The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 393

EXPOSITION. OHAPTER XXIV. another's is by termini, or "landmarks," which are genera.Uy low stone metes or The general subject of this chapter is the bourns, placed at intervals on the boundary- prosperity of the wicked, whose proceedings line. An easy form of robbery W&B to dis- and their results are traced out in detail place these boums, putting them further back on one's neighbour's land. They (vers. 2-24). A single note of perplexity violently take away 11.ocks. Others openly (ver. 1) forms a sufficient introduction: and drive off their neighbours' flocks from their o. single note of challenge a sufficient epi- pastnres, mix them with their own flocks, logue (ver. 25). and say that they are theirs (comp. eh. L 15-17). And feed thereof; rather, andfeed Ver. 1.-Why, seeing times are not hid- them (as in the margin); i.e. pastnra them. den from the Almighty. By "times" seem Ver. 3.-They drive away the ass of the to be meant God's special periods of ex- fatherless. This was another form of op- hibiting himself iu action as the moral pression. "Whose ox have I taken? or Governor of the world, vindicating the whose ass have I taken? or whom have I righteous, and taking vengeance upon sin- defrauded? whom have I oppressed?" says ners. Buch "times" are frequently spoken Samuel, on laying down bis judgeship (1 of in the prophetical Scriptures e.s "days Sam. xii. 3). The "fatherless" were par- of the Lord" (see lea. ii. 12; iii. 18; iv. 1 ; ticularly liable to such ill treatment, seeing xiii. 6, 9; Joel i. 15; ii. 1, 11; Obad. 15; that they bad lost their natural protector. Zeph. i. 7, 14, etc.). They a.re, of course, They take the widow's ox for a pledge. It "not hidden" from him, seeing that it is may be true that this was nowllere a legal he who determines on them beforehand, and, offence, not even among the Hebrews (Lee); when their fixed date is come, makes them but it was a real act of oppression, and forms special "days," or "times," different from a fitting counterpart to the injury done to all others. Do they who know him not see the orphan. (On the natural tendency of , his days1 i.e. why a.re even they, who know selfish men to bear hard on these two cl;1:,ses, and serve God, kept in the dark as to these see Exod. xxii. 22: Deut. xxiv. 17; xxvji. " times," so that they do not foresee them 19; Ps. xciv. 6; Isa. i. 23; x. 2; Jer. v or know when they are corning? This is 28; Zech. vii. 10.) , to Job a greC\t perplexity. Ver. 4.-They turn the needy out of the Ver. 2.-Sorne remove the landmarks. way. Either "they force poor weu to turn (On this form of wickedness, see Deut. xix. out of the road when they ore using it, tind 14; xxvii. 17; Prov. xxii. 28; xxiii. 10; wait till they h,we passed" (compare the Hos. v. 10.) Where neighbouring proper- recent practice of thu Ja.ptrnese daimios), or ties a.re not divideJ Ly Conces oi any kind, "they make the highways so dtrn:;erous as in the East gentlrally, the only wa.y of with their violence that they compel the distinguishing between one man's land and poor and needy to seek byways for safoty "  THE BOOK OF JOB. [on. XXIV. 1-25.