uncertain: and thus the number of ten is often used. See Gen.3.on v.7.] ye are not ashamed, ye harden yourselves against me. [or, grow stiff, in that ye contend so impundently and obstinately with me. Otherw. That ye carry yourselves so strangely towards me.]

4. But also, be it indeed, that I have erred; [i.e. admit, put case, that through mistake, or weakness I may have slipt, or forgot my self.] Mine error shall tarry (all) night with me. [i.e. my fault, if any there be, doth touch my self, not you: ye need not trouble yourselves for the same, let me alone and unmolested, that I may reconcile my self with God, and wait on the issue, without going on thus to revile and slander me.]

5. If indeed ye exalt your selves against me, [or, make your selves great. i.e. are stoutly and spightfully set against with big words and bitter insultings. The Hebrew word is likewise so taken, Psal.35.26. Jerem.48.26. Lam.1.9. Ezek.35.13. Zeph.2.8.] And drive my reproach against me: [i.e. go about with such eager contending to convince me of that whereof I should be ashamed, or which is accompanied, or will be followed with my reproach. Reproach, for that which causeth it. Compare below chap.20.3. and the annotation upon the word shaming.

6. Know now that God hath overthrown me; [or, bowed me, i.e. by manifold afflictions wholly beaten down and ruined me. He would have his friends to consider that he was humbled in an extraordinary manner by the hand of God, and therefore they should rather commiserate & comfort him, then fall out with him so reproachfully, and aggravate his affliction with passing such perverse judgement upon it. Compare chap.6.v.11.14,15,16.] And surrounded me (with) his net. [or, over me, i.e. he hath so environed and encompassed me with all manner of plagues and miseries, that I am not able to make an escape, just as if I were beset round about with snares, that cannot be avoided. See of the same comparison above chap.18.8. and below 22.10. Item Lam.1.13. Ezek.12.13. and 32.3. Hos.7.12.]

7. Behold I call violence, [i.e. I protest, that I am violently dealt withal, that notwithstanding my piety, I am so rigorously punished by God, and so reproachfully condemned and mocked by my friends; ye appealing to God cannot be heard nor helped. See the like expressions, Jer.20.8. Hab.1.2.] Yet am not heard: i cry out, yet there is no right. [viz. Neither before nor after, whereby my cause might be pleaded, and come to some issue, that I might be delivered at length out of this misery. Thus the godly are sometimes in a manner forsaken under their cross, because not feeling the present assistance of God, they seem to faint even to despair under the burden of the afflictions, Psa.13.2. and 88..15. Lam.3.8. Hab.1.2. Which happened likewise to Christ himself, the head of the faithful, Psalms 22:3.]

8. He hath walled up my way, [Compare with this above chap.3.23. and Lam.3.7,9. The meaning is that he was round about so begirt and hemed in with all manner of misery, that he saw not the least gap for any escape. Compare above v.6. the last annot. And Hos.2.5.] That I cannot pass through: and over my paths hath he set darkness. [Compare above chap.3.on v.23.]

9. Mine honour he hath plucked off from me, [i.e. he hath dispossessed and bereaved me of all my former estate, means, worth and authority. The word honour is taken in this sense, Psalms 7:6. Isa.16.14. and 21.16. Compare Gen.31.on v.1.] And the Crown of my head he hath taken away. [understand by the Crown, whatsoever served him for his glory, and ornament. So this word is taken, below chap.31.36. Prov.4.9. and 12.4. and 14.24. and 16.31. and 17.6. Lam.5.16. Ezek.21.26.]

10. He hath broken me down round about, [understand this of the loss of his goods, which he had suffered on all hands.] So that I pass away; [i.e. go to decay and perish.] And hath removed [Heb. Made to depart.] Mine expectation, [understand hereby the hope of his everlasting welfare, he ever cleaved fast to that, as is to be seen, above chap.13.15,16. And below in this chap.v.25.26,27.] Like a tree. [i.e. he hath taken me up by the roots and carried me away: for as there is no hope for a tree, that is rooted up, and left so, that ever he should grow and flourish again; so saith Job, he was out of all temporal welfare, that there was no hope left for his recovering.]

11. Besides, he hath kindled his anger against me, and accounted me by him, as his enemies. [Thus the flesh judgeth, when God doth but try and chastise his children. So above chapter 13.on verse 24.]

