Westminster Annotations, Job · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Vers. 2. THerefore] Because thou threatnest us with Gods judgements, chap. 19. 29.
for this I make haste] To wipe away so foul a crimination.
I make haste] Heb. my haste is in me.
V. 3. I have heard the check of my reproach] Two things moved him to speak, because Job had touched him, and he thought he had knowledge sufficient to confute Job.
V. 4. Knowest thou not this of old] Thou oughtest to know it, for examples of all ages do confirm it.
V. 5. That the triumphing of the wicked is short] Psal. 37. 35, 36.
the triumphing of the wicked] That is, their prosperity, that makes them triumph and sing.
is short] Heb. from neer. Newly begun, and will quickly end.
V. 6. Though his excellency mount up to the heavens] He would prove Job an hypocrite, because he fell so low, from so great a height.
heavens] Isai. 14. 13, 14. Obad. 3. 4. Matth. 11. 23.
clouds] Heb. cloud.
V. 7. dung] 1 King 14. 10.
V. 8. dream] Psal. 73. 20. Isai. 29. 8.
V. 9. The eye also which saw him, shall see him no more] Chap. 7. 10.
V. 10. His children shall seek to please the poor] Or, the poor shall oppresse his children. They shall be very poor, that must flatter poor men.
his hands shall restore their goods] Which he hath taken away from others by oppression.
V. 11. His bones are full of the sin of his youth] Diseases bredin his bones by the sins of his youth, will carry him to his grave.
V. 12. Though wickednesse be sweet in his mouth] As poison, that is sweet in the mouth, bringeth destruction when it cometh into the body; so all vice at the first is pleasant, but afterwards God turneth it to destruction, Prov. 23. 31, 32.
he hide it under his tongue] As meat that he would chew and let down: or, sweet meats kept under the tongue.
V. 13. but keep it still within his mouth] Do not spue it out. He taxeth Job of hypocrisie, and of an ill minde, though his actions seemed good.
within his mouth] Heb. in the midst of his palate.
V. 14. It is the gall of asps] Though his evil purposes were sweet to him, like meat, yet the punishment shall be like poison, to destroy him.
V. 15. sw allowed down riches] Isai. 51. 44.
V. 16. He shall suck the poison of asps] He compareth evil-gotten goods to the venim of asps, which is most dangerous: noting, that Jobs great riches were not truely come by, and therefore God did plague him justly for the same.
V. 17. He shall not see the rivers] Deut. 8. 7. Though God give to others abundance of his blessings, yet he shall have no part thereof.
the flouds] Or, streaming-brooks.
honey and butter] Isai. 7. 22.
V. 18. according to his substance] Heb. according to the substance of his exchange.
according to his substance, shall the restitution be] The spoilers of the poor shall enjoy their theft but for a time, for God will take it from them, and cause them to make restitution; so that it is but an exchange.
V. 19. oppressed] Heb. crushed.
V. 20. Surely he shall not feel quietnesse in his belly] Eccles. 5. 13, 14.
feel] Heb. know.
in his belly] A similitude taken from meat, as v. 15. Psal. 59. 15. that troubles the belly.
V. 21. There shall none of his meat be left] Or, there shall be none left for his meat. He shall leave nothing to his posterity.
V. 22. every hand of the wicked shall come upon him] The wicked shall never be at rest; one wicked man shall seek to destroy another.
wicked] Or, troublesome, or, troubled by him.
V. 23. while he is eating] Num. 11. 33.
V. 24. the bowe of steel shall strike him thorow] When a wicked man fleeth from a lesse evil, he falls into a greater, Isai. 24. 18. Jer. 48. 43. Am. 5. 19. Or, in the midst of all his jollity, Gods vengeance shall fall upon him, Psal. 78. 30, 31. Dan. 5. 5, 6.
V. 25. the glistring sword cometh out of his gall] It bringeth out his bowels with it.
V. 26. All darknesse shall be hid in his secret places] Where he thinks to finde safety, he shall meet with horrible troubles.
a fire not blown shall consume him] Calamities, whose causes are unknown, and which proceed immediately from God, Isai. 30. 33. Job 1. 16.
V. 27. The heaven shall reveal his iniquity] By executing Gods judgements upon him for his wickednesse, Rom. 1. 18.
V. 28. The encrease of his house shall depart] His children shall go into captivity.
his goods shall flow away] Like things carried away with a flood, Psal. 90. 5.
the day of his wrath] Gods wrath.
V. 29. the heritage appointed unto him by God] Thus God will plague the wicked.
appointed unto him by God] Heb. of his decree from God.