Comentário do capítulo
Job Capítulo 17
1
Job 17:1-16.
2
Sem título
2. UMBREIT, more emphatically, "had I only not to endure mockery, in the midst of their contentions I (mine eye) would remain quiet."
eye continue--Hebrew, "tarry all night"; a figure taken from sleep at night, to express undisturbed rest; opposed to
(Job 16:20),
when the eye of Job is represented as pouring out tears to God without rest.
3
Sem título
3. Lay down now--namely, a pledge or security; that is, be my surety; do Thou attest my innocence, since my friends only mock me
(Job 17:2).
Both litigating parties had to lay down a sum as security before the trial.
put me in a surety--Provide a surety for me (in the trial) with Thee. A presage of the "surety"
(Heb 7:22),
or "one Mediator between God and man" (see on
Job 16:21).
strike hands--"who else (save God Himself) could strike hands with me?" that is, be my security
(Ps 119:122).
The Hebrew strikes the hand of him for whom he goes security
(Pr 6:1).
4
Sem título
4. their heart--The intellect of his friends.
shalt . . . exalt--Rather imperative, "exalt them not"; allow them not to conquer [UMBREIT],
(Isa 6:9, 10).
5
Sem título
5. The Hebrew for "flattery" is "smoothness"; then it came to mean a prey divided by lot, because a smooth stone was used in casting the lots
(De 18:8),
"a portion"
(Ge 14:24).
Therefore translate, "He that delivers up his friend as a prey (which the conduct of my friends implies that they would do), even the eyes," &c. [NOYES]
(Job 11:20).
Job says this as to the sinner's children, retorting upon their reproach as to the cutting off of his
(Job 5:4; 15:30).
This accords with the Old Testament dispensation of legal retribution
(Ex 20:5).
6
Sem título
6. He--God. The poet reverentially suppresses the name of God when speaking of calamities inflicted.
by-word--
(De 28:37; Ps 69:11).
My awful punishment makes my name execrated everywhere, as if I must have been superlatively bad to have earned it.
aforetime . . . tabret--as David was honored
(1Sa 18:6).
Rather from a different Hebrew root, "I am treated to my face as an object of disgust," literally, "an object to be spit upon in the face"
(Nu 12:14).
So Raca means
(Mt 5:22)
[UMBREIT].
7
Sem título
7.
(Ps 6:7; 31:9; De 34:7).
members--literally, "figures"; all the individual members being peculiar forms of the body; opposed to "shadow," which looks like a figure without solidity.
8
Sem título
8. astonied--at my unmerited sufferings.
against the hypocrite--The upright shall feel their sense of justice wounded ("will be indignant") because of the prosperity of the wicked. By "hypocrite" or "ungodly," he perhaps glances at his false friends.
9
Sem título
9. The strength of religious principle is heightened by misfortune. The pious shall take fresh courage to persevere from the example of suffering Job. The image is from a warrior acquiring new courage in action
(Isa 40:30, 31; Php 1:14).
10
Sem título
10. return--If you have anything to advance really wise, though I doubt it, recommence your speech. For as yet I cannot find one wise man among you all.
11
Sem título
11. Only do not vainly speak of the restoration of health to me; for "my days are past."
broken off--as the threads of the web cut off from the loom
(Isa 38:12).
thoughts--literally, "possessions," that is, all the feelings and fair hopes which my heart once nourished. These belong to the heart, as "purposes" to the understanding; the two together here describe the entire inner man.
12
Sem título
12. They--namely, "my friends."
change the night into day--that is, would try to persuade me of the change of my misery into joy, which is impossible [UMBREIT]
(Job 11:17);
(but) the light of prosperity (could it be enjoyed) would be short because of the darkness of adversity. Or better for "short," the Hebrew "near"; "and the light of new prosperity should be near in the face of (before) the darkness of death"; that is, they would persuade me that light is near, even though darkness approaches.
13
Sem título
13. Rather, "if I wait for this grave (Sheol, or the unseen world) as my house, and make my bed in the darkness
(Job 17:14),
and say to corruption," rather, "to the pit" or "grave," &c.
(Job 17:15).
Where then is my hope? [UMBREIT]. The apodosis is at
Job 17:15.
14
Sem título
14. Thou art my father, &c.--expressing most intimate connection
(Pr 7:4).
His diseased state made him closely akin to the grave and worm.
15
Sem título
15. Who shall see it fulfilled? namely, the "hope"
(Job 11:18)
which they held out to him of restoration.
16
Sem título
16. They--namely, my hopes shall be buried with me.
bars--
(Isa 38:10).
Rather, the wastes or solitudes of the pit (sheol, the unseen world).
rest together--the rest of me and my hope is in, &c. Both expire together. The word "rest" implies that man's ceaseless hopes only rob him of rest.
Job 17:1-16.
JOB'S ANSWER CONTINUED.
1. breath . . . corrupt--result of elephantiasis. But UMBREIT, "my strength (spirit) is spent."
extinct--Life is compared to an expiring light. "The light of my day is extinguished."
graves--plural, to heighten the force.