12. His troops are arrived together [hereby he understandeth the manifold plagues and troubles, that were come upon him, above chap.1. and 2. Yea his friends themselves, who by their perverse judging, and bitter speaking did very much afflict and vex him, above v.2.and 3. And have made plain their way against me. [viz. Accord to the manner of hoasts and armies, who being about to subdue a City by siege, lay all the rubs and obstacles level round about it, for to facilitate their passage and communication, and the better to make their approaches for the speedy subduing and mastering of the City. Heb. Properly raised up.] And have leaguered themselves round about my Tent.

13. My brethren he hath put far away from me: [understand his carnal kindred, or the spiritual also, from whom, because of the unity of faith he might have expected some brotherly consolation. See Gen.13.on v.8.] And those that know me, assuredly they are estranged from me. [i.e. without all peradvernture, as it doth plainly appear now. Oth. Onely they enstrange themselves from me, i.e. they knew not how to do him any other service in this sad condition of his, but to eschew and shun him, as not knowing by what means to help him.]

14. My near (friends) cease. [Oth. Fail, viz. To risit me and comfort me, and to shew me that reciprocal kindness, which one friend doth owe to another, in such straights.] And my acquaintance forget me.

15. My household [or, the inhabitants of my house: or those which converse in my house. The Hebrew word seemeth to be general; betoken not only those that are constants inhabitants of the house, and of the household, but those also which repair to it and converse, there as good friends & acquaintance.] And my serving maids count me a stranger. I am a foreigner in their eyes, [i.e. they hold and count me for one that hath no relation to them, and with whom they have nothing to do. See above chap.18.on v.3.]

16. I called my servant and he answered me not: I besought him with my mouth. [viz. That he would some thing for me. He did not only bid him as Master of the family, but intreated him likewise as one of his equals.]

17. My breath is strange to my wife: [Heb. My spirit So above 9.18. The sense is that his wife turned her self away from him, as from one that had a stinking breath, and consequently did loath and shun him, and refused him all due help and service.] And I beseech for the childrens sake of my belly. [i.e. for that natural affection and tenderness, which I conceived she might have yet unto me, by reason of the children which formerly we had gotten, and brought up together.]

18. Also the young children [thus the Hebrew word taken, below 21.11. Oth. The perverse or unrighteous, as above chap.16.v.11. Despise me if I arise, [viz. To make them quiet, hold their peace, and cease from evil language. Or else for to allure them unto me with kind and courteous speeches.] Then do they speak against me.

19. All (the) men of my secret Counsel. [understand those whom he was wont to trust with his secrets, and to consult with about his most private affairs.] Do abbor me, and those whom I loved are turned against me.

20. My bones cleave to my skin and to my flesh: [his meaning is, that all the moisture and vigour of his life was so consumed and dried up, that he had but little left him beside the skin, and the bones, which together with the skin, and the small remnant of flesh, stuck out so, that they seemed not to grow there, but to be tied and fastened together. Compare Psalms 102:6.] And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. [that is to say, the LORD had in that manner seized his body; that there was nothing left entire but the skin, which is about the teeth or gums, or about the lips, which cover the teeth, implying that he was nothing but a meer skeleton or pack of bones, covered over with the skin, and had scarce any thing whole or sound about him, but his mouth to speak withal.]

21. Have pity on me, have pity on me, O ye my friends, for the hand of God hath seized me. [i.e. extreamly afflicted & plagued me in my body, friends and substance. See Gen.26.on v.11. Thus our Saviour is called, the seized of God, Isa.53.4. i.e. greatly afflicted by God.

22. Why do ye persecute me like God, [i.e. as God doth persecute me, as if ye had or could challenge the same right over me.] And are not satisfied with my flesh? [i.e. why is it not sufficient for you, that my flesh is consumed by my suffering, that ye must needs afflict my spirit too, with your perverse doom and yile slanderings.]

23. O that [Heb. Who shall give that, and so in the sequel of this verse. See above 11.on v.8.] My words now were written down. Oh! That they were likewise entered into a book?

24. That they were hewen into a rock forever, with an lion graver and lead, [viz. Which being melted and powered out unto the cuts made by the iron grave in the rock, might the better set out and shew the laid cuts. Some do understand by the lead here, a leaden plate, which should likewise have his words cut or ingraven upon it.]

