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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 21:7-16

All Job's three friends, in their last discourses, had been very copious in describing the miserable condition of a wicked man in this world. ?It is true,? says Job, ?remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always; for we have many instances of the great and long prosperity of those that are openly and avowedly wicked; though they are hardened in their wickedness by their prosperity, yet they are still suffered to prosper.? I. He here describes their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:7

Wherefore do the wicked live ,.... Which question is put either to God himself, as not knowing ow to account for it, or to reconcile it to his divine perfections; that he, a holy, just, and righteous Being, should suffer such wretches to live upon his earth, who had been, and still were, continually sinning against him, transgressing his law, and trampling under foot his power and authority; when he, a man that feared the Lord, as God himself had borne witness of him, laboured under such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:8

Their seed is established in their sight with them ,.... Which is to be understood not of seed sown in the earth, and of the permanence and increase of that, but of their children; to have a numerous progeny, was reckoned a great temporal blessing, and to have them settled happily and comfortably in the world was an additional one; and what contributed still more to their felicity was, that they were well settled during their life, or they yet living, and with their eyes beholding their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:9

Their houses are safe from fear ,.... Of enemies besetting them, entering into them, and pillaging and plundering them; of thieves and robbers breaking into them, and carrying off their substance: or "their houses are peace" F15 שלום "pax", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Schultens. ; their families live in peace among themselves, or enjoy all prosperity, which the word peace frequently signifies; they have peace and prosperity within doors and are free "from fear", or devoid... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:10

Their bull gendereth, and faileth not ,.... As the wicked man's prosperity is described before by the increase and comfortable settlement of his children and grandchildren, and by the peace and safety of all within doors; here it is further set forth by the increase of his cattle in the fields, one part being put for the whole, his oxen and asses, his camels and sheep, things in which the riches of men chiefly lay in those times and countries; and he was reckoned an happy man when these... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:11

They send forth their little ones like a flock ,.... Of sheep, which are creatures very increasing, and become very numerous, Psalm 144:13 ; to which a large increase of families may be compared, Psalm 107:41 , for this is not to be interpreted of their kine sending or bringing forth such numbers as to be like a flock of sheep; but of the families of wicked men being increased in like manner; and the sending them forth to be understood either of the birth of their children being sent out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:12

They take the timbrel and harp ,.... Not the children, but the parents of them; these took these instruments of music into their hands, and played upon them while their children danced; thus merrily they spent their time: or, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra, they lift up the voice with the tabret and harp; that is, while they played on these with their hands, they sung songs with their mouths; they used both vocal and instrumental music together, to make the greater harmony, and give the greater... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:7

Wherefore do the wicked live - You have frequently asserted that the wicked are invariably punished in this life; and that the righteous are ever distinguished by the strongest marks of God's providential kindness; how then does it come that many wicked men live long and prosperously, and at last die in peace, without any evidence whatever of God's displeasure? This is a fact that is occurring daily; none can deny it; how then will you reconcile it with your maxims? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:8

Their seed is established - They see their own children grow up, and become settled in the land; and behold their children's children also; so that their generations are not cut off. Even the posterity of the wicked continue. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:9

Neither is the rod of God upon them - They are not afflicted as other men. read more

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