Job 18

Bildad answers Job with great severity (2-4), and describes the fate of the wicked man (5-21).

4. He teareth himself in his anger. Rather, “O thou that tearest thyself in thine anger” (R.V.). Bildad charges Job with wishing that the settled principles of the Divine administration should be made to give way to his anger. But, adds Bildad (ver. 5), this shall not be: however the wicked may dislike it, they must suffer.

6 his candle shall be put out with him. Rather, “his lamp [suspended] above him shall be put out.”

9 the robber shall prevail against him. Literally, “the snare shall lay fast hold on him.” The language of vers. 7-11 is taken from the modes then practised of catching animals; six different words being used to describe various kinds of nets and snares.

13 the strength of his skin. Literally, “the bars of his skin”; i.e., his limbs.

the firstborn of death. That is, the most dreadful disease; as the “first-born of the poor” (Isa. xiv. 30) are the poorest. It was doubtless intended that Job should apply all this to himself; the facts in his case being supposed by his friends to be just such as are here described. It is not surprising, therefore, that he was stung to the quick, as his reply shows.

14. His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle. Rather, “He shall be torn from his tent, his security (‘wherein he trusted,’ R.V.) and it (i.e., his calamity) shall bring him,” etc.

15. It shall dwell in his tabernacle, etc. Rather, “There shall dwell in his tent they that are not his”; i.e., strangers shall possess his dwelling (17, 19).

Brimstone, etc. A frequent Scriptural image of desolation, akin to “sowing with salt,” to prevent all growth.

19 nephew. Rather, “descendant”: see Gen. xxi. 23. “Nephew” in seventeenth-century English meant grandson.

20. They that come after. i.e., men of future ages; “they that went before,” being his seniors, or contemporaries. Some, however, render (R.V. marg.), the men of the West, and they of the East

According to the former rendering, the astonishment and fear are said to be perpetual; according to the latter, universal.