The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 484

EXPOSITION. Ver. 1.-I made II covell8.Jll with mine CHAPTER XXXI. eyes ; rather, for mine eges. The covenant The conclusion of Job's long speech (eh. must have been with himself. Job means that he came to a fixed resolution. by which uvi.,,-xx.xi,) is now reached. He winds it he thenceforth guided his conduct, not even up by a solemn vindication of himself from to "look upon a woman to last after her" ell the charges of wicked conduct which (Matt. v. 28). We must suppose this reso- have been alleged or . insinuated against lution come to in his early youth, when the ~im. • Perhaps it may be said that he goes passions. are strongest, e.nd when so many men go astray. How then should I look further, maintaini~g generally his moral upon a maid 1 Having ruade such a reso- rectitude in respect of all the principal lution, how could I possibly break it by duties •which a man owes either to God "looking upon a maid"? Job assumes that tve~B. •• 4-6, 2~28, 85-87) or to his he could not be so weak as to break a fellows (vers. 1-8, 7_:_23, 29-84, 88- solemn resolution. Ver. 2.-For what portion of God is 40). He protests that he is innocent of there from above 1 The meaning seems to impure thoughts (vers. 1-4): of false seem- be, " For what portion in God would there ing (vers. 5--'-8): of adultery (vers. 9-12): be to me from above, if I were so to act? " of injustice towards dependants (vere. 13- i.e. if I were secretly to nurse nnd indulge 15); of hardness towards the poor and my l1ISts. Impurity, perhaps, mo1"0 tba.11 needy (vers. 16-28): of covetousness (vers, any other sin; cuts off from God, who is "of purer eyes than to behold iniquity" (Hab. 24, 25); of idolatry (vers. 26-28); of male- i.18). And what inheritanoe of the Almighty volence (vers. 29, 80): of want of hospitality from on high 1 Wh11t should I inherit, i.e. (vers. 81, 82); of hiding his transgressions what should I receive, from on high, if I (vers. as; 84); and of injustice as a landlord were so sinful? The next verse gives the (vers. 88-40). In concluBion, he onoe more answer. Ver. 8.-Is not destruction to the wioked I makes a solemn appeal to God to pronounce The inheritance of the wicked is "clestrno- judgment on bis oase (ver. 85), promising tion "-ruin both of soul and body. This is to give e. conplete account of every aot in what I should have to expect if I yielded his life (ver. 37), and calmly to await his myself to the bondage of lust and ooncupi- ~entence. 4,n accidental dislocation of the scp.nce. And II str1111ge punishmeut to the workera of iniquity t 'fhe rare word neker last three verses disturbs the order here ('1:ll), translRted here by " stnmge puni:!h- assumed to be the proper one. This will ment," seems to mean " alienation from be further oonsidered in the commenL God "-being turned from God's friend into  500 THE BOOR OF JOB. [ou. XXXI. 1-40,