Job 21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:5

Mark me ,.... Or "look at me" F14 פנו אלי "respicite ad me", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, &c.; ; not at his person, which was no lovely sight to behold, being covered with boils from head to foot, his flesh clothed with worms and clods of dust, his skin broken, yea, scarce any left; however, he was become a mere skeleton, reduced to skin and bone; but at his sorrows, and sufferings, and consider and contemplate them in their minds, and see if there was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:6

Even when I remember ,.... Either the iniquities of his youth he was made to possess; or his former state of outward happiness and prosperity he had enjoyed, and reviewed his present miserable case and condition, and called to mind the evil tidings brought him thick and fast of the loss of his substance, servants, and children, which were so terrible and shocking; or when he reflected on the instances of Providence he was about to relate in the following verses: I am afraid, and trembling... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:13

They spend their days in wealth ,.... Or "in good" F16 בטוב "in bono", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, &c.; ; not in the performance of good works, or in the exercise of that which is spiritually good; or in seeking after spiritual good things, or eternal happiness; but in earthly good, in the enjoyment of the temporal good things of this life, and which to enjoy in a moderate and becoming manner is not criminal, but commendable; but these men, and such as they, seek... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:14

Therefore they say unto God ,.... While in health and life, amidst all their outward prosperity, and because of it; for worldly riches have this tendency, to make men proud and insolent, and not only to behave ill to their fellow creatures, and to slight and despise them; but even to forsake God, and lightly esteem their Creator and benefactor; yea, even to kick against him, and oppose him, to set their mouths against him, and speak very contemptuously and blasphemously of him, as in the... read more

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