Job 9:12 - Exposition

Behold, he taketh away ; rather, he seizeth the prey (see the Revised Version). The expression is much stronger than that used in Job 1:21 . Job seems to be smarting under the recollection of all that he has lost, and takes an aggrieved tone. Who can hinder him? (comp. Isaiah 45:9 ; Jeremiah 18:6 ; Romans 19:20). Who will say unto him, What doest thou? To have to do with such an irresistible Being, alone in his might, would indeed be terrible if, while absolutely powerful, unchecked and uncontrolled from without, he were not also absolutely good, and therefore controlled and checked by a law from within. This, however, Job, in his present mood, does not seem clearly to see.