Bible Commentaries
Job 16

Verse 2

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Such things — These things are but vulgar and trivial. And so are all creatures, to a soul under deep conviction of sin, or the arrest of death.

Verse 3

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

End — When wilt thou put an end to these impertinent discourses? He retorts upon him his charge, chap15:2,3.

Verse 7

But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

He — God, as appears by the following words.

Weary — Either of complaining, or, of my life.

Desolate — Hast turned my society into desolation, by destroying my children and servants.

Verse 9

He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

Eyes — Looks upon me with a fierce, and sparkling eye, as enraged persons use to do.

Verse 10

They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

They — My friends.

Gaped — Opened their mouths wide against me. In all this Job was a type of Christ. These very expressions are used in the predictions of his sufferings, Psalms 22:13. They gaped upon me with their mouths, and Micah 5:1. They shall smite the judge of Israel upon the check.

Verse 11

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

The wicked — And thus Christ was delivered into wicked hands, by the determinate counsel of God.

Verse 12

I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

Shaken — As a mighty man doth with some stripling, when he wrestleth with him.

Mark — That he may shoot all his arrows in me.

Verse 13

His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

His archers — Whoever are our enemies, we must look on them as God’s archers, and see him directing the arrow.

Verse 15

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

I have — So far am I from stretching out my hand against God, chap15:25, that I have humbled myself deeply under his hand. I have not only put on sackcloth, but sewed it on, as being resolved to continue my humiliation, as long as my affliction continues.

Defiled my horn — I have willingly parted with all my wealth, and power, and glory (as the horn often signifies in scripture,) and been content to lie in the dust.

Verse 17

Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

Not — And all this is not come upon me for any injurious dealing, but for other reasons known to God only.

Pure — I do not cast off God’s fear and service, chap15:4. I do still pray and worship God, and my prayer is accompanied with a sincere heart.

Verse 18

O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

Earth — The earth is said to cover that blood, which lies undiscovered and unrevenged: but saith Job, if I be guilty of destroying any man, let the earth disclose it; let it be brought to light.

Cry — Let the cry of my complaints to men, or prayers to God, find no place in the ears or hearts of God or men, if this be true.

Verse 19

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

Witness — Besides the witness of my conscience, God is witness of my integrity.

Verse 22

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Go — To the state and place of the dead, whence men cannot return to this life. The meaning is, my death hastens, and therefore I earnestly desire that the cause depending, between me and my friends, may be determined, that if I be guilty of these things, I may bear the shame of it before all men, and if I be innocent, that I may see my own integrity, and the credit of religion, (which suffers upon this occasion) vindicated. How very certainly, and how very shortly are we likewise to go this journey.