Job 24

1. Why, seeing times, etc.? Or, “Why are not seasons (i.e., of judgement) appointed by the Almighty, and [why] do not those who know Him behold His days?” (i.e., of vengeance). Job rightly regards the delay of the punishment of the wicked as being part of the same mysterious arrangement, which delays his own vindication.

2 remove the landmarks. See Deut. xix. 14.

4 hide themselves together. That is, all the poor are compelled to hide from them.

5 go they forth, etc. Rather, “They go forth in their work, seeking eagerly for food (Heb., ‘prey’); the wilderness [giveth] to them food for their children.” Meaning probably the houseless poor, mentioned in ver. 4, who have to seek food in the wilderness, from roots and herbs, like wild animals.

6. They reap every one his corn, etc. The description of the destitute poor is continued. Such coarse food as the open field supplies, and the scanty gleanings of the vineyards, are their only sustenance.

7. They cause the naked, etc. Rather, “Naked, they pass the night without clothing, and have no,” etc.

9. They pluck. That is, the wicked do so. Not less cruelly are those treated who have not fled to the desert.

take a pledge of the poor. Or, “What is on the poor (i.e., his only garment) they take for a pledge,” leaving him naked (10); see Exod. xxii. 26, 27.

10. They cause him to go naked, etc. Rather, “Naked they go without clothing, and hungry they carry the sheaf; within their walls [those of the oppressors] they press out the oil; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.” They famish in the midst of the abundance of others: see Luke xv. 16 and Jan. v. 4.

12. God layeth not folly to them. Rather, “God regardeth not the wrong.”

13. They are of those that rebel against the light. Job now turns to another class of evil-doers, who need darkness to conceal their purposes.

14 rising with the light. At the very earliest dawn.

15 disguiseth. Or, “putteth a veil over.”

16 they dig through houses. Eastern houses are often made of mud or unburned brick; and thieves enter by digging through the walls; see Matt. vi. 19, 20.

Which they had marked for themselves in the day-time. Rather, “In the day-time they shut themselves up,” as R.V.

17 if one know them, etc. Or, “For each one knoweth the terrors of death-shade” (thick darkness). They love the darkness which favours their crimes, and fear the light as much as others fear darkness.

18. He is swift as the waters. “Swift is he on the face of the waters (rapidly passing out of sight); cursed is their portion in the land; he shall not return the way of the vineyards” (to look after his estate), i.e., he shall pass away for ever.

20. The womb. i.e., his own mother.

21. He evil entreateth. Referring to the preceding. All this shall befall the man who “devoureth (R.V.) the barren,” etc.; op. Matt. xxiii. 14.

22. He draweth also the mighty. Thus far, Job has reiterated the popular creed. Now he gives by contrast his own views: “Nay, God by His power maketh the mighty to continue; they rise up when they believed not that they should live” (see R.V. marg.). The oppressor thrives and prospers, even unexpectedly to himself.

23. Though it be given him, etc. Rather, “He (God) giveth him (i.e., the wicked) security whereon he reileth; and His eyes are upon their ways”: i.e., God guards and defends them.

24. They are exalted for a little while, etc. Or, “They are exalted; a little while, and they are not; they are brought low; like all [others] they are gathered; and as the heads of corn they are cut off.” A call to patience, and to consider the end, as in Psa. lxxiii.

25 who will make me a liar? That is, who will convict me of untruth? etc. This is a challenge to any to prove the contrary.