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82 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Text Commentaries</title>
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PriorBook = 'Esther';
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Title = 'The Book of Job';
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SubTitle1 = 'Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET';
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SubTitle3 = 'CHAPTER 24';
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<p id="Chapter24" align="center">Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET<br>CHAPTER 24
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<p id="Job24_1"><a onclick="return mV('Job',24,'1-25');">Job 24:1-25</a>.
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<p><b>1.</b> Why is it that, seeing that the times of punishment (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',30,3);">Eze 30:3</a>; "time" in the same sense) are not hidden from the Almighty, they who know Him (His true worshippers, <a onclick="return mV('Job',18,21);">Job 18:21</a>) do not see His days (of vengeance <a onclick="return mV('Joe',1,15);">Joe 1:15</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Pe',3,10);">2Pe 3:10</a>)? Or, with UMBREIT less simply, making the parallel clauses more nicely balanced, Why are not times of punishment hoarded up ("laid up" <a onclick="return mV('Job',21,19);">Job 21:19</a>; <i>appointed</i>) by the Almighty? that is, Why are they not so appointed as that man may now see them? as the second clause shows. Job does not doubt that they are appointed: nay, he asserts it (<a onclick="return mV('Job',21,30);">Job 21:30</a>); what he wishes is that God would let all now <i>see</i> that it is so.
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<p id="Job24_2"><b>2-24.</b> Instances of the wicked doing the worst deeds with seeming impunity (<a onclick="return mV('Job',24,'2-24');">Job 24:2-24</a>).
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<br><br><b>Some</b>—the wicked.
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<br><br><b>landmarks</b>—boundaries between different pastures (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',19,14);">Deu 19:14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Pro',22,28);">Pro 22:28</a>).
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<p id="Job24_3"><b>3. pledge</b>—alluding to <a onclick="return mV('Job',22,6);">Job 22:6</a>. Others really do, and with impunity, that which Eliphaz falsely charges the afflicted Job with.
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<p id="Job24_4"><b>4.</b> Literally, they push the poor out of their road in meeting them. Figuratively, they take advantage of them by force and injustice (alluding to the charge of Eliphaz, <a onclick="return mV('Job',22,8);">Job 22:8</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Sa',8,3);">1Sa 8:3</a>).
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<br><br><b>poor</b>—in spirit and in circumstances (<a onclick="return mV('Mat',5,3);">Mat 5:3</a>).
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<br><br><b>hide</b>—from the injustice of their oppressors, who have robbed them of their all and driven them into unfrequented places (<a onclick="return mV('Job',20,19);">Job 20:19</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Job',30,'3-6');">30:3-6</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Pro',28,28);">Pro 28:28</a>).
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<p id="Job24_5"><b>5. wild asses</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Job',11,12);">Job 11:12</a>). So Ishmael is called a "wild ass-man"; <i>Hebrew</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',16,12);">Gen 16:12</a>). These Bedouin robbers, with the unbridled wildness of the ass of the desert, go forth thither. Robbery is their lawless "work." The desert, which yields no food to other men, yields food for the robber and his children by the plunder of caravans.
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<br><br><b>rising betimes</b>—In the East travelling is begun very early, before the heat comes on.
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<p id="Job24_6"><b>6.</b> Like the wild asses (<a onclick="return mV('Job',24,5);">Job 24:5</a>) reap (metaphorically) their various grain (so the <i>Hebrew</i> for "corn" means). The wild ass does not let man pile his mixed provender up in a stable (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',30,24);">Isa 30:24</a>); so these robbers find their food in the open air, at one time in the desert (<a onclick="return mV('Job',24,5);">Job 24:5</a>), at another in the fields.
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<br><br><b>the vintage of the wicked</b>—<i>Hebrew,</i> "the wicked gather the vintage"; the vintage of robbery, not of honest industry. If we translate "belonging to the wicked," then it will imply that the wicked alone have vineyards, the "pious poor" (<a onclick="return mV('Job',24,4);">Job 24:4</a>) have none. "Gather" in <i>Hebrew,</i> is "gather late." As the first clause refers to the <i>early</i> harvest of corn, so the second to the vintage <i>late</i> in autumn.
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<p id="Job24_7"><b>7.</b> UMBREIT understands it of the Bedouin robbers, who are quite regardless of the comforts of life, "They pass the night naked, and uncovered," etc. But the allusion to <a onclick="return mV('Job',22,6);">Job 22:6</a>, makes the <i>English Version</i> preferable (see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job024.html#Job24_10">Job 24:10</a>). Frost is not uncommon at night in those regions (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',31,40);">Gen 31:40</a>).
