Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Jot's Solemii Protestation of JOB XXXI. his Integrity in Several Duties.
24.4). 8, Apodosls to V. 5 and 7; the curses which he Imprecates on himself, if he had done these things (Leviticus '26.16; Amos 9.14; Psalm 128.2). of Tsprlng—Rather, what I plant, my harvests. 9-13. Job asserts his innocence of adultery, deceived-hath let itself be seduced (Proverbs 7.8, Ac. ; Genesis 39. 7-12). laid wait—until the husband went out. 10. grind—turn the handmill. Be the most abject slave and concubine (Isaiah 47.2; 2 Samuel ance." But the text (Chetib) is better: Thon dissolvest me (with fear, Exodus 15.15) in the crash (of the whirlwind ; as V. 14, note). [Maurer.] Umbreit translates as a verb, "Thou terrifiest me." 33. This shows ch. 19.2.5 cannot be restricted to Job's hope of a. temporal deliverance, deatli—as in ch. 28.22, the realm of the dead ^Iebrews 9.27; Genesis 3.19). 24. Expressing Job's faith as to the state after death. Though one must go to tlie grave, yet He will no more afflict in the ruin of the body
12. 11). 11. In the earliest times punislied with deatli (Genesis 38. 24). So in later times (Deuteronomy 22. 22). Heretofore he had spoken only of sins against conscience
(so Hebreiv for grave) there, if one lias cried to Hini wlien being destroyed. The "stretching of His hand" now, one against the community, needing the cognizance of the judge. 13. (Proverbs 6. '27-:i5; 8. 6--23, 26, 27.) No crime more provokes God to send destruction as a consuming fire, none so desolates the soul. 13-33. Job atlirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy, despise the cause—retused to do them justice. 14, 15. Parenthetto punisii after death answers antithetically to the raising "the cry" of prayer in the second clause. Maurer gives another traiislation whicli accords witli the scope of V. 24-31; if it be natural for one in affliction to aslc aid, why should it be considered (by the friends) wrong in ray case? "Nevertheless does not a man in ruin stretch out his hand" (imploring help, r. 20; Lamentaical; thj reason why Job did not despise the cause of his servants. Translate, Wliat then (liad I done so) could I have done, wlien God arose (to call me to account); and wlien He visited (came to inquire), what could I have answered Him? 15. Slaveholders try to defend themselves by maintaining the original inferiority of the slave. But Malaclii 2.10; Acts 17. '26; Ephesians 6.9, make the common origin of masters and servants the argument lor brotherly love being shown by the former to the latter. 10. fail—in the vain expectation of relief (ch. 11.20). 17. Arabian rules of hospitality require the stranger to l)e helped first, and to the best. 18. Parenthetical: asserting that he did the contrary to the things in i'. IG, 17. he—the orphan, guided her—viz., the widow, by advice and protection. On this and " a father" see ch. '29. 16. 19. perish — (. e., ready to perish (ch. 29. 13). 20. loins—the parts of the body benefited by Job are poetically described as thanking liirn ; the loins before naked, when clad by me, wished me every blessing. 31. "When (i.e., liecause) I saw" that I might calculate on the "help" of a iiowenul party in the court of justice—("gate"), if I should bo sam« moned by the injured fatherless. 33. Apodosis to vs. 13, tions 1. 17)? If one be in his calamity (destruction) is there not Mierefore a "cry" (for aid)? Thus in the parallelism "cry" answers to " stretch—liand ;" "in his calamity," to "in ruin." Tlie negative of the first clause, is to be supplied in the second, as in y. 25 (ch. 28. 17). 2r>. Jlay
I not be allowed to complain of my calamity, and beg relief, seeing that I myself sympathized with those "in trouble" (lit., hard of day ; those who had a hard time of it). I may be allowed to crave help, seeing that, "wlien I looked for good (on account of niy piety and charity), yet evil," &c. light—(ch. 22. 28). '-JT. bowels Regarded as the seat of deep feeling (Isaiah Ki. IP. boiletl —Violently heated and agitated, prevented Old English for uneriii'ctedl)/ came upon me, surprised me. 38. iiiotirn Ing—Rather, I move about blackened, tliough not by the sun; i. e., whereas many are blackened by the sun, I am, by the he.at of God's wrath (so "boiled," r. 27); the elephantiasis covering me with blackness of rskin (i'. 