They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
Not only doth God assail Job, but also He exposes him to the wanton insults of men, (cf. Job 16:11; Job 30:1, etc.)
Gaped - not in order to devour, but to mock him. In this Job suffered in type what afterward was the bitter portion of Messiah (Psalms 22:13). To fill his cup of misery, the mockery of his friends (Job 16:10) is added to the hostile treatment from God (Job 16:9).
Smitten ... cheek - figure for contemptuous abuse (Lamentations 3:30; Matthew 5:39).
Gathered themselves - `conspired unanimously' (Schultens).