Job 18:2 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Ere ye; either,

1. You my brethren. Why do you not give over discoursing with Job, who is wholly transported with rage, and not fit to be discoursed with, at least until both you and he have better considered what to say? Or rather,

2. Thou, O Job, of whom he speaks here, as also Job 18:3, in the plural number; either because there were some other person or persons present at this debate, who by their words or gestures showed themselves favourers of Job's cause; or because it was a common idiom of the Eastern language to speak thus of one person, especially where he was one of eminency or authority. Job's speeches were generally longer than his friends, and they seemed very tedious to them. Mark; consider the matter and our words better. Or, inform us, Heb. make us to understand. Seeing thou lookest upon us as ignorant and brutish men, as it follows, do thou instruct and inform us. Cease cavilling and railing, and produce thy strong reasons, that we may consider and answer them, or yield to them.

Job 18:2

2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.