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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 31:24-32

Four articles more of Job's protestation we have in these verses, which, as all the rest, not only assure us what he was and did, but teach us what we should be and do:? I. He protests that he never set his heart upon the wealth of this world, nor took the things of it for his portions and happiness. He had gold; he had fine gold. His wealth was great, and he had gotten much. Our wealth is either advantageous or pernicious to us according as we stand affected to it. If we make it our rest and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:24

If I have made gold my hope ,.... Job here purges himself from idolatry in a figurative sense, as he afterwards does from it, taken in a literal sense; for covetousness is idolatry, and a covetous man is an idolater; he worships his gold and silver, placing his affections on them, and putting his trust and confidence in them, Ephesians 5:5 ; for to make gold the object or ground of hope is to place it in the room of God, who is the Hope of Israel, and in whom every good man should trust,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:25

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great ,.... As it was, see Job 1:2 ; yet he did not set his heart upon it, please himself with it, indulge to a carnal joy on account of it, nor suffer it to engross his affections, or alienate them from God his chief joy; not but that a man may lawfully rejoice in the goodness of God unto him, in increasing his wealth, and praise him for it, who has placed him in such easy circumstances, and so comfortably provided for him and his family, and put him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:26

If I beheld the sun when it shined ,.... Some take this to be a reason why Job did not make gold his hope and confidence, because all sublunary and earthly enjoyments must be uncertain, fading, and perish, since the sun and moon are not without their deficiencies and changes, to which sense the Septuagint version inclines; others, as Nachmanides, that they are a denial that Job ascribed his wealth and substance to the influence of the heavenly bodies; and many interpreters are of opinion... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:27

And mine heart hath been secretly enticed ,.... Drawn away by beholding the magnitude of these bodies, the swiftness of their motion, their glorious appearance, and great usefulness to mankind, to entertain a thought of their being deities; and privately to worship them, in secret acts of devotion, as by an honourable esteem of them as such, reverence and affection for them, trust and confidence in them; for, as there is a secret worshipping of the true God, so there is a secret idolatry,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:28

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge ,.... As well as adultery, Job 31:11 ; by the civil magistrates and judges of the earth, who are God's vicegerents, and therefore it behooves them to take cognizance of such an iniquity, and to punish for it, which affects in so peculiar a manner the honour and worship of the true God; this by the law of Moses was punished by stoning to death, Deuteronomy 13:9 ; however this will be taken notice of and punished by God the Judge... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:24

Gold my hope - For the meaning of זהב zahab , polished gold, and כתם kethem , stamped gold, see on Job 28:15-17 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:26

If I beheld the sun when it shined - In this verse Job clears himself of that idolatrous worship which was the most ancient and most consistent with reason of any species of idolatry; viz., Sabaeism, the worship of the heavenly bodies; particularly the sun and moon, Jupiter and Venus, the two latter being the morning and evening stars, and the most resplendent of all the heavenly bodies, the sun and moon excepted. "Job," says Calmet, "points out three things here: The worship of the sun... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:28

For I should have denied the God that is above - Had I paid Divine adoration to them, I should have thereby denied the God that made them. read more

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