r Heb. 4s the ſickneſſss or ſorrows of my meat, i.e. as my ſorrowful Meat,which I am conſtrained to eat with grief of heart» The Par- ticle as,eicher 1. notes not the fimilitude,but the truth of the thing, as it is oft uſed, as hath been formerly noted and proved. So the Senſe is, That ſuch M-=at as former'y he ſhould have abhorred ro touch, either for, the equality ofir, or for his tears or ulcerous Mi- ter, which mixed themſelves with it, he was now forced by the ne- ceſſities of Nature, and his own Poverty,to eat : Or, 2: implies thar che following words are not to be underſtood properly, bur mera. phorically. And ſo the Senſe may be this, Thoſe grievous afflitions, which according to the principles and common inclinations of hu- mane naturz,I dreaded the very touch and thought of,they are now my daiiy, though ſorrowful bread ; Iam forced conſtantly to feed upon them ; as other Perſons in great afflictions are ſaid ro be fed with bread of tears, P[al- 80: 5: and to eat aſhes like bread, Pſal: 102: 9; Others make thisa cenſure of Eliphas his words, as ungrateful & loathſom to him. Bur thar Senſe ſeems neither to agree with the words of this verſe, nor wirh its ſcope and coherence with the for- mer, of which ſee the Notes on v; 63
8 O that I might have my requeſts ! and that God
Heb: wy Would grant we Tthe thing that {long for |
expefFations
s 7. e. The thing which Ihave ſo paſſionately defired ; and not- withſtanding all your vain words, and weak arguments, do ſtil] juſtly conrinne to delire, to wit, death, as 1s expreſſed wv; 9; and more largely Ch. 3:
9 Even that it would pleaſe God to deftroy me : that he would let looſe his hand «, and cut me off.
: To end my Dayesand Calamitics rogether. u Which is now as it were bound up, or reſtrained from giving me that deadly blow which I detire. O that he would reſtrain himſelf and his hand no longer, bur let it fall upon me with all its might, ſo as to cur me off as it foll-ws.
10 Then ſhould IT yet have comfort x, yea, T would harden my ſelf in ſorrow y : let him not ſpare v, for I have not concealed the words of the holy One 5.
xT ae thoughts of my approaching death wouid comfort me in all my ſorrows. This would ſolace me more than life, with all that worldly ſafety,and glory,and happineſs which thou haſt adviſed me to ſeek unto God for. y i.e. I would bear up my ſelf with more courage and pari-nce under all my torments.with the hopes of my death,zand that bleſſedneſs into which I know I ſhall after death be admittea, as he more fully ſpeaks, Ch: 19- 26, 27: whereas now I pine away in lingring, and hopeleſs miſeries. Or, I wwuld burn, i. e. Ian content to burn) inſorrow- Or. I wonld pray ( as this word ſienifies in Hebrew Writters ; and praving may be here pur for praiſing or worſhivping «cf God, as it is frequently uſed in Scripture) in, or for my ſorr»w or pain; Then T w-uld worſhip God, and ſay, Blefled be the Lord's Name for theie afflictions, as I did for tbe former, Ch: I: 20, 21: 2 Butler him uſe all ſeverity againſt me, ſo far as to cur me off, and nut ſuffer me to live any longer ; which will ſeem to mea cruel kind of patience towards me. #7.e, Of God, who is frequenrly called the Holy One in Scriptur?, as 1(a: 40; 25: & 57: 15; Hab: 3: 3: and is ſo ina moſt eminent and peculiar manner. The Senſe is, Therefore I do nor fear dearth, but deſire it; and that not only to be freed from my preſent troubles,but alſo & eſpecially ro pur me into the poſſeſſion of the happineſs of the next life ; of which T am aſſured, becauſe I have in good meaſure performed r{:e condi- tions of that Covenant upon which he hath promiſed it ; for, as for the Wo#ds of God, i. e. That Light of Sacred Truths and Pre. cepts which he hath been pleaſed to impart to me, 7 have not conceal- ed them, neither from my ſelf, by ſhutting mine eyes againſt them. or ſuffering my prejudices, or paſſions, or worldly Intereſts to blind 'my Mind, leſt I ſho!11d ſee them as you think I have done ; nor from others ; but a« I ny ſelf have ſtedfaſtly believed them, and not wilfully and wickedly departed from them, ſo I have endea- voured vo teach and commend them to others, and have not been aſhamed, nor afraid, boldly to profeſs and preach the tru Religion in the midſt of Heathens who are round about m-. Anid therefore
I know that if God doth cut me off, Ic will be in Mercy, and I ſhal' bea gainer by ir. Some tranſlate and diſtinguiſh che Verſe thus ; Yet this is my comfort ( though, or when I ſcorch with paiu, and Hy, 7. e. God doth nor ſpare me, but afflifts me molt leverely ) that I have not concealed the words of God,but have profeſſed and praftited them,
3
FHeb,joul, 1x What ismy {trength tharc I ihould hope b and what
is ming cad 6 ? that I ſhould prolong my lif 42
7 O B. ; Chap.
6 My Strength is ſo ſmall and ſpent,thit alchough I may linger 2 while in my torments, yet 1 cannot not Jive long,and thezefore 1t 1s vain and abſurd for me to hope for ſuch a reſtitution of my ſtrength and proſperity as thou haſt promiſed to me, Chap: 5: 22, Oc. And therefere I juſtly pray that Cod would rake away my life. c Either 1: What is the end or period of my Miſeries ? When may Iexpe& it? I feeno end of them ; Iknow not how long I may pine and lingerin them. Therefore, Lord take me ſpeedily away. Or,'2: W tar is the end of my life? Or, what is death to me ? Tr is not terrible, but comforsable, as he ſaid v: 10: I need nor thoſe vain conſolations which thou giveſt me of being kept from [Zeath, wv. 20: or having Life continued and Health reſtored. Death is nor the matter ofmy fear,bur of my deſire, To wit,by my ſeeking roGod forir, as thou adviſeſt me, Ch: 5: 8: Why ſhould I detire or en. deavour the prolongingof my life. Or, that 1 ſbould lengthen ous my deſire, to wir, of lite, and thoſe comforts of life which rhou haſt propounded to me. Idelire not to live Jonger, though in the graareſ(t tplendour and proſperity, but to be diſſolved,and to with my Gcd and Redeemer, Ch: 19: 25: The Hebrew word nephiſh, here rendred oul or life, oft ſignilics deſire, as Gen. 23: 8; Dent: 23; 24: Prov: 23: 23 Eccleſ: 6; 9; | <A . tt 12 Is my ſtrength the ſtrengthof Nones? Or, js my ,.; . , | fleſh + of braſs e©'& | *' . Fn