Westminster Annotations, Job · Chapter 7 – Chapter 8
CHAP. VII.
Vers. 1. AN appointed time] Or, a warfare. Chap. 14. 14. Psal. 39. 4.
are not his dayes also like the dayes of an bireling?] If an hireling have a time set for the end of his painfull service, and look for it daily, may not I wish for death, the end of my troubles?
V. 2. earnestly desireth] Heb. gapeth after: Or, that earnestly desireth.
the shadow] That is, the setting of the sun, when his dayes work shall end, chap. 36. 20.
looketh for the reward of his work] Or, that looketh for the end of his work.
V. 3. So am I made to possesse moneths of vanitie] My times have been as troublesome, as a servants, or hirelings, that through much toyl wished for an end.
possesse] Or, inherite for my self.
wearisome nights are appointed to me] I have been troubled, while others enjoyed sweet rest.
V. 4. the night be gone] Heb. the evening be measured. The night. Heb. The evening which being the beginning of the night is put for the whole night, Gen. 1. 5. Which night, as well as day, was intolerable to him, Deut. 28. 67.
V. 5. My flesh is clothed with worms] Isai. 14. 11. This sheweth that his disease was rare and most horrible.
V. 6. My dayes are swifter then a weavers shuttle] Chap. 16. 22. Psal. 90. 6. and 102. 11. and 103. 15. and 144. 4. Isai. 40. 6. Jam. 4. 14. Thus he speaketh in respect of the brevity of mans life, which passeth without hope of returning into this world: in consideration whereof, he desireth God to have compassion on him, 2 Sam. 14. 14.
V. 7. winde] Psal. 78. 39.
shall no more] Heb. shall not return.
see] To see, that is, to enjoy, Jere. 17. 6.
V. 8. I am not] That is, I can live no longer.
V. 9. As the cloud is consumed] If thou behold me in thine anger, I shall not be able to stand in thy presence.
shall come up no more] Shall no more enjoy this mortall life, Isai. 38. 11.
V. 10. place know him any more] Chap. 20. 9. Psal. 106. 16.
V. 11. I will not refrain my mouth] Seeing I can by no other means comfort my self, I will declare my grief by words. And thus he speaketh as one overcome with grief of minde, as appeareth by his words following, and seeking comfort by the relation of them.
V. 12. Am I a sea] Am I so unruly and ready to devour others, that I must be kept in with plagnes, as with guard: or, kept to judgement. See notes on vers. 20.
V. 14. thou scarest me with dreams] So that I can have no more rest in the night, then in the day.
V. 15. my soul chooseth] He speaketh as one overcome with sorrow, and not out of judgement.
strangling] He nameth strangling, because it is a speedy death, though it be painfull.
then my life] Heb. then my bones.
life] My life. Heb. my bones. For I have no flesh left.
V. 16. let me alone] Chap. 10. 20. and 14. 6. Psal. 39. 13. Seeing my term of life is so short, let me have some rest and ease.
V. 17. What is man] Psal. 8. 4. and 144. 3. Heb. 2. 6.
that thou shouldest magnifie him] Seeing that man of himself is so vile, why dost thou give him that honour to contend against him? Job useth all kinde of perswasions with God, that he might stay his hand.
V. 20. when shall I do unto thee] What can I do to satisfie for my sins?
O thou preserver of men?] Preserver. Rather observer of mens sins. Chap. 27. 18. 2 King. 17. 9. Prov. 24. 12. Or, keeper of them to judgement, v. 12.
preserver] Or, Keeper, or, observer, as Psal. 130. 3.
why hast thou set me as a mark against thee] Chap. 16. 12. Psa. 21. 12. Lam. 3. 12. Why dost thou lay more afflictions on me, then on other men?
V. 21. pardon] Heb. take away.
and take away mine iniquitie] Pardon takes sin away from Gods face and judgement, 2 Sam. 12. 13.
sleep in the dust] Isai. 26. 19. Dan. 12. 2.
but I shall not be] That is, I shall be dead, Psal. 39. 13.
CHAP. VIII.
Vers. 2. LIke a strong winde] Be violent against God.
V. 3. Doth God pervert judgement?] Deut. 32. 4. 2 Chron. 19. 7. Dan. 9. 14. Rom. 3. 5.
V. 4. and he have cast them away] That is, hath rewarded them according to their iniquitie: meaning, that Job ought to be warned by the example of his children, that he offend not God.
for their transgression] Heb. in the hand of their transgression.
V. 5. If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes] Chap. 22. 23. and 5. 8. and 11. 13.
betimes] If thou seek to God speedily, while he calls thee to repentance.
make thy supplication] Pray to God for grace and favour, for so the word signifies.
V. 7. Though thy beginning was small] Though thou thrivedst not presently, yet afterward thou shouldest have abundance.
V. 8. For enquire] Deut. 4. 32. Job. 5. 18.
enquire, I pray thee] He willeth Job to examine all antiquitie, and he shall finde it true, which he here saith.
V. 9. we are but of yesterday] Gen. 47. 9. 1 Chro. 29. 15. Chap. 7. 6. Psal. 39. 5. and 144. 4. Meaning, that it is not enough to use our own experience, but we must be confirmed also by the examples of such as went before us.
nothing] Heb. n…t.
V. 10. Shall not they teach thee] Concerning Gods judgement, and the issue of good deeds and bad. Saying as followeth.
V. 11. Can the rush grow up without mire?] As a rush cannot grow without moisture, so a man cannot thrive without piety, which procures Gods blessing.
V. 12. Whilest it is yet in his greennesse] Psal. 129. 6. Jerem. 17. 6.
V. 13. hypocrites hope shall perish] Chap. 11. 20. and 18. 14. Psal. 112. 10. Prov. 10. 28.
V. 14. whose trust shall be a spiders web] Which is to day, and to morrow is swept away, Isai. 59. 5.
a spiders web] Heb. a spiders house.
web] Isai. 59. 6.
V. 16. He is green before the sun] An hypocrite may for a time flourish, maugre the plots of his adversaries, as a tree may be green a while, even when the sun scorches, and yet perish soon after, Psal. 37. 35. Prov. 20. 5. and 27. 8
V. 17. His roots are wrapped about the heap] He may for a while overcome all lets of his prosperity, as a tree growing among stones.
place] Heb. house.
V. 18. then it shall deny him] There shall remain nothing there to prove, that the tree once grew there. So shall the flourishing hypocrite be forgotten, Psal. 37. 35, 36.
V. 19. this is the joy of his way] What joy can he have, when he is destroyed, and others dwell in his room?
V. 20. Behold] Hitherto from the beginning of the eleventh verse, were the words of the ancients: now Bildad makes his conclusion out of them.
cast away] Heb. despise.
neither will he help the evil-doers] Either these words must be read by a parenthesis, or else, evil doers must be taken for Jobs enemies, because it follows, Till he fill thy mouth. The latter agrees with v. 22. The former, with that which went before.
help the evil-doers] Heb. take the ungodly by the hand.
V. 21. Till he fill thy mouth with laughing] If thou be godly, he will give thee matter of exceeding great joy, Gen. 21. 6, 7.
rejoycing] Heb. shouting for joy.
V. 22. clothed with shame] Psal. 132. 18.
dwelling-place] Heb. tent.
shall come to nought] Heb. shall not be.