“How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.”
Understand ye. Teach this man to comprehend what we say. He deigns not to address Job in person: but repeats most of his former remarks respecting the wicked, as if they were unquestionably applicable to Job, chap. viii. (Calmet) — Hebrew, “mark ye.” Septuagint, “do thou attend.” (Haydock) — Baldad speaks to many who might be of Job’s opinion, as he was a figure of the Church, defending the common cause; while his friends, like heretics, speak both true and false things. (St. Gregory xiv. 1.) (Worthington)
“Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?”
Reputed. Septuagint, “silent as four-footed animals before thee? (Haydock) without discipline or understanding,” chap. xvii. 4. (Menochius)
“He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? himself: Heb. his soul”
Thou. Hebrew, “He teareth his soul in his fury!” (Haydock) — This is spoken with an air of contempt, as if Job were mad, chap. xiii. 14. (Calmet) — Place. We should expect to see such effects, as soon as we would allow that God punishes thee, without thy being guilty. Hitherto he has treated the wicked only with such rigour. Still thou wouldst assert that thou art a singular example of an innocent man under oppression! (Calmet)
“The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. candle: or, lamp”
Light; prosperity, (Menochius) offspring, &c. (Calmet)
“The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.”
Step. He shall be greatly embarrassed, (Menochius) like a man in a narrow pass, (Calmet) beset with thorns. (Haydock) (Proverbs iv. 12.) — Septuagint, “the weakest have made a prey of his possessions.[“] (Haydock)
“For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.”
Meshes, (maculis) or holes of the net. (Menochius) — The more he strives to get out, the more he gets entangled. (Calmet)
“The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.”
Thirst: the greedy hunter. (Calmet) — Hebrew, “the robber.” (Haydock)
“Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet. drive: Heb. scatter”
Fears. Hunters used to place loose feathers round the wood, except where the gin was laid, in order to frighten the prey into it.
“It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. strength: Heb. bars”
First-born denotes the best, or the worst. (Haydock) — Death. Hebrew, “of death,” the devil, or a premature death, and most cruel enemy. (Calmet) — Septuagint, “But death devours his most beautiful things.” (Haydock)
“His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.”
Confidence. Septuagint, “health.” — Let. Protestants, “and it shall bring him to the king of terrors;” (Haydock) or, “thou (O God) shalt,” &c. Septuagint, “let him be in the greatest (Calmet) want, on account of a royal accusation,” (Haydock) of high treason. (Calmet)
“It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.”
Tent, when he is gone to purify it.
“His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.”
Harvest. Hebrew also, “branch;” (Calmet) his family, (Menochius) and all on which he trusted. (Calmet) — All must be destroyed, root and branch.
“They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted . went: or, lived with him were: Heb. laid hold on horror”
Them. Literally, “the first,” who were witnesses of his misery. (Haydock)