Job 17:5 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

He that speaketh flattery to his friends “The Hebrew of this verse,” says Peters, “literally, runs thus: He shall reckon friends for a portion, or inheritance, and the eyes of his children shall fail; that is, with expectation. They may look their eyes out before they receive any benefit or assistance from these friends. The expression is proverbial, intimating how liable men are to be disappointed, who depend upon the constancy of human friendships. And nothing could be more apposite to Job's purpose.” Heath renders the words,” Whoso becometh the accuser of his friends, the eyes of his children will fail; that is, not only he, but his sons after him may look till they be weary, before they get more.” Bishop Patrick's paraphrase on this and the two preceding verses appears to be perfectly consistent with the context, and is certainly well deserving of the reader's attention. Lay down now, &c. Job 17:3. “Once more, therefore, I beseech thee, O God, to assure me that thou wilt judge my cause thyself; let somebody undertake for thee; who is it, that on thy behalf will engage to do me right? Job 17:4. Not these friends of mine, for they comprehend nothing of the way of thy judgments: therefore thou shalt not confer this honour on them who talk so absurdly. Job 17:5. I must speak the truth of them, (though it displease them,) and not sooth them up in their errors: for he that flatters his friends, when he should reprove them, may look long enough before either he, or his children, find one that will deal sincerely with them.” We add also the following interpretation of this verse, proposed by Poole. “He that uttereth, or declareth his mind, or thoughts, with flattery, or to flatter, or deceive another, he shall be severely punished, not only in his person, but even in his children, whose eyes shall fail with vain expectations of relief, and deliverance out of those calamities which shall come upon them for this sin of their parents.”