Job 36:31-33 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For by them he judgeth the people By thunder and lightning, and rain from the clouds, he executes his judgments against ungodly people. He giveth meat By the same clouds by which he punisheth wicked men, he provideth plentiful showers to drop fatness upon the earth. With clouds he covereth the light With thick and black clouds spread over the whole heavens, as in times of great thunders and lightnings, he obscures the light of the day, or the splendour of the shining sun. Hebrew, על כפים, gnal cappaim, with hands he covereth the sun; either the clouds are so called for their resemblance to hands, or the meaning is, that God covereth the light as by the hollow of his hand. And commandeth it not to shine Or, יצו, jetzav, giveth a charge concerning it, that it shall be covered; by the cloud that cometh betwixt Which God interposes as a veil between the sun and the earth. The noise thereof showeth concerning it The thunder gives notice of the approaching rain. The cattle also, &c. As the thunder, so also the cattle showeth concerning the vapour Concerning the coming of the rain, by a strange instinct, seeking for shelter when a change of weather is near.