30), as with the garb of mourning (Jeremiah 14.2). This striking enigmatic form of Hebreiv expression occurs, Isaiah 2i). 9. stood up—As an innocent man crying for justice in an assembled court (u. 20). 39. dragons . . . owls-Rather, jackalH, ostriches, both of which utter dismal screanis (Jlicah 1.8); in which respect, as also in their living amidst solitudes, the emblem of desolation, Job is their brother and companion, i. p., resembles them. " Dragon," Hel/reu; Tannim, usually means the crocodile; so perhaps here, its open Jaws lifted towards heaven, and its noise making it .seem as if it mourned over its fate [liocHART.] 30. upon nic— Ratlier, as In 17 (Note), my skin is black (and tails away) from me. uiy bones—(ch. 19.20; I'salm
16, 17, 19, 20, 21. If I had done those crimes, I should have made a bad u.se of my influence {mi/ arm, figurat iveiy , v. 21): therefore, if I have done them let my arm (literally) suffer. Job alludes to Eliiihaz's charge (ch. 22. 9). The Hist "arm" is rather Die shoulder. The second "arm" is the fore arm. from thv bone Lit., a reed: hence the upper arm, above the elbow. 33. For—t. e., the reason why Job guaixled against such sins. Fear of God, though he could escape man's Judgment (Genesis 39.9). Umhkeit moie spiritedly tr/insl<itcs. Yea, destruction and terror from God might have befallen me (had I done so): mere fear not being the motive, highness—majestic might, endure— I could have availed nothing agiiinst it. )44, 35. Job asserts his freedom from trust in money (1 Timothy
102. 5). 31. organ — Rather, pipe (cli. 21. 12 1; " My is turned into the voice of weeping" (Iamentations 5. 15). These instrumentsare properly appropriated lojuu (Tsaiali
30. 29, 32), which makes their use now in sorrow the sadder by contrast.
CHAPTER XXXI.
fl. 17). Here lie turns to his duty towards God, as before he had spoken of his duty towards himself and his neighbour. Covetousness Is covert Idolatry, as it transfers the heart from the Creator to the creature (Colossians 3. 5). In
Ver. J-iO. 1. Job proceeds to prove, that he deserved a better lot. As in ch. 29. he sliowed his uprightness an an emir, or magistrate In public life, .so in this chapter he vindicates his character in private life. 1-4. He asserts his guarding against being allured to sin by his senses.
V. 26, '27 ho passes to overt idolatry. 30. If I looked unto the sun (as an object of worship) because he slilned ; or to the moon because she walked, Ac. .Sabalsm (Irom Isaba, the iK'aveiily hosts) was the earliest form of false worship. God Is hence called In contradistinction "Lord of Sabaoth." The sun, moon, and stars, the brightest objects in nature, and seen everywhere, were supposed to be visible rei)reseiilalives of the Invisible God. They had no
1, tbink— Rather, cast a (lustful) look. He not merely did not so, but put it out of thequestion by covi'nant ing with his eyes against leading him into temptation (Proverbs 6.4); Matthew 5. 28). tl. Had I let my .senses tempt me to Bin, "what portion (would there haye be(Mi to nu', j. e., nuist I liave expected) from {lit. of ) God above, and what Inheritance from (lit., of) the Almighty," Ac. (MAlMtEit] teni|)les, but were worshiiiped on high phu'es and roots of houses iKzekiel 8. 16; Deuteronomy 4. 19; 2 Kings 2i. 5, 11), Tlu' llelirew hen; for "sun" Is Ugld. Probably liglit was worslilpiied as the emanation from God, before its embodiments, the sun, Ac. This worship prevalU'd In Chaldea ; wherefore Job's exemption from the Idolatry of his neighbours was the more exemplary. Our "Sun-day Mcin-day," or M<)(Ui-day, bear traei s ol .Sabalsm. 37. enticed—awaj' from God to Idolatry, kissed . . . iiaiid — .!(/- oration, lit., means this. In worshipping they used to ki.sa
(ch. 2(1. 2i); 27. 13). 3. Answer to the question In v. 2. mI range —extraordinary. 4. Doth not He see, Ac. ? Knowing Ibis,
I could only have expected "destruction" (v. 3), had I committed this sin (Proverbs 5. 21). 5. Job's al)stlnence from evil deeds, vanity i.e., falsehood (Psalm 12.2). f>. Parenthetical. Tranxlate, "Oh that (Jod would weigh nu', Ac, then would lie know," &c. 7. Connected with r. (i. tbc way—of God (ch. 2:). II ; Jeremiah 5. 5). A godly life, heart. . . after . . . oyen—If my heart coviled, what niy eyes beheld (K'ccleslastes 11.9; Joshu.'i 7.21). hands—(P.salm tlie hand, and then throw the kiss, as It were, towards tho object of worship (1 Kings 19. 18; lloseii 1 !. 2). 38. The Mo