Job 18

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:9

The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber (rather, the man-trap ) shall prevail against him . Fifty years ago man-traps were commonly set at night in gardens and orchards in this country, which held intending thieves until the proprietor came and took them before a magistrate in the morning. (On the employment of such traps in antiquity, see Herod; 2:121. § 2.) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:10

The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way; or, the noose is hid for him in the ground (see the Revised Version). Six different kinds of traps or snares are mentioned, "the speaker heaping together every word that he can find descriptive of the art of snaring." The art had been well studied by the Egyptians long before the age of Job, and a great variety of contrivances for capturing both beasts and birds are represented on the very early monuments. We may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:11

Terrors shall make him afraid on every side . Vague fears, panic terrors, no longer subjective, but to his bewildered brain objective, shall seem to menace the wicked man on every side, and shall affright him continually. There is an allusion, doubtless, to what Job has said of the gloomy and terrifying thoughts which come over him from time to time ( Job 3:25 ; Job 7:14 ; Job 9:28 ; Job 13:21 ) and fill him with consternation. And shall drive him to his feet ; rather, shall chase... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:12

His strength shall be hunger-bitten . (So Dillmann, Cook, and the Revised Version.) To the other sufferings of the wicked man shall be added the pangs of hunger. His bodily strength shall disappear, as destitution and famine come upon him. And destruction shall be ready at his side . Ready to seize on him at any moment. Some translate, "ready for his halting" i.e. ready to seize on him in ease of his tripping or halting (so the Revised Version). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:13

It shall devour the strength of his skin ; literally, the bars of his skin , by which some understand "the muscles," some "the members," of his body. The general meaning is plain, that destruction shall always be close to him, and shall ultimately make him its own. Even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength . By "the firstborn of death" is probably intended, either some wasting disease generally, or perhaps the special disease from which Job is suffering. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:14

His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle ; rather, he shall be rooted out of his tabernacle (or, tent), which is his confidence , or wherein he trusteth ; i.e. he shall be torn from the home, where he thought himself secure as in a stronghold. And it shall bring him ; rather, one shall bring him , or, he shall be brought. To the king of terrors . Probably death, rather than Satan, is intended. None of Job's "comforters" seems to have had any conception of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:14

The king of terrors. Men regard death as the king of terrors. Let us consider first the grounds of this notion, and then how it may be dispelled. I. LET US CONSIDER WHY DEATH IS REGARDED AS THE KING OF TERRORS . Men instinctively think of death as "the grisly terror." "I fled, and cried out, 'Death!' Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed From all her caves, and back resounded, 'Death!'" 1. It is opposed to the natural love of life. "All that a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:15

It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his ; either, it ( i.e. terror) shall dwell in his tabernacle , which is no longer his ; or, they shall dwell in his tabernacle that are none of his ; i.e. strangers shall inhabit the place where he dwelt heretofore (compare the Revised Version). Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation . As God rained fire and brimstone out of heaven upon the cities of the plain ( Genesis 19:24 ), so shall brimstone be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:15

The home of the wicked insecure. The blessing of the Lord is upon "the habitation of the just." This is the reward of righteousness. But the Divine judgment against the wicked is shown in permitting his house to become desolate. One of the oft-repeated promises to Israel is the blessing of the Lord upon the habitation. But "the curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked." The practice of iniquity tends to destruction. It has no element of stability in it. The habitation of the wicked is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:16

His roots shall be dried up beneath . He shall be like a tree whose roots no moisture reaches, and which, therefore, withers and dries up (comp. Job 14:8 , Job 14:9 ; Job 29:19 ). And above shall his branch be cut off ; or, be withered (comp. Job 14:2 , where the same verb is used). read more

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