He wandereth abroad for bread, [saying], Where [is it]? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
Ver. 23. He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it?] He is hard put to it for necessaries, and would be glad of a piece of bread, as 1 Samuel 2:5; 1 Samuel 2:36. This was the case of Pythias, once so rich, that he entertained a million men (even Xerxes' whole huge host) for three days' time at his own proper charge; but afterwards so poor, that he died through hunger (Herodot.). And the like befell Gillimer, king of Vandals, of whom the story is told, that being overcome and beleaguered by Belisarius, he sent to him for a sponge to dry his tears, a cittern to ease his grief, and a piece of bread to save his life. Belisarius himself was afterwards glad to beg for his bread. And Henry IV, emperor of Germany, after ten years' reign, was deposed and driven to the like exigent; whereupon he is said to have made use of those words of Job, Job 19:21, "Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends, for the hand of God hath touched me." And there is no doubt but Eliphaz glanceth at Job in all these expressions, as if he were the man whom he here describeth with much eloquence, but small charity.
He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand] His conscience telleth him that he is not yet at worst; he knows in himself, say the Septuagint, that further evil shall be upon him, that his misery is inevitable, and next door; and this knowledge being full of fear, is also full of torment; it is even hell aforehand, and above ground.