--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 175 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/175/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 175. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/175/" --- # Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible *Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown* The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation. ## 175. Job · 18 of 36 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/175/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/175/#p-N [¶0] while ... eating--rather, "shall rain it upon him for his food!" Fiery rain, that is, lightning ([Psa 11:6]; alluding to Job's misfortune, [Job 1:16]). The force of the image is felt by picturing to one's self the opposite nature of a refreshing rain in the desert ([Ex 16:4]; [Psa 68:9]). [¶1] 24. steel--rather, "brass." While the wicked flees from one danger, he falls into a greater one from an opposite quarter [Umbreit]. [¶2] 25. It is drawn--Rather, "He (God) draweth (the sword, [Jos 5:13]) and (no sooner has He done so, than) it cometh out of (that is, passes right through) the (sinner's) body" ([De 32:41], ; [Eze 21:9], ). The glittering sword is a happy image for lightning. [¶3] gall--that is, his life ([Job 16:13]). "Inflicts a deadly wound." [¶4] terrors--Zophar repeats Bildad's words ([Job 17:11]; [Psa 88:16]; ). [¶5] 26. All darkness--that is, every calamity that befalls the wicked shall be hid (in store for him) in His (God's) secret places, or treasures (Jude 13; [De 32:34]). [¶6] not blown--not kindled by man's hands, but by God's ([Is 30:33]; the Septuagint in the Alexandrian Manuscript reads "unquenchable fire," [Mt 3:12]). Tact is shown by the friends in not expressly mentioning, but alluding under color of general cases, to Job's calamities; here ([Job 1:16]) Umbreit explains it, wickedness, is a "self-igniting fire"; in it lie the principles of destruction. [¶7] ill ... tabernacle--Every trace of the sinner must be obliterated ([Job 18:15]). [¶8] 27. All creation is at enmity with him, and proclaims his guilt, which he would fain conceal. [¶9] 28. increase--prosperity. Ill got--ill gone. [¶10] flow away--like waters that run dry in summer; using Job's own metaphor against himself ([Job 6:15-17]; [2Sa 14:14]; [Mi 1:4]). [¶11] his wrath--God's. [¶12] 29. appointed--not as a matter of chance, but by the divine "decree" (Margin) and settled principle. ### Chapter 21 [¶14] SECOND SERIES. ### Job 21:1-34. Job's Answer [¶16] 2. consolations--If you will listen calmly to me, this will be regarded as "consolations"; alluding to Eliphaz' boasted "consolations" ([Job 15:11]), which Job felt more as aggravations ("mockings," [Job 21:3]) than consolations ([Job 16:2]). [¶17] 3. literally, "Begin your mockings" ([Job 17:2]). [¶18] 4. Job's difficulty was not as to man, but as to God, why He so afflicted him, as if he were the guilty hypocrite which the friends alleged him to be. Vulgate translates it, "my disputation." [¶19] if it were--rather, "since this is the case." [¶20] 5. lay ... hand upon ... mouth--([Pr 30:32]; [Jud 18:19]). So the heathen god of silence was pictured with his hand on his mouth. There was enough in Job's case to awe them into silence ([Job 17:8]). [¶21] 6. remember--Think on it. Can you wonder that I broke out into complaints, when the struggle was not with men, but with the Almighty? Reconcile, if you can, the ceaseless woes of the innocent with the divine justice! Is it not enough to make one tremble? [Umbreit]. [¶22] 7. The answer is [Ro 2:4]; [1Ti 1:16]; [Psa 73:18]; [Ec 8:11-13]; [Lu 2:35]-end; [Pr 16:4]; [Ro 9:22]. [¶23] old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early ([Job 8:12], ). [¶24] 8. In opposition to [Job 18:19]; . [¶25] 9. Literally, "peace from fear"; with poetic force. Their house is peace itself, far removed from fear. Opposed to the friends' assertion, as to the bad (Job 15:21-24; 20:26-28), and conversely, the good ([Job 5:23], ). [¶26] 10. Rather, "their cattle conceive." The first clause of the verse describes an easy conception, the second, a happy birth [Umbreit]. [¶27] 11. send forth--namely, out of doors, to their happy sports under the skies, like a joyful flock sent to the pastures. [¶28] little ones--like lambkins. [¶29] children--somewhat older than the former. [¶30] dance--not formal dances; but skip, like lambs, in joyous and healthful play. [¶31] 12. take--rather, "lift up the voice" (sing) to the note of [Umbreit]. [¶32] timbrel--rather, "tambourine." [¶33] organ--not the modern "organ," but the "pipe" ([Ge 4:21]). The first clause refers to stringed, the latter, to wind instruments; thus, with "the voice" all kinds of music are enumerated. [¶34] 13. wealth--Old English Version for "prosperity." [¶35] in a moment--not by a lingering disease. Great blessings! Lengthened life with prosperity, and a sudden painless death ([Psa 73:4]). [¶36] 14. Therefore--rather, "And yet they are such as say," &c., that is, say, not in so many words, but virtually, by their conduct (so the Gergesenes, [Mt 8:34]). How differently the godly ([Is 2:3]). [¶37] ways--The course of action, which God points out; as in [Psa 50:23], Margin. [¶38] 15. (Compare [Jr 2:20]; [Pr 30:9], Margin, [Ex 5:2]). [¶39] what profit--([Job 35:3]; Mal 3:14; [Psa 73:13]). Sinners ask, not what is right, but what is for the profit of self. They forget, "If religion cost self something, the want of it will cost self infinitely more." [¶40] 16. not in their hand--but in the hand of God. This is Job's difficulty, that God who has sinners prosperity (good) in His hand should allow them to have it. [¶41] is--rather, "may the counsel of the wicked be far from me!" [Umbreit]. This naturally follows the sentiment of the first clause: Let me not hereby be thought to regard with aught but horror the ways of the wicked, however prosperous. [¶42] 17. Job in this whole passage down to [Job 21:21] quotes the assertion of the friends, as to the short continuance of the sinner's prosperity, not his own sentiments. In [Job 21:22] he proceeds to refute them. "How oft is the candle" (lamp), &c., quoting Bildad's sentiment ([Job 18:5], ), in order to question its truth (compare [Mt 25:8]). [¶43] how oft--"God distributeth," &c. (alluding to [Job 20:23], ). [¶44] sorrows--Umbreit translates "snares," literally, "cords," which lightning in its twining motion resembles ([Psa 11:6]).