Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Ver. 17. Have the gates of death been opened unto thee] sc. That thou shouldest know when, how, and of what disease every man shall die; together with the state and condition of the dead.
Or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?] No, nor any man living hath ever seen those dark and dismal receptacles of the dead, called here the shadow of death; that is, so dreadful, that they were enough to strike a man dead.