The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 92

the man [or, • blessings on the m11n '] They are covered with his feothers, and sore whom God correcteth I" (comp. Prov. iii. 11, under his wings (Ps. xci. 4). 121; Ps. xoiv. 12; I Cor. xi. 32). He Ver. 21.-Thou ■halt be hid from the suggests to Job the idea that hie sufferings scourge of the tongue (comp. Ps. xxxi. 20). are not punishments, but ohastiaementa- God will also protect his own from " tho tbat they may be but for II time. Let him scourge of the tongue," i.e. from calumny, receive them in a proper spirit; Jet him from abuse, from bitter words (see the com- bumble himself under them, and they may ment on ver. 15). Neither shalt thou be work altogether for hia good, hie !alter end afraid of destrnotion when it oometh; rather, may surpBBe his early promise. Therefore of devastation. "Shod (7i.ii) populationes, de■piae not thou the chaateJling of the prm<lationes, calamitosBB tempestates, terrm .A.Jmirhty, Words quoted by the authors motns, ruinBB, incendia, mala omnia vasti- of ProveL"bs (iii. 11), and of the li:piatle to tatem inc:lucentia, amplectitur" (Schultens). the Hebrews (xii. 5), and well cfeeerving to Ver. 22.-At destruction (rather, devas- be laid up in the recollection of all faithful tation) and famine; rather, dearth. The soul.ti. They remind us that God's chasten- word is not the same as that used in ver. ings are blessings or the contrary, as 111e 20, but a weaker one. Thou sha.lt la.ugh; malu them. Accepted humbly, they im- " Thou aha.It smfle" (Lee). l!I either shalt prove men, exalt the moral character, purge thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. it of its dross, and bring it nearer to the "The beasts of the earth "-i.e. destructive perfection at which God would have us aim and ferocious wild beBBts, like the Indian (Matt. v. 48). Rejected, chafed against, "man-eaters"-a.re enumerated among God's received with discontent and murmurings, "four sore plagues" (Ezek. xiv. 21 ; comp. they injure us, cause our characters to 2 Kings xvii. 25). In ancient times they deteriorate, sink us instead of raising us in were sometimes so numerous in a country the moral scale. Job was now undergoing that men were afraid to occupy it. the ordeal-with what result 1·emained to Ver. 23.-For thou she.It be in league with be determined. the stones of the field; i.e. there shall be Ver. 18.-For he maketh sore, and bindeth peace between thee and all the rest of God's up. Metaphors drawn from the healing art. creation, even "the stones of the field," He "maketh sore "-applies the scalpel against which thou shalt not dash thy foot and the cautery when and where they are (Pa. xci. 12); and if the l!enseleaa atones are needed: and then, after a while, " bindeth thus in league with thee, and refrain from up "-employs bis lint and bandages: in doing thee hurt, much more ma.yest thou be both cases alike seeking the good of the sure that the beasts of the field she.11 be at sufferer. He woundeth, and his hands make peace with thee. For they are not altogether whole (comp. Dent. xxxii. 39: Hos. vi. 1). senseless, and will in some sort understand Ver. 19.-He shall deliver thee in six that thou art under God's protection, and trouble■: yea, in seven (comp. Amos i. 3, not to be molested by them (comp. Hos. 6, 9, 11, 13, "For three transgressions ... ii. 18, where God promises to make a. cove- and for four"). An idiomatic way of ex- nant between his people and "the beo.sts of pressing an indefinite number. There shall the field, the fowls of heaven, and the creep- no evil touch thee; i.e. no real evil, nothing ing things of the ground," that so they may calculated to d.o thee real hurt. All affliction "lie down safely"). A misplaced ingenmty is " for the present grievous : " but if it seeks to find either six or seven forms of "nfterward yieldetb the peaceable fruit of calamity in the enumeration of vers. 20- righteousness untc> them that ore· exercised 23: but there appear to bo really only five: thereby" (Heb. xii. 11), it does not do us (1) famine; (2) war: (3) calumny; (-l) de- harm, but good. vastation: and (5) noisome beasts. Tho Ver. 20.-In famine he shall redeem thee expression used in ver. 19-" six, yea, from death. Famine appeara throughout the seven "-means, as already explained, an whole of Scripture as one of God's severest indefiniui number, cho.stisements (see Lev. xxvi. 19, 20: Deut. Ver. 24.-And thou she.It know that thy xxviii. 22-24: 2 Sam, xxi. l: xxiv. 13: 2 tabernacle shall be in peace; rather, thy Kings viii. l: Ps. cv. 16; Isa. xiv. 30; Jer. tent; i.e. thy habitation, whatever it may uiv. 10; Rev. xviii. 8). Ezekiel speaks of be. Thou sbalt feel assured of peace iu "the sword, the/amine, the noisome beast, thy dwelling, since God's peace will rest and the pestilence," as God's " four sore upon it. And thou shalt visit thy habi- judgments" (Ezek. xiv. 21). Miraculous tation; or, thy fold (see the Re,·ised Version). deliverances from famine o.re related in Gen. And shalt not sin; and shalt 11..iss nothing xii. 29-36: l Kings xvii. 10-16; 2 Kings (Revised Version). The exact meaning is vii. 1-16, And in war from the power of very uncertain. Professor Lee renders, the aword. In war God protects whom he "Thou shalt not err:" Schultens, "Thou will, and they seem to have charmed lives. ehalt not be disappointed of tlly desires; •  es THE BOOK OF JOB. [011. \', 1-27.