Job 17
 Job appeals to God 1
An unmerciful attitude toward the afflicted 6
His hope is the end of life 11
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Text
Explanation
Continuing the topic of chapter 16.
..1 ¶ My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.   Corrupt Meaning ruined or broken. The same Hebrew word at is1027 is "destroyed." Breath comes from the same word ruchi as does "spirit" which would be a better choice here.
  Extinct Dead days pictures how Job feels.
  Graves Of course it takes only one. Reference may be to the place of graves which we call today a cemetery.
.2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 
.3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
  Mockers His "friends" offered almost no hope.
  Lay down now That is, deposit money for a legal hearing.
  Strike hands A sign of agreement pr0601, pr1718.
 4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
 5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
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.6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
 7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. 
  Byword But not as Job was expecting. See ja0511.
  Tabret Not the translation of the Hebrew word. It may be translated, "an object to be spit upon in the face." If "tabret" had been intended we would have as in 1sa1005.
.8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
  Stir himself up (unclear).
  Hold on his way Job was determined to remain faithful 2ch3402, 2co0408.
.10 ¶ But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
.11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
  Days are past Job seems to be saying, Do as you like. I have no hope.
 12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. 
.13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
  If I wait His friends in v12 had been saying that daylight would come for Job if he would repent jb0518, jb0821, jb1115. He was innocent and saw their idea of daylight as a false hope. He would take the darkness.
 14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. 
 15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
.16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
  Corruption Or decay. This and the worm would be his family in the house and bed of v13.
  They The grammatical form requires a feminine plural which is not apparent. Whether hopes or worm family, Job sees them all going down together.
  Bars Compare is3810.

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