7. But now—rather, "ah!" he—God. company—rather, "band of witnesses," namely, those who could attest his innocence (his children, servants, &c.). So the same Hebrew is translated in Job 16:8. UMBREIT makes his "band of witnesses," himself, for, alas! he had no other witness for him. But this is too recondite. read more
2. Job’s second reply to Eliphaz chs. 16-17This response reflects Job’s increasing disinterest in the words of his accusers. He warned them and then proceeded to bewail his isolation. read more
Job’s distress at God’s hand 16:6-17Job’s friends did not cause his greatest discomfort, however; from Job’s perspective God did. Most of the verses in this pericope are easy to understand. A better translation of Job 16:6 b might be, "And if I hold back, it does not leave me.""Job’s assumption that God was angry with him [in Job 16:9] implies that Job subconsciously felt that God was punishing him for some unknown sin of which Job was unaware. He wished that God would reveal this to him (Job... read more
Job’s Fourth Speech (Job 16, 17)See introductory remarks on Job 15-21.1-5. Job retorts scornfully that he too could offer such empty ’comfort’ if he were in the friends’ place.2. The friends can do nothing but repeat their exasperating commonplaces. 3. Shall vain words, etc.] i.e. ’will you never stop?’5. Job would have acted very differently (Job 4:3-4; Job 29), giving no mere lip-comfort.6-17. Job enlarges on the wrath of God and the enmity of man. Neither speech nor silence brings him... read more
(7) But now he hath made me weary.—He turns again, in his passionate plaint, to God, whom he alternately speaks of in the third person and addresses in the second. “Thou hast made desolate all my company,” by destroying all his children and alienating the hearts or his friends. read more
Job 16:2 In no respect was Mrs. Grote's knowledge of the human heart more apparent than in her intercourse with a mariner. With the unfailing freshness she put into all she said, she called herself 'a good affliction woman'. In the first place she admitted the reality of the trial, without which no one attempting to help no matter in what can be either just or kind. Then she dealt in no commonplaces on any subject in the world, least of all on that of deep grief. She knew that nothing could... read more
XIV."MY WITNESS IN HEAVEN"Job 16:1-22; Job 17:1-16Job SPEAKSIF it were comforting to be told of misery and misfortune, to hear the doom of insolent evildoers described again and again in varying terms, then Job should have been comforted. But his friends had lost sight of their errand, and he had to recall them to it."I have heard many such things: Afflictive comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end?"He would have them consider that perpetual harping on one string is but a sober... read more
CHAPTERS 16-17 Job’s Reply to Eliphaz 1. Miserable comforters are ye all (Job 16:1-5 ) 2. Oh God! Thou hast done it! (Job 16:6-14 ) 3. Yet I look to Thee (Job 16:15-22 ) 4. Trouble upon trouble; self-pity (Job 17:1-12 ) 5. Where is now my hope? (Job 17:13-16 ) Job 16:1-5 . How masterfully he meets their wrong accusations and how he brings forth his suffering afresh, yet always with that horrible nightmare, God is not for me, but against me! Such things Eliphaz spoke he had heard... read more
16:7 But now {g} he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my {h} company.(g) Meaning, God.(h) That is, destroyed most of my family. read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 16:7
Job 16:7. But now he hath made me weary— For my trouble hath now weakened all my frame, and brought wrinkles over me, Job 16:8. He is present as a witness, and ariseth against me, who telleth lies concerning me, he openly contradicts me to my face. Houbigant. Heath renders the verses, Only now it reduceth me to the last extremity; thou causest all my company to be in a consternation. Job 16:8. It even wounds me to the heart, that my traitorous false friend should thus turn witness; nay, that he... read more