Westminster Annotations, Job · Chapter 24 – Chapter 27
CHAP. XXIIII.
Vers. 1. WHy, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him, not see his dayes?] The first verse may be read thus. Why are not times hidden from the Almightie, seeing they that know him, do not see his dayes. That is, It would make a man think that God doth not know the times of punishing the wicked, because he reveals it to none of his servants.
V. 2. land-marks] Deut. 19. 14. and 27. 17.
feed thereof] Or, feed them.
V. 4. the poor of the earth hide themselves together] They dare not meet the rich, because of their pride or cruelty.
hide themselves together] Prov. 28. 28.
V. 5. rising betimes for a prey] They are very diligent.
the wildernesse yeeldeth food for them] They and theirs live by robbing and murdering.
V. 6. They reap every one his corn in the field] The poor mans, vers. 4.
corn] Heb. mingled corn, or, dredge.
they gather the vintage of the wicked] Heb. the wicked gather the vintage. One wicked man spares not another.
V. 7. They cause the naked to lodge without clothing] Heb. because he hath no clothing. They take it from him.
V. 8. for want of a shelter] The poor are driven by the wicked into rocks and holes, where they cannot lie dry for the rain.
V. 9. from the breast] They so poul the poor, that they cannot keep their children: or, they take them from their parents, and sell them for slaves.
take a pledge of the poor] His garment, wherewith he should be covered or clad, against the law, Exod. 22. 26. Deut. 24. 17.
V. 11. Which make oyl within their walls] Though they labour for them, yet they oppresse them.
tread their wine-presses] Contrary to the law, Deuter. 25. 4.
V. 12. Men grone from out of the citie] For the great oppression and extortion.
the soul of the wounded] Ready to die for famine, like men wounded with the sword, Lam. 4. 9.
crieth out] Crieth out, and calleth for vengeance.
God layeth not folly to them] God doth not condemn the oppressours, but seemeth to passe over it by his silence.
V. 13. that rebell against the light] That is, against Gods word, because they are reproved thereby, Joh. 3. 20.
V. 14. The murderer rising with the light] Psal. 10. 8. He riseth betimes to do wrong, and holds on all day and night, Psal. 36. 4. Mic. 2. 1.
V. 15. The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight] By these particular vices, and the license thereunto, he would prove, that God punisheth not the wicked, nor rewardeth the just alwayes in this life.
the twilight] Prov. 7. 9.
No eye shall see me] My adultery shall not be known.
disguiseth his face] Heb. setteth his face in secret.
V. 16. they know not the light] They fly from the light, least they should be discovered, Joh. 3. 19, 20.
V. 18. He is swift as the waters] He meaneth pirats, who rob at sea, and finding wealth there, live in desolate places, not in fruitfull lands among other men.
as] Or, on.
V. 19. Drought and heat consume the snow-waters] After a wicked life they die an easie death, as heat melts the water away easily. See chap. 21. 13, 32. Psal. 73. 4.
consume] Heb. violently take.
V. 20. The womb shall forget him] He shall be forgotten like other men: or, as if he had never been more, Psal. 31. 12.
V. 22. He draweth also the mightie with his power] After that wicked men have destroyed weak ones, they set upon the strong.
and no man is sure of life] Or, he trusteth not his own life.
V. 23. Though it be given him to be in safetie] The twenty third verse may be read thus. It is given him to be in safetie, and he resteth on it, though his eyes be upon their wayes. That is, God gives wicked men quietnesse, and they presume he will do so still, which makes them bold to oppresse, though God look on.
V. 24. are exalted for a little while] Psal. 73. 17, 18.
are gone] Heb. are not.
taken] Heb. closed up.
and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn] They die a naturall or violent death, like other men in full age; as corn cut down when it is ripe, or before.
CHAP. XXV.
Vers. 2. DOminion and fear are with him] God is the Soveraign over all, full of majestie, guiding the angels: Therefore no man should question his judgements, as thou, O Job, desiredst to do, but submit to them in all humility and reverence.
V. 3. Is there any number of his armies?] Psal. 68. 17. Dan. 7. 10. No man then can resist him, or hide himself from him.
V. 4. How then can man be justified with God?] Chap. 4. 17, &c. and 15. 14, &c.
that is born of a woman] Not onelyonly Gods majestie, but also thy own originall corruption should keep thee from pleading with God, Job 14. 4. Psal. 51. 5.
V. 5. Behold, even to the moon, and it shineth not] Look on gold and silver, and so forward up to the moon and starres, if God shew his power over them, they cannot have light, much lesse can man have any excellency but of God.
V. 6. a worm] Psal. 22. 6.
CHAP. XXVI.
Vers. 2. HOw hast thou helped him that is without power?] Thou hast shewed thy self a weak comforter to one so low as I am.
V. 3. How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom?] Thy words cannot instruct a fool, as ye count me to be, nor teach him true wisdom.
V. 4. To whom hast thou uttered words?] Thy speech is vain to a man that understands Gods wayes, as I do: neither dost thou speak by the spirit of God, chap. 32. 8.
V. 5. Dead] Or, Livelesse.
Dead things are formed from under the waters] Job beginneth to declare the force of Gods power, and providence in the mines and metals in the deep places of the earth.
and the inhabitants] Or, with the inhabitants.
