Job 7

Job going on his complaints, describeth his miserable condition, not only in general from the toilsome shortness of mans life, v. 1. Etc. But also from his own personal vexation, 3. Grievious disease, 5, and short prosperity in particular, 6. He turneth himself to god, beseeching him to bless the remainder of his life, which he supposeth to be short, 7. Besides he complaineth of the fierceness or violence of his affliction, 11. He being so weak, abject and impotent of himself, 17. He prayeth for the forgiveness of his sins, 20.

1. Hath not man a combate [the Hebrew word here used, occureth frequently, in the signification of fight, or combate, or hoste, which is either temporal, Numbers 1:3, & c. Or ecclesiastical, as Numbers 4:3, & c. Or spiritual, 2 Cor. 10. 4. 1 Tim. 1. 18. Oth. Set time] upon Earth? And are not his days as the days of the-Labourer? [Understand by his days, the time of his life, which is here is compared to the days of an hireling, or day-labourer; because the same is set and sure, short, and full of labourer having wrought hard all day, he resteth at night. Hence Job will conclude, that seeing the condition of man’s life is such he ought not to plagued so grievously, but be allowed some rest and respite, especially, if he have truly feared and served the LORD his God.]

2. As the Bond-servant [understand him that is wearied by the labour of the day] panteth [or, gapeth, gaspeth, i.e. earnestly desireth and longeth. Thus also bel. Ch. 36. 20.] after the shadow; [understand the going down of the Sun, and the taking of rest by night. Compare Psa.102.12. and 109.23.] and as the day-labourer expecteth his hire [Heb. His work, i.e. the hire or wages of his Work. Compare Levit.19.13. Jeremiah 22:13.]

3. So Moons of vanity are become an inheritance to me; [Heb. I am made to inherit for my self Moons of Vanity. By this it appeareth that Job continued for some months in this distress. Compare below chap.29.2. Moons of Vanity, i.e. that were very empty, vain, toilsome, and tedious to me. Comp. Bel.v.16.& ch.15.31. His meaning here is, that his toil and suffering was more grievous, then that of the bond-servant, and of the day-labourer: for these at the end of their labour, and by night, had some rest yet; whereas his pains continued upon him the nights also.] and nights of toil are prepared for me. [Heb. Have prepared, see above ch.4. on v.19.]

4. When I lay down to sleep, then I say, when shall I rise up, and he have measured out the evening? [he, viz. God, or thus, When shall the evening be measured out? i.e. When shall it be at end? Or ended once? By the Evening here the night is understood; which is so called, because it beginneth from or with the evening, Gen.1.5.] and I am full [(satur) to be full of any evil, is to be overcharged with it, that one is not able to bear or digest any more. See below ch.10.15. and 14.1. and Psalms 88:4. & 123.3,4. Prov.1.31.& 28.19. Lam.3.15. Hab.2.16.] of tumblings [i.e. turning and tossing me about in the bed] until the glimmering-time [viz. Of the morning, or day break, i.e. when it is between dark and dawning in the Morn. Thus the Hebrew word may likewise be taken 1 Sam.30.17. and Psalm 119.v.147. of the Evenings, Glimmering, or twilight; See 2 Kings 7:5. and the annotation.]

5. My flesh is clothed with Worms; [viz. By reason of the putrefying sores that are upon my body, out of whose matter and blood there came forth worms.] and with the rubbish, [understand the scabs, which were scratched off from his ulcers. Others understand, clods of earth, which cleaved unto his body, because he sat or lay upon the earth] of the dust: [i.e. (as some do understand it) of the body; which is called thus Eccles.12.7. because originally taken out of the dust of the earth, Gen.2.7.] which tear, and open the skin of the body] and become contemptible, [Oth. Molten, i.e. running with gore and filthy matter.]

6. My days, [viz. Of my life] have been lighter [i.e. swifter; thus the word light is taken for swift, below ch.9.25. Isaiah 5:26. etc 18.2. Jer.2.23.] then a Weavers shuttle, and are consumed without expectation [Heb. With not hope, or with the end of hope, i.e. so, as that the hope recovering the same, doth cease, and is at an end.]

7. Remember [Job turneth his speech to God, of whom he desireth (because our life is of it self so short and wretched) that he would be pleased at leastwise for the time he had yet remaining to vouchsafe him his temporal blessing, the which could only here be enjoyed.] that my life is a wind [i.e. very vain, unsteady and swiftly passing away and vanishing. See above ch.6.on v 26.] mine eye shall not return to see the good [viz. Of this temporal life. To see the good, is to enjoy, or obtain, get the same, so below 9.25. Psalms 128:5. Eccles.5.17. in the same sence one is said, to see the rest, Gen.49.15. to see the light, bel.33.28. to see the life, Joh.3.36. to see good days, 1 Pet.3.10, &c.]

8. The eye of him that seeth me (now) [viz. Here on earth. Oth. The eye of the sight, i.e. he that is sharp-sighted.] shall not see me: [viz. When I shall once be departed hence by death] thine eyes shall be upon me [viz. For to do me good, yet nevertheless I shall not be here beneath upon the earth, to enjoy thy benefits as well bodily as spiritually. This was the Saints desire, partly, for to serve God here yet, and to magnify his name; partly also, by the use and enjoyment ;of the Temporal blessings, to assure themselves the more of the love and favour of God, and the goods everlasting. See Ps.6.6. and 88.11,12,13. And 122.1,2. And 128.5.] but I shall be no (more) [viz. In this life. See ab.ch.3.on v.16.]

