Job 6 Job’s answer: he wisheth his troubles were duly weighed, for then would his complaints appear just, Job 6:1–7; prayeth for death; his hope in it, Job 6:8–10. He is unable to bear up under his burden, Job 6:11–12. He vindicateth himself against his friends, and reproveth them, Job 6:13–30.

My grief; either, 1. My calamity, as it follows, or the cause or matter of my grief; the act being put for the object, as is usual, fear for the thing feared, &c., and the same thing being here repeated in differing words. Or, 2. My sorrow; or, my wrath, or rage, as thou didst call it, Job 5:2.

It would be heavier, i.e. my grief or calamity, than the sand of the sea, which is heavier than dry sand. Swallowed up, as this verb is used, Prov. 20:25, Obad. 16. My voice and spirit faileth me.

Arrows; so he fitly calls his afflictions, because, like arrows, they came upon him swiftly and suddenly, one after another, and that from on high, and they wounded him deeply and deadly.

Thou wonderest that my disposition and carriage is so greatly altered from what it was, Job 4:3–5, but thou mayst easily learn the reason of it from the brute beasts, the ass and ox, who when they have convenient and common food, are quiet and contented; but when they want that, they will resent…

Can or do men use to eat unsavoury meats with delight, or without complaint? This is either, 1. A reflection upon Eliphaz’s discourse, as unsavoury, which could not give him any conviction or satisfaction. But his censure of Eliphaz’s speech begins not till Job 6:14, and then it proceeds.

Heb. As the sicknesses or sorrows of my meat, i.e. as my sorrowful meat, which I am constrained to eat with grief of heart. The particle as, either, 1. Notes not the similitude, but the truth of the thing, as it is oft used, as hath been formerly noted and proved.

My request, i.e. the thing which I have so passionately desired, and, notwithstanding all your vain words and weak arguments, do still justly continue to desire, to wit, death, as is expressed Job 6:9, and more largely Job 3:0.

To destroy me; to end my days and calamities together. That he would let loose his hand; which is now as it were bound up or restrained from giving me that deadly blow which I desire.

The thoughts of my approaching death would comfort me in all my sorrows. This would solace me more than life, with all that worldly safety, and glory, and happiness which thou hast advised me to seek unto God for. I would harden myself in sorrow, i.e.

My strength is so small and spent, that although I may linger a while in my torments, yet I cannot live long, and therefore it is vain and absurd for me to hope for such a restitution of my strength and prosperity as thou hast promised to me, Job 5:22;c.

I am not made of stone or brass, but of flesh and blood, as others are; and therefore I am utterly unable to endure these miseries longer, and can neither hope for nor desire any continuance of my life, or restoration of my former happiness, but only wish for that death which is the common refuge…

Though I have no strength in my body, or outward man, yet I have some help and support within me, or in my inward man, even the conscience of my own innocency and piety, notwithstanding all your bitter accusations and censures, as if I had no integrity, Job 4:6.

To him that is afflicted, Heb. to him that is melted or dissolved with afflictions, or in the furnace of afflictions; that is, in extreme miseries; for such persons are said to be melted, as Ps. 22:14, Ps. 107:26, Ps. 119:28, Nah. 2:10.

My brethren, i.e. my kinsmen or three friends; for though Eliphaz only had spoken, the other two showed their approbation of his discourse, or, at least, of that part of it which contained his censure of Job’s person and state.

Which in winter, when the traveller neither needs nor desires it, are full of water, then congealed by the frost. Wherein the snow is hid; either, 1. Under which the water, made of snow, which formerly fell, and afterwards was dissolved, lies hid.

When the weather grows milder, and the frost and snow is dissolved. When it is hot; in the hot season of the year, when waters are most refreshing and necessary. Out of their place; in which the traveller expected to find them to his comfort, but they are gone he knows not whither.

i.e. The course of those waters is changed, they are gone out of their channel, flowing hither and thither, till they be quite consumed; as it here follows.

The troops, as this word is used, Gen. 37:25, Isa. 21:13. Heb. the ways, put for the travellers in the ways, by a usual metonymy. And so it must needs be meant here, and in the next clause, because the following verse, They were confounded, &c., plainly showeth that he here speaks of persons, not…

They were confounded, i.e. the troops and companies. Because they had hoped; they comforted themselves with the expectation of water there to quench their thirst. Were ashamed; as having deceived themselves and others with vain and false hopes.

He gives the reason why he charged them with deceitfulness, and compared them to these deceitful brooks. Nothing, or, as nothing; the note of similitude being oft understood. Heb. as not, i.e.

Did I say? or, Is it because I said? Is this, or what else is the reason why you are afraid of me, or alienated from me? Bring unto me; give me something for my support or relief.

Deliver me by power and the force of your arms, as Abraham delivered Lot. Redeem me by price, or ransom.

Teach me; instead of censuring and reproaching, instruct and convince me by solid arguments. I will hold my tongue; I will patiently hear and gladly receive your counsels; or, I will be silent; I will neither contradict you, nor complain of my own griefs. Compare Job 40:4–5, Prov. 30:32.

Right words, i.e. the words of truth or solid arguments, have a marvellous power to convince and persuade a man; and if yours were such, I should readily yield to them. Your arguing reprove; or, your arguing argue.

Do ye imagine to reprove words? i.e. do you think that all your arguments are solid and unanswerable, and all my answers are but idle and empty words? Or do you think it is sufficient to cavil and quarrel with some of my words and expressions, without considering the merits of the cause, and the…

Yea; your words are not only vain, and useless, and uncomfortable to me, but also grievous and pernicious. Ye overwhelm, Heb. you rush or throw yourselves upon him. For words in hiphil are oft put reciprocally as Hebricians know.

Look upon me; be pleased either, 1. To look upon my countenance, if it betrays any fear or guilt, as if I spoke contrary to my own conscience. Or rather, 2. To consider me and my cause further and better than you have done, that you may give a more true and righteous judgment concerning it.

Turn from your former course of perverse judgment; lay aside passion and prejudice against me; let me beg your second thoughts and a serious review of my case.

Consider again, and more thoroughly examine, if there be any untruth or iniquity in what I have already said, or shall further speak to you. My taste. i.e. my judgment, which discerns and judgeth of words and actions as the taste or palate doth of meats. Perverse things, i.e.