Job 31

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:11

A heinous crime. Job justly regards adultery as a heinous crime which is deserving of punishment; I. THE GREAT EVIL OF THIS CRIME . It contains within it a combination of various dreadful kinds of wickedness. 1 . Unfaithfulness. Husband and wife have vowed to be true to one another. Adultery is a breach of marriage vows. Even if purity were not originally binding, the voluntary assumption of the yoke of matrimony would have made it so. The sin of unfaithfulness to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:12

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction ; i.e. it is a thing which brings down the wrath of God upon a man, so that "a fire is kindled in his anger, which shall burn unto the lowest hell" ( Deuteronomy 32:22 ). Compare the sentence on David for his great transgression ( 2 Samuel 12:9-12 ). And would root out all mine increase ; i.e. "would destroy all my estate;" either by leading me to waste my substance upon my companion in sin, or by bringing down God's judgments upon me... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:13

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant. Job now disclaims a fourth sin—the oppression of his dependants. Eliphaz had taxed him generally with harshness and cruelty in his relations towards those weaker than himself ( Job 22:5-9 ), but had not specially pointed to this kind of oppressiveness. As, however, this was the commonest form of the vice, Job deems it right to disclaim it, before addressing himself to the several charges brought by Eliphaz. He has not ill... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:14-15

What then shall I do when God riseth up? Job regards God as the Avenger and Champion of all the oppressed. If he had been harsh and cruel to his dependants, he would have provoked God's anger, and God would assuredly "rise up" one day to punish. What, then, could he (Job) do? What but submit in silence? When he visiteth, what shall I answer him? There could be no valid defence. The slave was still a man, a brother—God's creature, equally with his master. Did not he that made me in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:16

If I have withheld the poor from their desire . As Eliphaz had maintained ( Job 22:6 , Job 22:7 ), and as Job had already denied ( Job 29:12 , Job 29:16 ). The duty of relieving the poor, solemnly enjoined upon the people of Israel in the Law ( Deuteronomy 15:7-11 ), was generally admitted by the civilized nations of antiquity. In Egypt it was especially insisted on. "The Egyptian's duties to mankind," says Dr. Birch, "were comprised in giving bread to the hungry, drink to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:17

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof . With the widow, the fatherless is usually conjoined, as an equal object of compassion (see Exodus 22:22 ; Deuteronomy 10:18 ; Psalms 68:5 ; Isaiah 1:17 ; Jeremiah 22:3 ; Ezekiel 22:7 ; Zechariah 7:10 , etc.). Eliphaz had specially charged Job with oppression of the fatherless ( Job 22:9 ), and his charge had been denied by Job ( Job 29:12 ). He now claims to have always shared his bread with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:18

For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb ; i.e. I have always, so long as I can remember, protected the orphan and done my best to help the widow. It has been my habit from my earliest years so to act. The language is exaggerated; but it had, no doubt, a basis of fact to rest upon. Job was brought up in these principles. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:19

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing (scrap. Job 22:6 , where Eliphaz taxes Job with so acting; and, on the duty of clothing the naked, see Isaiah 58:7 ; Ezekiel 18:7 , Ezekiel 18:16 ; Matthew 25:36 ). Or any poor without covering . A pleonastic parallelism. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:20

If his loins have not blessed me (see above, Job 29:11 , Job 29:13 ), and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep . Clothed, i.e; with a garment spun from wool yielded by my own sheep. A great sheikh like Job would keep in store many such garments, ready to be given to such as were naked or poorly clad, when they came under his observation ( Isaiah 58:7 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:21

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless ; i.e. if I have in any way oppressed him. When I saw my help in the gate ; i.e. . when I had the power to do so—when I saw my friends and hangers-on mustered in force at the gate where causes were being tried. The wrong and robbery which the poor suffer in the East have always been camel, to a large extent, by failure of justice in the courts, where might, and not right, carries the day. read more

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