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<p id="Job24_8"><b>8. They</b>—the plundered travellers.
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<br><br><b>embrace the rock</b>—take refuge under it (<a onclick="return mV('Lam',4,5);">Lam 4:5</a>).
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<p id="Job24_9"><b>9. from the breast</b>—of the widowed mother. Kidnapping children for slaves. Here Job passes from wrongs in the desert to those done among the habitations of men.
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<br><br><b>pledge</b>—namely, the garment of the poor debtor, as <a onclick="return mV('Job',24,10);">Job 24:10</a> shows.
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<p id="Job24_10"><b>10.</b> (See on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job022.html#Job22_6">Job 22:6</a>). In <a onclick="return mV('Job',24,7);">Job 24:7</a> a like sin is alluded to: but <i>there</i> he implies open robbery of garments in the desert; <i>here,</i> the more refined robbery in civilized life, under the name of a "pledge." Having stripped the poor, they make them besides labor in their harvest-fields and do not allow them to satisfy their hunger with any of the very corn which they carry to the heap. Worse treatment than that of the ox, according to <a onclick="return mV('Deu',25,4);">Deu 25:4</a>. Translate: "they (the poor laborers) hungering carry the sheaves" [UMBREIT].
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<p id="Job24_11"><b>11. Which</b>—"They," the poor, "press the oil within their wall"; namely, not only in the open fields (<a onclick="return mV('Job',24,10);">Job 24:10</a>), but also in the wall-enclosed vineyards and olive gardens of the oppressor (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',5,5);">Isa 5:5</a>). Yet they are not allowed to quench their "thirst" with the grapes and olives. Here, <i>thirsty;</i> <a onclick="return mV('Job',24,10);">Job 24:10</a>, <i>hungry.</i>
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<p id="Job24_12"><b>12. Men</b>—rather, "mortals" (not the common <i>Hebrew</i> for "men"); so the Masoretic vowel points read as <i>English Version.</i> But the vowel points are modern. The true reading is, "The dying," answering to "the wounded" in the next clause, so <i>Syriac.</i> Not merely in the country (<a onclick="return mV('Job',24,11);">Job 24:11</a>), but also in the city there are oppressed sufferers, who cry for help in vain. "<i>From out</i> of the city"; that is, they long to get forth and be free outside of it (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',1,11);">Exd 1:11</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Exd',2,23);">2:23</a>).
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<br><br><b>wounded</b>—by the oppressor (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',30,24);">Eze 30:24</a>).
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<br><br><b>layeth not folly</b>—takes no account of (by punishing) their <i>sin</i> ("folly" in Scripture; <a onclick="return mV('Job',1,22);">Job 1:22</a>). This is the gist of the whole previous list of sins (<a onclick="return mV('Act',17,30);">Act 17:30</a>). UMBREIT with <i>Syriac</i> reads by changing a vowel point, "Regards not their supplication."
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<p id="Job24_13"><b>13.</b> So far as to openly committed sins; now, those done in the dark. Translate: "There are those among them (the wicked) who rebel," etc.
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<br><br><b>light</b>—both literal and figurative (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,19,20);">Jhn 3:1920</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Pro',2,13);">Pro 2:13</a>).
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<br><br><b>paths thereof</b>—places where the light shines.
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<p id="Job24_14"><b>14. with the light</b>—at early dawn, while still dark, when the traveller in the East usually sets out, and the poor laborer to his work; the murderous robber lies in wait then (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',10,8);">Psa 10:8</a>).
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<br><br><b>is as a thief</b>—<i>Thieves</i> in the East steal while men sleep at night; <i>robbers</i> murder at early dawn. The same man who steals at night, when light dawns not only robs, but murders to escape detection.
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<p id="Job24_15"><b>15.</b> (<a onclick="return mV('Pro',7,9);">Pro 7:9</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',10,11);">Psa 10:11</a>).
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<br><br><b>disguiseth</b>—puts a veil on.
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<p id="Job24_16"><b>16. dig through</b>—Houses in the East are generally built of sun-dried mud bricks (so <a onclick="return mV('Mat',6,19);">Mat 6:19</a>). "Thieves break through," literally, "dig through" (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',12,7);">Eze 12:7</a>).
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<br><br><b>had marked</b>—Rather, as in <a onclick="return mV('Job',9,7);">Job 9:7</a>, "They shut themselves up" (in their houses); literally, "they seal up."
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<br><br><b>for themselves</b>—for their own ends, namely, to escape detection.
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<br><br><b>know not</b>—shun.
