Job wishes that he might be allowed to plead his cause before God; but, wherever he turns himself, he cannot find or behold him. He acknowledges, however, that God observes his paths, and therefore he doth not despond.
Before Christ 1645.
Job 23:1. Then Job answered and said— Job, being tried to a high degree, by the freedom which Eliphaz had taken with him in his last speech, charging him directly with the most enormous sins, (see the 15th, and following verses) turns to God, according to his custom, and earnestly begs that he would bring him to his trial; that he would hear the matter fully, and determine between him and his friends. The passage from this to the end of the 10th verse is a very fine one; in which a candid reader can see nothing, I should suppose, but an earnest desire in Job to come before his judge, and take his trial, and be delivered, once for all, from the unjust suspicions of his friends. The word rendered order, in the 4th verse, is used for drawing up a speech, chap. Job 32:14 or preparing a table for an entertainment, Isaiah 21:5. Moses uses the same word, Leviticus 6:9, for preparing a burnt offering; and David, Psalms 5:3 for addressing himself to his devotions. Our translators have rightly added the word strength in the 6th verse, Will he plead against me with his great strength? no; but he will put strength into me. Munster and Vatablus, two of the most judicious among the critics, follow this sense. Le Clerc gives another, not quite so natural, but a very good one, if the Hebrew will bear it; thus, Will he strive with me with his great might? no; but he would attend to me: that is, "he would give me a patient hearing, and attend to the reasonableness of my plea; which you do not." Heath, and some others, render the 2nd verse, Still must my complaint be rebellious obstinacy: his hand is heavier than my groaning. The word rendered seat, in the 3rd verse, denotes the throne or tribunal of God; the usual place for the administration of justice. From my judge, in the 7th verse, is rendered by Heath and Houbigant, From my accusation, or judgment: and in the 9th verse, instead of, where he doth work, Heath reads, towards his brightness; which makes a better sense, and is a proper antithesis to his hiding himself in the latter part of the verse. See Peters, p. 173.