Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war [are] against me.
Ver. 17. Thou renewest thy witnesses against me] These fresh witnesses were devils, say some; Job's friends, say others; his dolorous sufferings rather, saith Austin; those open witnesses of some secret wickedness in Job, as the world would esteem them. See Job 16:8 Ruth 1:21. Thus the Jews censured our Saviour, Isaiah 53:3,4; the barbarians Paul, Acts 28:4; and those in the Gospel them that perished by the fall of the tower of Siloam. And how many precious men as well as Job have been cast upon this evidence for traitors and rebels against the highest majesty? Junius thinks that when Job uttered the words of this text he felt some new pains growing upon him and increasing.
Thou increasest thine indignation upon me] Or within me, as Job 6:4, and this was it that put a sting into his sufferings; God's heavy displeasure seemed to be kindled against him. Be not thou a terror unto me, O Lord, said Jeremiah, and then I shall do well enough with the rest.
Changes and war (or armies) are upon me, or against me] Variety of troubles come trooping aud treading, as it were, on the heels of one another: fluctus fluctum trudit, there is a continual succession of my sorrows, fresh forces sent against me, &c. We see, then, that Job complained not without cause, though he kept not always within compass, as appeareth by that which followeth.