i Either, 1. The perſe& man here underſtood out ofv.20.where ir is expreſſed : Or, rather, 2. The Hypocnte, of w hom he hath hi- therto treated, to whom this and the tollowing Verſes very well a- gree; Whom he beforecomparcd to a Ruſh, andthen to a Spiders Web, andnow to a Tree, which is of a more ſolid Subſtance, and more durable:as if he ſaid, as ſome wicked men are quickly cut off in the very beginnings of their Proſperity;ſo there are orhers who ſeem to be more firmly grounded, and yet they allo at laſt come to ruine. þ i; e. Flouriſhsth in the World. Either, 1. Publickly and in the view of all men,who obſerve it withadmiration,and applauſe and envy, Compare 2» Sam: 12: 12. Or, rather, 2. Notwithſtanding all the ſcoiching heat ofthe Sun, which ouickly withers theRuſhes and Herbs of which heſpake before, freſh the tree. And ſo doth many a wicked man ſecure himſclf,and thrive and proſper even in times of great danger and trouble, and in ſpight of ail oppoſition. m Or, His branches, the ſingular number for the plural ; eitier, 1. Properly, and ſo this belongs to the deſcription of a flouriſhing Tree, by the ſpreading of its branches here, as by the depth of its root, v; 17. Or, 2. Metaphorically, to wit, his Caildren, which are here mentioned as additions not On» Iy to his comfort, bur alloto his ſtrength and ſafety. »n A place where it is def-nded from thoſe injuries ro which the Trees of the fie!d are fuvje& from Menand Beafſts,and where, beſides the natural advantages common to all Trees, it hath peculiar helps from the Art and Induſtry of M-n,by whom it is watered and aſſiſted,as need requires. So he {uppoleth this Man to be placed in the moſt defi able Circumſtances.
17 His roots were wrapped about the heap 0, and
ſeeth p the-place q of ſtones.
o To wit, of Stones,which word may he here underſtood our of the latter Branch of rhe Verſe,as isvery uſual in Scripture uſe. This Circumſtance of the Tree is added, to fignifie, either, 1. Its firmneſs and ftrength, thar it was not :n looſe and ſandy Ground, which a violent Wind might overthrow, bur in ſolidand hard Ground, with- in which were many Stones, which its numerous and ſpreading Roots embrace,folding and inrerweaving themſelves ſeverally about ſevera!Stones. Or, 2+ Its ſingular and extraordinary growth in ſpight ofall diſadvantages and oppoſirions; that evenSrony-ground, which is very prejudicial to Trees, Matth; 13: 5- doth not hinder its growth, but only add to its ſtreagth- So God and Man ſeem to conſpire, and a'l things concur to t2cure and perpetuate this Mans happine's. Some render the words, His roors are wrapped, or folded, or ſprea about, or beſide a ſpring, as the Hebrew gal ſometimes ſigni- fies; as Joſhua 15: 19. Cante 4. 12. #:e. A moiſt ground, which 1s much to its advantage : See P/al: 1: 3.Jer.17; 8. þ He, z: e- The Tree whoſe Rovts he laſt menrioneth, reacherch thither,ſpreadeth himſelf ſo far, rakes the advantage ofthat place for the ſtrengrhning ofits ſc] Seeing is oft put for enjoying, and is frequently attributed to life- leſs things,by a known Figure,calledProſopopeia.q Heb The henſe,vehich 55 oft uſed for aplace ; as 2 Sam: 6; 17: 1 Kings8- 6. Others render the words thus, He lvoketh upon the houſe of ſtones; 7. e. made of Stones for greater beaury and ſtrength. He ſtanderh proudiy, and looketh boldly upon its Owners houſe, nighuato which it is placed, even in his Garden, as was ſaid before.
' 18 If he r deſtroy him from his place s, then #t # ſhall
deny him, /aying, 1 have not ſeen thee «,
r Eicher God, who is the Saviour of good men and the Deſtroyer of the wicked ; Or, the: Owner : or any other Man ; for rhis 1s an indefinite ſpeech, and may be taken paſſively and imperſfonally ; which isvery common in the holy Text and Language. s In which ke was planted. t i.e. The place: ro which denying him, and ſeemg him,are here aſcribed figuratively, as we have ofc ſeen, # z.e. IT do not know, nor remember that ever thou waft planted here. He ſhal be ſo utterly extirpared and deſtroyed,that there ſhal be no Foot- ſtep nor Name,nor Memorial of him lefr there.
19 Behoid,this is the joy of his way x,and out of the earth ſhall others grow y.
* This is the joyful and happy ifſue of the flouriſhing courſe, ſtate, and condition ( which is frequently called a way) of this Tree, or of the Hypocrite manifeſtly repreſeated by. and expreſſed wv. 13. It is a Sarc 1{in or L:eny, and 1s robe undcrlſyu contrartwiſe of his ſad and unhappy end. yz. e. Out of che {4aMEcarth or place ſhal a- nother tree grow; which could not be, if there had been but a ſtump of ir lefr though under Ground. So it notes the total extirpation of the Tree, and of the Hypocrite,that his Pecſon and all his Chil- dren and Family hal be utterly extin&,and fo a ſtranger thal come into his place, and enjoy the fruit of his labours. But the words arz and may be otherwiſe rendred very agreeably ro the Hebrew Text, And out of other ground they ( 1. ce. Plants or Trees, of which he is here ſpeaking ) ſha! grow, or, others ſba!l grow, or plants ſhall grow ; the Noun being contained in the Verb: So tie ſenſe is, This Tree ſhill be rooted up, and the very Ground of itſo curſed, that nothing ſhil grow or tariveinit; but other ground ſhall be fruitfu!, and other Trees that ſtood round about it ſhal ſtand fill and flouriſh in their places. His deſign in all this is to prove Job to be an Hypocrite, becauſe he meets with their lot, which 1s total
deſtruction.
20 Behold, God will not caſt away z aperfe& man, neither will he 7 help @ the evil doers : z Heb. Not deſpiſe or rej:#; i e. He will not deny them his help,
*wyodly as appears by the oppoſite and following Branch of the Verſe : He ' land will not ſuffer them to be utterly loſt a ie. Deliver them our of