Job 3:11-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 3:19

The small and great are there ,.... Both as to age, and with respect to bulk and strength of body, and also to estate and dignity; children and men, or those of low and high stature, or in a mean or more exalted state of life, as to riches and honour, these all come to the grave without any difference, and lie there without any distinction F25 "Grandia cum parvis Orcus metit". Horat. Ep. l. 2. ep. 2. ver. 178. "----Mista senum ac juvenum densantur funera". Horat. Carmin. l. 1. Ode. 28. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 3:20

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery ,.... That labours under various calamities and afflictions, as Job did, being stripped of his substance, deprived of his children, and now in great pain of body and distress of mind; who, since he died not so soon as he wished he had, expostulates why his life is protracted; for that is what he means by light, as appears from the following clause, even the light of the living, or the light of the world; which though sweet and pleasant to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 3:21

Which long for death, but it cometh not ,.... Who earnestly desire, wistly look out, wish for, and expect it, and with open mouth gape for it, as a hungry man for his food, or as the fish for the bait, or the fishermen for the fish, as some F1 So Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. vid. Schultens in loc. observe the word may signify; but it comes not to their wish and expectation, or so soon as they would have it; the reason is, because the fixed time for it is not come, otherwise it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 3:22

Which rejoice exceedingly ,.... Or, "which joy till they do skip again", as Mr. Broughton renders it, and to the same purport others F4 השמחים אלי גיל "qu laetantur ad choream usque", Schultens, "quasi ad tripudium", Michaelis. ; are so elated as to skip and dance for joy: and are glad when they can find the grave ; which is to be understood either of those who dig in the earth for hid treasure, such as is laid there by men; when they strike and hit upon a grave where they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 3:11

Why died I not from the womb - As the other circumstance did not take place, why was I not still-born, without the possibility of reviviscence? or, as this did not occur, why did I not die as soon as born? These three things appear to me to be clearly intended here: - Dying in the womb, or never coming to maturity, as in the case of an abortion. Being still-born, without ever being able to breathe. 3. Or, if born alive, dying within a short time after. And to these states he seems to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 3:12

Why did the knees prevent me? - Why was I dandled on the knees? Why was I nourished by the breasts? In either of the above cases I had neither been received into a mother's lap, nor hung upon a mother's breasts. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 3:13

For now should I have lain still - In that case I had been insensible; quiet - without these overwhelming agitations; slept - unconscious of evil; been at rest - been out of the reach of calamity and sorrow. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 3:14

With kings and counsellors of the earth - I believe this translation to be perfectly correct. The counsellors, יעצי yoatsey , I suppose to mean the privy council, or advisers of kings; those without whose advice kings seldom undertake wars, expeditions, etc. These mighty agitators of the world are at rest in their graves, after the lives of commotion which they have led among men: most of whom indeed have been the troublers of the peace of the globe. Which built desolate places - Who... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 3:15

Or with princes that had gold - Chief or mighty men, lords of the soil, or fortunate adventurers in merchandise, who got gold in abundance, filled their houses with silver, left all behind, and had nothing reserved for themselves but the empty places which they had made for their last dwelling, and where their dust now sleeps, devoid of care, painful journeys, and anxious expectations. He alludes here to the case of the covetous, whom nothing can satisfy, as an Asiatic writer has observed,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 3:16

Or as a hidden untimely birth - An early miscarriage, which was scarcely perceptible by the parent herself; and in this case he had not been - he had never had the distinguishable form of a human being, whether male or female. As infants - Little ones; those farther advanced in maturity, but miscarried long before the time of birth. read more

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