Job 30
Job continues his defense
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Text
Explanation
 1 ¶ But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
 2  Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
 3  For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
 4  Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
 5  They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)
.6  To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
 7  Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
   The criticism seems unjust to Job 

A lesson in sensitivity for those of us who find it easy to condemn the ways of others.

 8  They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
 9  And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
 10  They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
 11  Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.
 12  Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
 13  They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
 14  They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
  8 - Base men Rather "men of no name." 
  8 - Viler than "rather, they were driven or beaten out of the land. The Horites in Mount Seir (Ge 14:6 with which compare Ge 36:20,21; De 2:12,22) were probably the aborigines, driven out by the tribe to which Job's ancestors belonged; their name means troglodytae, or 'dwellers in caves.' To these Job alludes here (Job 30:1-8; Ge 24:4-8.., which compare together)." (JFB).
  13 - Mar my path Or "Interfere with my plans."
  15 ¶ Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
 16  And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
 17  My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
 18  By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
 19  He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
 20  I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
   15 - Terrors Or all his troubles, certainly in the light of his past wealth and honor jb01.
   18 - Job's clothes must have bonded to his flesh with his oozing sores.
   20 - I cry to you Perhaps Job's faith has weakened. God isn't answering but we can be sure He heard and saw with great pity.
 21  Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
 22  Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.
   21 - You are cruel More words of discouragement and lack of faith.
.23  For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
 24  Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
 25  Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
 26  When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
 27  My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.
   23 - Death and the house Job is speaking of the grave. The pagan idea of hell was not known among those who followed the creator God until the days of Greek influence. We can see that his statement does not describe the dead going to heaven or hell at death because it is one place for all, the grave.
 28  I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
.29  I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
   28 - Mourning This sounds like depression.
.30  My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
 31  My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
  30 - Skin is black Perhaps the source of imagery for so0105.
  31 - Harp Now plays sad, hopeless music.

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