Job 21:33 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him - Perhaps there is an allusion here to the Asiatic mode of interment for princes, saints, and nobles: a well-watered valley was chosen for the tomb, where a perpetual spring might be secured. This was intended to be the emblem of a resurrection, or of a future life; and to conceal as much as possible the disgrace of the rotting carcass.

Every man shall draw after him - There seem to be two allusions intended here:

1. To death, the common lot of all. Millions have gone before him to the tomb; and כל אדם col adam, all men, shall follow him: all past generations have died, all succeeding generations shall die also.

2. To pompous funeral processions; multitudes preceding, and multitudes following, the corpse.

Job 21:33

33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.