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<p id="Job24_17"><b>17.</b> They shrink from the "morning" light, as much as other men do from <i>the blackest darkness</i> ("the shadow of <i>death</i>").
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<br><br><b>if one know</b>—that is, recognize them. Rather, "They know well (are familiar with) the terrors of," etc. [UMBREIT]. Or, as MAURER, "They know the terrors of (this) darkness," namely, of morning, the light, which is as terrible to them as darkness ("the shadow of death") is to other men.
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<p id="Job24_18"><b>18-21.</b> In these verses Job quotes the opinions of his adversaries ironically; he quoted them so before. In <a onclick="return mV('Job',24,'22-24');">Job 24:22-24</a>, he states his own observation as the opposite. You say, "The sinner is swift, that is, swiftly passes away (as a thing floating) on the surface of the waters" (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,1);">Ecc 11:1</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Hsa',10,7);">Hsa 10:7</a>).
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<br><br><b>is cursed</b>—by those who witness their "swift" destruction.
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<br><br><b>beholdeth not</b>—"turneth not to"; figuratively, for He cannot enjoy his pleasant possessions (<a onclick="return mV('Job',20,17);">Job 20:17</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Job',15,33);">15:33</a>).
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<br><br><b>the way of the vineyards</b>—including his fields, fertile as vineyards; opposite to "the way of the desert."
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<p id="Job24_19"><b>19.</b> Arabian image; melted snow, as contrasted with the living fountain, quickly dries up in the sunburnt sand, not leaving a trace behind (<a onclick="return mV('Job',6,'16-18');">Job 6:16-18</a>). The <i>Hebrew</i> is terse and elliptical to express the swift and utter destruction of the godless; (so) "the grave—they have sinned!"
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<p id="Job24_20"><b>20. The womb</b>—The very mother that bare him, and who is the last to "forget" the child that <i>sucked</i> her (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',49,15);">Isa 49:15</a>), shall dismiss him from her memory (<a onclick="return mV('Job',18,17);">Job 18:17</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Pro',10,7);">Pro 10:7</a>). The worm shall <i>suck,</i> that is, "feed sweetly" on him as a delicate morsel (<a onclick="return mV('Job',21,33);">Job 21:33</a>).
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<br><br><b>wickedness</b>—that is, the wicked; abstract for concrete (as <a onclick="return mV('Job',5,16);">Job 5:16</a>).
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<br><br><b>as a tree</b>—utterly (<a onclick="return mV('Job',19,10);">Job 19:10</a>); UMBREIT better, "as a staff." A broken staff is the emblem of irreparable ruin (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',14,5);">Isa 14:5</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Hsa',4,12);">Hsa 4:12</a>).
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<p id="Job24_21"><b>21.</b> The reason given by the friends why the sinner deserves such a fate.
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<br><br><b>barren</b>—without sons, who might have protected her.
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<br><br><b>widow</b>—without a husband to support her.
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<p id="Job24_22"><b>22-25.</b> Reply of Job to the opinion of the friends. Experience proves the contrary. Translate: "But He (God) prolongeth the life of (literally, draweth out at length; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',36,10);">Psa 36:10</a>, <i>Margin</i>) the mighty with His (God's) power. He (the wicked) riseth up (from his sick bed) although he had given up hope of (literally, when he no longer believed in) life" (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',28,66);">Deu 28:66</a>).
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<p id="Job24_23"><b>23.</b> Literally, "He (God omitted, as often; <a onclick="return mV('Job',3,20);">Job 3:20</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',9,9);">Ecc 9:9</a>; reverentially) giveth to him (the wicked, to be) in safety, or security."
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<br><br><b>yet</b>—Job means, How strange that God should so favor them, and yet have His eyes all the time open to their wicked ways (<a onclick="return mV('Pro',15,3);">Pro 15:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',73,4);">Psa 73:4</a>)!
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<p id="Job24_24"><b>24.</b> Job repeats what he said (<a onclick="return mV('Job',21,13);">Job 21:13</a>), that sinners die in exalted positions, not the painful and lingering death we might expect, but a <i>quick and easy death.</i> Join "for a while" with "are gone," not as <i>English Version.</i> Translate: "A moment—and they are no more! They are brought low, as all (others) gather up their feet to die." A natural death (<a onclick="return mV('Gen',49,33);">Gen 49:33</a>).
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<br><br><b>ears of corn</b>—in a ripe and full age, not prematurely (<a onclick="return mV('Job',5,26);">Job 5:26</a>).
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<p id="Job24_25"><b>25.</b> (So <a onclick="return mV('Job',9,24);">Job 9:24</a>).
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