Job 23:13-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 23:13-17

Some make Job to complain here that God dealt unjustly and unfairly with him in proceeding to punish him without the least relenting or relaxation, though he had such incontestable evidences to produce of his innocency. I am loth to think holy Job would charge the holy God with iniquity; but his complaint is indeed bitter and peevish, and he reasons himself into a sort of patience per force, which he cannot do without reflecting upon God as dealing hardly with him, but he must bear it because... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:13

But he is in one mind ,.... Either with respect to his commandments, every precept remains in full force, he never alters the thing that is gone out of his lips, or delivers out other commandments different from, or contrary to what he has given; and therefore Job thought it his duty to abide by them, and not decline from them; which is the sense of a Jewish commentator F3 Sophorno. , connecting the words with the preceding: Or with respect to his dispensations towards Job in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:14

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me ,.... The same word is used as at the end of Job 23:12 ; where it is rendered, "my necessary food"; or appointed food a certain portion of it; food convenient, daily bread; and this has led some interpreters to take it in the same sense here, and render it, "he performeth my necessary things" F5 כי ישלים חקי "quia perfecit necessaria mea", Vatablus; so Nachmanides, Ben Gersom, Sephorno. , or things necessary for me;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:15

Therefore am I troubled at his presence ,.... Not at his gracious presence, which he wanted, and every good man desires; but at his appearance as an enemy, as he apprehended him, laying and continuing his afflictive hand upon him, and indeed at his appearance as a Judge to try his cause; for though he had most earnestly desired it, yet when he thought of the sovereignty of God, and the immutability of his counsels, and of his perfect knowledge of all things; and he not knowing what he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft ,.... Not tender as Josiah's was, 2 Kings 22:19 , or as the heart of every penitent is, when God makes it humble and contrite by his spirit and grace, or takes away the stony heart, and gives an heart of flesh; though Job had such an heart, and God made it so; but he means a weak, feeble, fearful heart, pressed and broken with afflictions, that could not endure and bear up under the mighty hand of God; but became as water, and melted like wax in the midst of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:17

Because I was not cut off before the darkness ,.... That is, it was amazing to him, and troubled him when he thought of it, that he was not cut off by death, before the darkness of afflictions, or this dark dispensation came upon him; as sometimes righteous ones are taken from the evil to come, as Methuselah was before the flood, Genesis 5:27 ; and Job wonders this was not his case, or at least he wishes it had been; for so Aben Ezra seems to understand and read the words, "why was I not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:13

But he is in one mind - The original is באחד והוא vehu beechad , and is literally, But he is in one: properly rendered by the Vulgate, Ipse enim solus est. But he is alone. And not badly rendered by Coverdale - It is he himself alone. He has no partner; his designs are his own, they are formed in his infinite wisdom, and none can turn his determinations aside. It is vain, therefore, for man to contend with his Maker. He designs my happiness, and you cannot prevent its accomplishment. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:14

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me - Coverdale translates: - He rewardeth me into my bosome, and many other thinges mo doth he, as he maye by his power. חקי chukki may as well be translated bosom here as in Job 23:12 ; but probably it may mean a portion, lot, sufficiency: For he hath appointed me my lot; and like these there are multitudes with him. He diversifies human affairs: scarcely any two men have the same lot; nor has the same person the same portion at all... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:15

Therefore am I troubled - I do not as yet see an end to my afflictions: he has not exhausted his means of trial; therefore, when I consider this, I am afraid of him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft - Prostrates my strength, deprives me of courage, so that I sink beneath my burden, and I am troubled at the thought of the Almighty, the self-sufficient and eternal Being. read more

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