Job 23

Job complaineth, that he is accused of obstinacy, v.1, etc. Wisheth that his cause may be brought before God, 3. Relying upon his good conscience, 10. But is terrified with Gods unalterable Decree, and great majesty, 13.

1. But Job answered and said,

2. This day also, [viz. After so many pleadings of mine innocence and uprightfulness; or the words may be read in a question. Shall my complaint; [viz. Which I make of my great misery] obstinacy, [i.e. my complaint is held and judged to be obstinacy and refractoriness against God. This Job saith because his friends past such a doom upon his apologies. Comp. Above 4.5. and 5.1. and 8.2,3. And 11.2,3. And 15.4. and 22.4,5.] My plague [Heb. My hand, i.e. the hand of God; whereby I am plagued and afflicted now, for Gods hands, is taken for Gods punishment; which likewise called Jobs hand and punishment, because he must bear and endure it. See above 13.21. and the annotation.] is heavy, above my sighting. [i.e. more grievous, than I am able to express by my sighing and complaining. So the Hebrew particle hal, is likewise taken, Psa.89.8.]

3. O that I knew that I should find him! [Heb. Who shall give, I have known, and I shall find him! See of this kind of wishing above 6.on verse 8. Him, viz. God] I should come unto his seat. [viz. Not of his severe Justice, but of his tender mercy; in confidence, not of any perfection before God, but of my innocency before men.]

4. I should ordery set forth [i.e. orderly and punctually declare, deduce and maintain.] the right [i.e. my cause, or controversy, Compare Numb.27.5 and 1 Kings 8:45.] and I should fill up my mouth with pleadings. [i.e. with grounds and reasons to plead my cause; namely to shew and evidence the truth, that I am no hypocrite, as I am judged and counted by these friends of mine. See of the Hebrew word above 13.on v.6.]

5. I should know the speechs (which) he [God namely] should answer me, and understand what he should say to me.

6. Would he contend with me, according to the greatness of (his) power? [i.e. according to the utmost and fullness of his power, and the exact severity of his justice.] no: but he should take (heed) to me. [The full phrase is above chap.1.8. See the annotation. The meaning is, That God would be ready to give Job a gracious hearing, and to take cognizance of the accusations made against him Oth. He should lay (strength) in me, viz. To stand before his Majesty; as who would be far from oppressing me by the same, or dealing with extremity of rigour against me. Isaiah 27:4,8.]

7. There the upright should plead with him: [viz. Where God should not proceed with the exactness of his justice, and according to the absoluteness of his power. He speaketh thus in regard of the quarrel he had with his friends.] and I should forever free my self from my Judge. [i.e. be cleared or declared free by him, in the matter of these accusations or charges wherewith my friends charge me.]

8. Behold, if I go forward then he is not there, or backward, then I perceive him not. [He reflecteth on that which he had said above verse 3. O that I knew where I should find him! As if he said, I cannot come to know that, how then should I be able to deal with him? For he is invisible and incomprehensible, and a most free and absolute agent, being not bound to reveal himself at any ones pleasure. Comp. Above ch.9. v.11.]

9. When he worketh on the left hand, I do not behold (him): (when) he covereth himself on the right hand, then I see (him) not. [The meaning is, that judgements of God are above our understanding, and which way soever we turn our selves, past all our searching out.]

10. Yet he knoweth the way (that) is by me, [i.e. My whole disposition, will, affections, purposes, words, works, whole life and conversation. See Genesis 6.on v.12.] let him prove me; [compare above 7.18. and the annotation.] I shall come forth like gold. [i.e. I shall be found clear and clean of all those things my friends do charge upon me: even as the Gold cometh forth most pure and entire out of the fire wherein it was refined.]

11. My foot hath held fast to his going; [He giveth the reason of what he had said in the former verse, and refuteth the charge of Eliphaz, above 22.5. the meaning of these words is, I have stedfastly kept and followed his way or path, i.e. his commandments. Comp.ab.17.9.] his way I have kept; [see Gen.18.on v.19.] am not turned away.

12. The command of his lips also, [i.e. those pronounced by his lips, or mouth, whether by himself, or by his servants and Ministers.] I have not put away: the words of his mouth I have laid up [i.e. kept in good and faithful memory, and locked them up in the closets of my heart, as a precious Treasure, to have it evermore in remembrance in all I do, or leave undone. So also Psalms 119:11. Prov.2.1,7. And 7.1.] more than my appointed portion. [understand the daily appointment (demensum) or, appointed sustenance for my life and being, i.e. as much as is requisite, or by God appointed for it. So Genesis 47:22. Proverbs 38.8. and 31.15.]

13. But (when) he is against any [Heb. One, or as some; is he about any thing? The meaning is; Although I have a good conscience, nevertheless since he is pleased to visit me thus, who can avoid or help it? Who shall call him to account for it? See above 9.12. and 11.10. Romans 9:19.] Who then shall turn him away? What his soul desireth [i.e. he himself, viz. God. So Levit.26.30. Isaiah 1:14.] that he will do.

14. For he will fulfil what is appointed over me: [Heb. My decree, or appointed portion, viz. Of afflictions, which he determined to send upon me.] and of such like things there are many with him. [i.e. his secret, and yet most righteous Judgements.]

15. For his am I troubled before his face: I observe it and fear before him: [viz. When I do consider this unlimited power, infinite wisdom, and terrible severity of his.]

16. For God hath made my heart feeble, [i.e. faint weak and tender, yea broken and bruised as it were, by all my sufferings, and by the fear and terror which the greatness of his power, and majesty hath stricken and stamped upon it. See the like expression, Deut.20.3.] and the Almighty hath troubled me:

17. Because I am not destroyed [i.e. not taken away out of this world by death.] before the darkness: [Heb. From, or, before the face of the darkness, i.e. before the darkness came upon me, or in the behalf, for, i.e. by reason, or because of the darkness; whereby is to be understood, the suffering, and misery wherein he lay. See Gen.15.on v.12. He is amazed that he was not dead yet, having suffered such extremities.] and that he [God namely] hath covered the obscurity [understand the obscurity of death, which doth accompany dying men.] from my face. [i.e. from my knowledge and experience, to the end that I might see and feel my pain and vexation no more. The obscurity of death is said to be covered or hid from ones face, all the while he which was the thing Job was weary of, even to loathing, above 3.23. and 6.8,9. Oth. And that he hath (not) covered the darkness from thy face, i.e. that he hath not taken away this affliction from me, viz. By death, that so I might no longer behold and endure it. Thus the particle not, is inserted here again, out of the former members of this verse; and the word obscurity taken in the self same sense with that of Darkness, going before.]