Job 28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:26

When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder . Decreed within himself that he would give it; for rain is his gift alone, and which none of the vanities of the Gentiles can give, and a wonderful blessing to the earth it is; and which God bestows on all sorts of men, both good and bad, and causes it to fall sometimes on one place and sometimes on another, sometimes in greater, sometimes in lesser showers; and according to his sovereign pleasure he gives or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:27

Then did he see it, and declare it ,.... His own wisdom, when he made and executed his decrees concerning rain, lightning, and thunder; he saw it in himself, and as it appeared in the works of his hands, which he looked on and approved of, and saw that all was very good; and he declared it to others, by his works of nature and providence; for they declare the glory of God, and particularly the glory of his wisdom: he prepared it, yea, and searched it out ; he prepared it in his counsels,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:28

And unto man he said ,.... What follows; unto Adam, so some render it, as Mr. Broughton; taking what is after delivered to be said to the first man; either by suggesting it to his mind and conscience, and inscribing it on his heart, where the law of God was written, and by which he was directed to fear God and avoid evil; or by the express command he gave him not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge; thereby instructing him to fear him, and abstain from evil; which, had he done,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28

Job, in showing the vanity of human pursuits in reference to genuine wisdom, mentions mining for and refining gold and silver, Job 28:1 ; iron and other minerals, Job 28:2 ; the difficulties of mining, Job 28:3 , Job 28:4 ; produce of grain for bread from the earth, and stones of fire from under it, Job 28:5 . He speaks of precious stones and gold dust, Job 28:6 ; of the instinct of fowls and wild beasts in finding their way, Job 28:7 , Job 28:8 ; and of the industry and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:1

Surely there is a vein for the silver - This chapter is the oldest and finest piece of natural history in the world, and gives us very important information on several curious subjects; and could we ascertain the precise meaning of all the original words, we might, most probably, find out allusions to several useful arts which we are apt to think are of modern, or comparatively modern, invention. The word מוצא motsa , which we here translate vein, signifies literally, a going out; i.e.,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:2

Iron is taken out of the earth - This most useful metal is hidden under the earth, and men have found out the method of separating it from its ore. Brass is molten out of the stone - As brass is a factitious metal, copper must be the meaning of the Hebrew word נחושה nechusah : literally, the stone is poured out for brass. If we retain the common translation, perhaps the process of making brass may be that to which Job refers; for this metal is formed from copper melted with the stone... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:3

He setteth an end to darkness - As it is likely Job still refers to mining, the words above may be understood as pointing out the persevering industry of man in penetrating into the bowels of the earth, in order to seek for metals and precious stones. Even the stones that lay hidden in the bowels of the earth he has digged for and brought to light, and has penetrated in directions in which the solar light could not be transmitted; so that he appears to have gone to the regions of the shadow... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:4

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant - This passage is very difficult. Some think it refers to mining; others to navigation. If it refer to the former, it may be intended to point out the waters that spring up when the miners have sunk down to a considerable depth, so that the mine is drowned, and they are obliged to give it up. Previously to the invention of the steam-engine this was generally the case: hence ancient mines may be reopened and worked to great advantage, because we have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:5

The earth, out of it cometh bread - Or the earth, ממנה mimmennah , from itself, by its own vegetative power, it sends out bread, or the corn of which bread is made. And under it is turned up as it were fire - It seems as if this referred to some combustible fossil, similar to our stone coal, which was dug up out of the earth in some places of Arabia. The Chaldee gives a translation, conformable to a very ancient opinion, which supposed the center of the earth to be a vast fire, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:6

The stones - the place of sapphires - In the language of mineralogists, the gangue, matrix, or bed in which the sapphire is found. For a description of this stone, see on Job 28:16 ; (note). Dust of gold - Or rather, gold dust. read more

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