9. A cloud is consumed and passeth away: so he that goeth down into the grave [see the signification of the Hebrew word Sheol, Gen.37.35. in the annotation upon it,] shall not come (again) [viz. Into this Transitory world: for, that Job did firmly believe the resurrection from the dead, appeareth below chap.19.25,26,27.]

10. He shall no more return to his house; and his place shall know him no more, [his place, i.e. his friends, fellow Citizens, neighbours and acquaintance, dwelling in his own house, City and Country. Thus the word Place is taken for those that are in it, and so likewise below 8.18. & 20.9. Ps.37.10. in like manner as paths, and ways, are taken for those that walk, or travel in the same, ab.6.19.]

11. Neither shall I also withhold my mouth: I will speak in the distress of my spirit; I will complain [the meaning of these expressions is; seeing that the life of man in general is so full of vanity and wretchedness, and I also, besides that, do find my self particularly inthralled in this extraordinary affliction, being berest of all temporal welfare and comfort, I must at least wise ease and unburden my heavy mind by the tongue.] in bitterness of my soul [i.e. in great grief and against of heart. See 2 King 4.on v.27.]

12. Am I a Sea then, or (a) Whale, [of whose strength and power see below ch.41.] that thou settest a guard about me? [viz. By this great suffering which environeth me from all parts, and tormenteth my mind day and night: meaning thereby, that it seemed God sought thus to birdle him from doing harm to any; even as if he were some Sea, or Sea-monster, which by the cliffs and downs and depths, must be kept within their bounds that they may do no harm to men.]

13. When I say, [viz. By my self, i.e. when I think, See Gen.20.on v.11.] my bedstead shall comfort me; my couch shall take away (somewhat) of my complaint:

14. Then thou affrightest me with dreams: [viz. Terribles, such as God causeth to fall upon melancholy spirits, and heavy, dejected persons, either through the nature of their disease, corrupting the fancy of man; or, also through Satans means, who watching his opportunity, doth by the advantage of melancholy humours, which he findeth in man, cause strange visions to appear unto him in his sleep.] and through visions thou terrifies me.

15. So that my soul chuseth strangling; [understand a violent and sudden death; namely by reason of this continual torment] death rather then my bones [i.e. then the sustentation of my bodily life; implying that he had rather die that longer be troubled with those rotten, stinking, and mattery running bones he had. And he maketh especially mention of his bones, to shew that his pain was entered into very inmost parts of his body. Bones being taken for the strength, the life, and inmost vigour of the body, Proverbs 14:30. et.17.12. Isaiah 38:13.]

16. I disdain them [my bones namely] I shall not live for ever; cease from me then, [viz. Thus to afflict and plague and trouble me] for my days are vanity [or like to a wind, as above v.7. the life of man is called vanity, not onely for being short, and fading on a sudden, below 15.on v.31. but also in regard that it being so full of trouble, turmoil and vexation, a man can not meet with that Summun Bonum, or turn good, that could make him perfectly happy. Compare above v.3. and the annotation.]

17. What is man that thou shouldest greatly esteem him? [i.e. that thou shouldest take notice of him, he being so wretched and vile, as I am now; and count him worthy, thus to trouble thy self about him? Compare this manner of speaking, above with the annot. On v.8.] and that thou shouldst set thy heart upon him?

18. And that thou doest visit him, [viz. With thy chastizings and punishments, See Gen.21.on v.1.] ever morning? [this he mentioneth, chiefly for to shew, 1. That God doth visit us, with special care and solicitousness. Comp.Lam.3.23. 2. That God doth not spare us, even when we are most, or hardest at labour. 3. That not onely the middle and end, but the very beginning also of our lives and labours, are subject to much trouble and suffering, Psalms 88:16. etc 90.9.] that thou triest him [how God doth try his children, see Gen.22.on v.1.] every moment? [i.e. very frequently all a long at unawares, suddenly.]

19. How long doest thou not turn away from me? [viz. For to make an end at length of afflicting me in this manner?] (and) ceasest not from me, until I swallow in my spettle? [this is an usual phrase, implying a very short time, such as is the fetching ones breath: as if he said: forbear but a moment at least, to afflict one, that I may fetch breath once. Compare chap.9.18.]

20. If I have sinned [i.e. committed any sin as yet unknown to me, for which this suffering may have come upon me] What shall I do unto thee [viz. For to be reconciled with thee, that thou mayest be appeased again, and I enabled thereby to get out of this trouble] O thou keeper of men? [i.e. that doest so narrowly watch what men are doing; or that art the keeper of their lives also, though now thou seem ready to destroy mine.] why hast thou set me for a counter-course [or, countermark, or butt, or the white, against which thou shootest thine arrows. Comp. Below 16.12. The Hebrew word doth properly signify that, against which one runneth very violently, for to spoil, or break, or overthrow it.] that I must be a burden to my self? [viz. By all the suffering, or pains, which thou doest lay upon me in so fearful a manner, that it is an insupportable burden to me.]

21. And why doest thou not forgiving me my trespass, [His meaning is, if the pretence of my Friends be true, that I am plagued thus by reason of my sins (although my conscience do witness otherwise) why doest thou not forgive me that sin, that I may not be plagued longer thus? For I am now ready to die: so that seeking me here after a while, thou shalt not find me.] and doest not put away [or pass by, pass over, See 2 Sam.12.on v.13.] mine iniquity? For now I shall lye down in the dust, and thou shall seek me early; [Compare above v.8.and see the annotation there; the Hebrew word doth properly signify to seek in the morning; but because the things that are done in the morning, are commonly performed with more vigour, the phrase here is taken for all manner of accurate and diligently searching. See below 8.5, Psalms 69:2. Prov.7.15.] but I shall not be. [see ab.ch.3.on v.16.]