10. gaped—not in order to devour, but to mock him. To fill his cup of misery, the mockery of his friends (Job 16:10) is added to the hostile treatment from God (Job 16:10- :). smitten . . . cheek—figurative for contemptuous abuse (Lamentations 3:30; Matthew 5:39). gathered themselves—"conspired unanimously" [SCHUTTENS]. read more
11. the ungodly—namely, his professed friends, who persecuted him with unkind speeches. turned me over—literally, "cast me headlong into the hands of the wicked." read more
12. I was at ease—in past times (Job 1:1-3). by my neck—as an animal does its prey (so Job 10:16). shaken—violently; in contrast to his former "ease" (Job 10:16- :). Set me up (again). mark— (Job 7:20; Lamentations 3:12). God lets me always recover strength, so as to torment me ceaselessly. 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
(11) The ungodly and the wicked are the terms he retorts upon his friends, and they have certainly earned them. Now follows— read more
(12) I was at ease.—A highly poetical passage, in which Job becomes, as it were, a St. Sebastian for the arrows of God. It is hardly possible to conceive a more vivid picture of his desolate condition under the persecuting hand of the Almighty. 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
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 16:10
Job 16:10. They have gathered themselves together against me— They are ready to burst with fury against me. Heath. They have unanimously satiated their wrath upon me. Houbigant. read more