25. For I know my Redeemer liveth, [His meaning is; Since I am so miserable at present, and am besides made suspected as one neither fearing God, nor trusting in him, above chap.18.21. though I have declared my self formerly in that behalf, above chap.13.15,16. Yet do I solemnly declare now, that I do believe the promised Messia to be my Saviour, who shall raise me up at last day unto eternal life. The word Redeemer, Heb. Goel, betokeneth the promised Messia, our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. Compare Genesis 48:16. Isaiah 59:20.] with the annotation, and see further of the use of this word. Levit.25.25. &c. And Ruth.2.20. and 3.9,12,&c.] and he shall rise up the last [i.e. at the last, or, the last (day) or, the last, i.e. he that shall be the last and final Judge of all] over the dust. [the meaning is. He shall shew himself most glorious at the last day over, or upon all those that lay in the dust, or earthly graves, by raising them up from the dead, to judge them, and take his, of whom I am one, up with him, into everlasting Salvation. Some take these words thus; and the last (man namely) shall rise up sprout of the dust, i.e. all men shall rise to the very last man. Some conceive, that Job speaketh here of his own resurrection, and read the words in this manner: and this (viz. Body, or flesh, as in the next verse) shall rise at last upon the dust.]

26. And when they, [viz. The worms and vermine, which shall gnaw, and consume my skin and whole body in the grave.] after my skin, [i.e. after they shall have eaten up and made an end of my skin.] shall have gnawed this through; [Understand the rest of his body, which he pointed at in speaking, with his finger; as if he should have said, This wretched flesh, and these feeble bones, which are covered with this skin. The meaning is, that the worms should gnaw thorough and consume, not only his skin, but his flesh and bones also, or his whole body; and notwithstanding that, he should recover all again in the resurrection, to see his God therein.] I shall behold God [viz. The LORD Christ, God revealed in the flesh, and visibly appearing then in great Majesty, coming to Judgement.] out of my flesh.

27. Whom I shall behold for me. [i.e. for my own good, or, to mine everlasting joy and salvation] and mine eyes shall see, and not a strangers: [viz. No strange man, body, or eye, i.e. I shall not behold him with any other body or eyes, but my own, even as I shall rise again with my own body, and not with a new created one. See 1 Cor.15.verse 53.] my reines [the Reines are often taken in Scripture for the inmost disposition; as the affections, inward motions and desires of man. So here and Psalms 7:10. and 26.2. Proverbs 23:16. Jerem.12.2. &c. Compare below 38.on verse 36.] long much [or consume, viz. With longing i.e. my desires and longings are so fervent within me, for to behold my LORD and Saviour once, that they are even ready to make me faint and consume. Thus the Hebrew word is taken. 2 Samuel 13:39. Psalms 84:3. & 119.81,123. And 139.13.] in my bosom. [understand the inmost part of man. So this word is taken, Eccles.7.9.]

28. Verily, ye should say; [i.e. ye ought to say] Wherefore do we persecute him? Seeing the root of the matter is found in me. [i.e. seeing, that the first matter and ground of our difference, is the affliction which God sent upon me, in regard whereof ye ought rather to commiserate me, then to fall so reproachfully upon me. Or, understand by the root of the matter, the main ground of the difference, comprehending the solid reasons, which ought to end the dispute, and which were found not in theirs, but in his arguings. Also by this Root, there may be understood, that excellent confession of faith, which Job had made, and ought to have satisfied his friends, to count him no longer an Hypocrite.]

29. Be ye afraid because of the Sword; [Hebr. From the face of the Sword; He nameth one sort of punishments wherewith God visiteth the impenitent, instead of all] for the fierceness [understanding the fierce Wrath of God, which doth reveal it self over the unrighteousness of men, Romans 1:18. See 2 Chron.28.on verse 13. Oth. (such) fierceness, viz. As the friends of Job did shew against him (is one) of the iniquities of the Sword, or, bringeth with it the punishments of the sword] is (over) the iniquities of the sword; [i.e. which deserve the sword, or some other destructive judgement.] that ye may know, there is a judgement. [viz. With God, who doth punish sins, either in this life, or in that to come, or in both together.]