V. 6. Hell is naked before him] Prov. 15. 11. He knoweth the most hidden things, Heb. 4. 13.
V. 7. over the emptie place] He stretcheth the heavens over the empty air, and foundeth the earth on the center of it, which is as nothing to bear so great a weight.
V. 8. the cloud is not rent under them] God shews his great power, in making thin air hold thick water.
V. 9. He holdeth back the face of his throne] The heavens which are called his throne, Isai. 66. 1. he hides from us with clouds.
V. 10. He hath compassed the waters with bounds] He made great hollow places in the earth to lodge the waters in, that they may not drown the earth, Gen. 1. 9. Job 38. 8, 10, 11. Psal. 33. 7. and 104. 9. Prov. 8. 29. Jere. 5. 22.
untill the day and night come to an end] Heb. untill the end of light with darknesse. That is, till the world be done, which cannot stand without dayes and nights, Jere. 31. 35, 36.
V. 11. The pillars of heaven tremble] Not that heaven hath pillars to uphold it, but he means, The heavens are not strong enough to endure Gods anger. Or, mountains, that seems for their height to uphold heaven, 2 Sam. 22. 8.
and are astonished at his reproof] That is, the thunder. See Psal. 18. 15. and 104. 7.
V. 12. He divideth the sea with his power] In tempests and earthquakes: Or, by his Almighty power he hath divided the water into severall seas and streams.
the proud] Heb. pride. The proud waves thereof, as chap. 38. 11. Or, Rahab: That is, Egypt, Psal. 89. 9, 10. Isai. 51. 9.
V. 13. the crooked serpent] Some understand a figure of starres, figured like a serpent, because of the crookednesse: others read, The long serpent: meaning the whale, Isaiah 27. 1.
V. 14. how little a portion is heard of him] If these few things which we see daily with our eyes, declare his great power, and providence, how much more would they appear, if we were able to comprehend all his works?
the thunder of his power who can understand?] Psal. 29. 4.
CHAP. XXVII.
Vers. 1. MOreover] Job expected a while to see if Zophar would reply in his turn, and seeing he did not, he proceeds to clear his integritie.
continued] Heb. added to take up.
V. 2. who hath taken away my judgement] By denying to plead with me, and to clear me before my friends.
vexed my soul] Heb. made my soul bitter.
V. 3. the spirit of God is in my nostrils] That is, the breath which God gave him, Gen. 2. 7. Isai. 2. 22.
V. 4. My lips shall not] Heb. If my lips, &c. Then let me perish. A double oath, one, vers. 2. the other, here.
speak wickednesse] Howsoever men judge of me, yet I will not speak contrary to that which I have said, and so do wickedly in betraying the truth, Job 13. 7.
V. 5. God forbid that I should justifie you] Which condemn me as a wicked man, because the hand of God is upon me.
I will not remove my integritie from me] I will not confesse that God doth punish me as a wicked man, nor accuse my self against my own conscience.
V. 6. reproach me] Or, cast it away, as Judg. 5. 18.
so long] Heb. from my dayes.
V. 7. Let mine enemy be as the wicked] He shews his hatred of wickednesse, by wishing his enemies rather to be so accounted.
V. 8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite] Matth. 16. 26. What advantage hath the dissembler to gain never so much, seeing he shall lose his own soul, and die in despair, chap. 8. 13. and 20. 5.
V. 9. Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?] Prov. 1. 28. Ezek. 8. 18. John 9. 31. James 4. 3.
V. 10. will he alwayes call upon God?] In adversitie as well as in prosperitie.
V. 11. by the hand of God] Or, being in the hand, &c. Or, of the hand of God: That is, his judgements.
V. 12. all ye your selves have seen it] Ye have seen God prosper bad men, and crosse good men, and ye will not understand.
altogether vain] Why maintain you then this errour?
V. 13. This is the portion of a wicked man] Sometimes God doth not punish them in their life time, but in their posteritie.
V. 14. for the sword] Hos. 9. 13.
his off-spring shall not be satisfied with bread] His children shall perish for hunger.
V. 15. shall be buried in death] As soon as they are dead, without funerall pomp.
his widows shall not weep] Psal. 78. 64. They that are neerest to them shall not weep for them, but be glad they are gone. Or, they shall not hire mourners for them, Jere. 22. 18. Eccle. 12. 5.
V. 17. the just shall put it on] Eccles. 2. 16. Prov. 28. 8.
V. 18. He buildeth his house as a moth] His house is easily cast down, as a moth is destroyed, chap. 8. 14. Psal. 39. 11. and 58. 9. Or, as a booth, which lasts but while the fruit is gathered for the watchman to lodge in.
V. 19. he shall not be gathered] Buried honourably with his fathers. He shall die in captivitie.
he openeth his eyes] A man may look for him, but he cannot finde him, Psal. 37. 36.
V. 20. Terrours take hold on him as waters] Chap. 18. 11.
a tempest stealeth him away in the night] Suddenly as a deluge coming in the night. God sends many judgements in the night, that they may be more terrible, as not expected, Exod. 12. 29. 2 Kings 19. 35. Isai. 15. 1. Dan. 5. 30.
V. 21. The east-winde carrieth him away] Hos. 13. 15.
V. 22. he would sain flee] Heb. in fleeing he would flee.
V. 23. Men shall clap their hands at him] In sign of wonderment, and derision, as 1 Kings 9, 8. Lam. 2. 15. Ezek. 25. 6.