of the sea--namely, with the light. In the storm the depths of ocean are laid bare; and the light "covers" them, at the same moment that it "spreads" across the dark sky. So in [Psa 18:14], , the discovering of "the channels of waters" follows the "lightnings." Umbreit translates: "He spreadeth His light upon Himself, and covereth Himself with the roots of the sea" ([Psa 104:2]). God's garment is woven of celestial light and of the watery depths, raised to the sky to form His cloudy canopy. The phrase, "cover Himself with the roots of the sea," is harsh; but the image is grand.
31. These (rain and lightnings) are marvellous and not to be understood ([Job 36:29]), yet necessary. "For by them He judgeth (chastiseth on the one hand), &c. (and on the other, by them) He giveth meat" (food), &c. ([Job 37:13]; , ; [Ac 14:17]).
32. Rather, "He covereth (both) His hands with light (lightning, [Job 37:3], Margin), and giveth it a command against his adversary" (literally, the one "assailing" Him, [Psa 8:2]; ; [Job 21:19]). Thus, as in [Job 36:31], the twofold effects of His waters are set forth, so here, of His light; in the one hand, destructive lightning against the wicked; in the other, the genial light for good to His friends, &c. ([Job 36:33]) [Umbreit].
33. noise--rather, He revealeth it (literally, "announceth concerning it") to His friend (antithesis to adversary, [Job 36:32], so the Hebrew is translated, [Job 2:11]); also to cattle and plants (literally, "that which shooteth up"; [Ge 40:10]; ). As the genial effect of "water" in the growth of food, is mentioned, [Job 36:31], so here that of "light" in cherishing cattle and plants [Umbreit]. If English Version, "noise" be retained, translate, "His noise (thunder) announces concerning Him (His coming in the tempest), the cattle (to announce) concerning Him when He is in the act of rising up" (in the storm). Some animals give various intimations that they are sensible of the approach of a storm [Virgil, Georgics, I.373, &c.].
Chapter 37
[Job 37:1-24].
1. At this--when I hear the thundering of the Divine Majesty. Perhaps the storm already had begun, out of which God was to address Job ([Job 38:1]).
2. Hear attentively--the thunder (noise), &c., and then you will feel that there is good reason to tremble.
sound--muttering of the thunder.
3. directeth it--however zigzag the lightning's course; or, rather, it applies to the pealing roll of the thunder. God's all-embracing power.
ends--literally, "wings," "skirts," the habitable earth being often compared to an extended garment ([Job 38:13]; [Is 11:12]).
4. The thunderclap follows at an interval after the flash.
stay them--He will not hold back the lightnings ([Job 37:3]), when the thunder is heard [Maurer]. Rather, take "them" as the usual concomitants of thunder, namely, rain and hail [Umbreit] ([Job 40:9]).
5. ([Job 36:26]; [Psa 65:6]; ). The sublimity of the description lies in this, that God is everywhere in the storm, directing it whither He will [Barnes]. See [Psa 29:1-11], where, as here, the "voice" of God is repeated with grand effect. The thunder in Arabia is sublimely terrible.
6. Be--more forcible than "fall," as Umbreit translates [Ge 1:3].
to the small rain, &c.--He saith, Be on the earth. The shower increasing from "small" to "great," is expressed by the plural "showers" (Margin), following the singular "shower." Winter rain ([So 2:11]).
7. In winter God stops man's out-of-doors activity.
sealeth--closeth up ([Job 9:7]). Man's "hands" are then tied up.
his work--in antithesis to man's own work ("hand") which at other times engages men so as to make them liable to forget their dependence on God. Umbreit more literally translates, That all men whom He has made (literally, "of His making") may be brought to acknowledgment."
8. remain--rest in their lairs. It is beautifully ordered that during the cold, when they could not obtain food, many lie torpid, a state wherein they need no food. The desolation of the fields, at God's bidding, is poetically graphic.
9. south--literally, "chambers"; connected with the south ([Job 9:9]). The whirlwinds are poetically regarded as pent up by God in His southern chambers, whence He sends them forth (so [Job 38:22]; [Psa 135:7]). As to the southern whirlwinds (see [Is 21:1]; [Zec 9:14]), they drive before them burning sands; chiefly from February to May.
the north--literally, "scattering"; the north wind scatters the clouds.
10. the breath of God--poetically, for the ice-producing north wind.
frost--rather, "ice."
straitened--physically accurate; frost compresses or contracts the expanded liquid into a congealed mass ([Job 38:29], ; [Psa 147:17], ).
11-13. How the thunderclouds are dispersed, or else employed by God, either for correction or mercy.
by watering--by loading it with water.
wearieth--burdeneth it, so that it falls in rain; thus "wearieth" answers to the parallel "scattereth" (compare, see on [Job 37:9]); a clear sky resulting alike from both.
bright cloud--literally, "cloud of his light," that is, of His lightning. Umbreit for "watering," &c., translates; "Brightness drives away the clouds, His light scattereth the thick clouds"; the parallelism is thus good, but the Hebrew hardly sanctions it.
14. ([Psa 111:2]).
15. when--rather, "how."
disposed them--lays His charge on these "wonders" ([Job 37:14]) to arise.
light--lightning.
shine--flash. How is it that light arises from the dark thundercloud?
16. Hebrew, "Hast thou understanding of the balancings," &c., how the clouds are poised in the air, so that their watery gravity does not bring them to the earth? The condensed moisture, descending by gravity, meets a warmer temperature, which dissipates it into vapor (the tendency of which is to ascend) and so counteracts the descending force.
perfect in knowledge--God; not here in the sense that Elihu uses it of himself ([Job 36:4]).
dost thou know--how, &c.
17. thy garments, &c.--that is, dost thou know how thy body grows warm, so as to affect thy garments with heat?
south wind--literally, "region of the south." "When He maketh still (and sultry) the earth (that is, the atmosphere) by (during) the south wind" ([So 4:16]).
18. with him--like as He does ([Job 40:15]).
spread out--given expanse to.
strong pieces--firm; whence the term "firmament" ("expansion," [Ge 1:6], Margin; [Is 44:24]).
molten looking glass--image of the bright smiling sky. Mirrors were then formed of molten polished metal, not glass.
19. Men cannot explain God's wonders; we ought, therefore, to be dumb and not contend with God. If Job thinks we ought, "let him teach us, what we shall say."
order--frame.