To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
Ver. 14. To him that is afflicted] Heb. melted, viz. in the furnace of affliction, which melteth men's hearts, and maketh them malleable, as fire doth the hardest metals, Psa 22:15 Joshua 7:5 .
Pity should be shewed from his friend] By a sweet tender melting frame of spirit, such as was that of the Church, Psalms 102:13, and that of Paul, 2 Corinthians 11:29, "Who is weak, and I am not weak?" sc. by way of sympathy; "who is offended, and I burn not?" when others are hurt, I feel twinges: as the tongue complaineth for the hurt of the toe, and as the heart condoleth with the heel, and there is a fellow feeling amongst all the members; so there is likewise in the mystical body.
From his friend] Who is made for the day of adversity, Proverbs 17:17, and should show love at all times, and especially in evil times; but poor Job bewaileth the want of such faithful friends, Aφιλον το δυστυχες, Et cum fortuna statque caditque fides. David also complaineth to God, his only fast friend, of those that would be the causes, but not the companions, of his calamity, that would fawn upon him in his flourish, but forsake him in his misery. My lovers and friends stand aloof, &c., they looked on him, and so passed by him, as the priest and Levite did the wounded passenger, Luke 10:32. But God takes it ill that any should once look upon his afflicted, unless it be to pity and relieve them, Obadiah 1:12,13, and hath threatened an evil, an only evil, without the least mixture of mercy, to such as show no mercy to those in misery, James 2:13 .
But he hath forsaken the fear of the Almighty] Which wheresoever it is in the power of it, frameth a man to all the duties both of piety and charity. Obadiah feared God greatly, and it well appeared by his pity to the persecuted prophets. Cornelius feared God, and (as a fruit of it) gave much alms, Acts 10:2. Not so Nabal, that sapless fellow, whose heart was hardened from God's holy fear; nor Judas the traitor, who had no heart of compassion towards his innocent Master; and therefore he burst in the midst with a huge crack (ελακησε μεσος), and all his bowels gushed out by a singular judgment, Acts 1:18. There are many other readings of this text, as that of the Tigurine translation, It were fit for friends to show kindness to their friend that is in misery: but the fear of the Almighty hath forsaken me, as you please to say. See what Eliphaz had said to this purpose. See Trapp on " Job 4:6 " Others read it thus, to him that is afflicted should reproach be given, that he hath forsaken the fear of the Almighty? q.d. Must a man therefore be reviled as irreligious because he is calamitous? The Vulgate translation runs thus, He that taketh away pity from his friend hath forsaken the fear of the Almighty, &c.