Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Job » Chapter 18

Job 18:1-21 King James Version (KJV)

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?

4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.

7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.

8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.

9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.

10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.

12 His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.

13 It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.

14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.

15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.

17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.

19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.

20 They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.

21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

Job 18:1-21 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Then answered H6030 Bildad H1085 the Shuhite, H7747 and said, H559

2 How long H5704 will it be ere ye make H7760 an end H7078 of words? H4405 mark, H995 and afterwards H310 we will speak. H1696

3 Wherefore are we counted H2803 as beasts, H929 and reputed vile H2933 in your sight? H5869

4 He teareth H2963 himself H5315 in his anger: H639 shall the earth H776 be forsaken H5800 for thee? and shall the rock H6697 be removed H6275 out of his place? H4725

5 Yea, the light H216 of the wicked H7563 shall be put out, H1846 and the spark H7632 of his fire H784 shall not shine. H5050

6 The light H216 shall be dark H2821 in his tabernacle, H168 and his candle H5216 shall be put out H1846 with him.

7 The steps H6806 of his strength H202 shall be straitened, H3334 and his own counsel H6098 shall cast him down. H7993

8 For he is cast H7971 into a net H7568 by his own feet, H7272 and he walketh H1980 upon a snare. H7639

9 The gin H6341 shall take H270 him by the heel, H6119 and the robber H6782 shall prevail H2388 against him.

10 The snare H2256 is laid H2934 for him in the ground, H776 and a trap H4434 for him in the way. H5410

11 Terrors H1091 shall make him afraid H1204 on every side, H5439 and shall drive H6327 him to his feet. H7272

12 His strength H202 shall be hungerbitten, H7457 and destruction H343 shall be ready H3559 at his side. H6763

13 It shall devour H398 the strength H905 of his skin: H5785 even the firstborn H1060 of death H4194 shall devour H398 his strength. H905

14 His confidence H4009 shall be rooted out H5423 of his tabernacle, H168 and it shall bring H6805 him to the king H4428 of terrors. H1091

15 It shall dwell H7931 in his tabernacle, H168 because it is none H1097 of his: brimstone H1614 shall be scattered H2219 upon his habitation. H5116

16 His roots H8328 shall be dried up H3001 beneath, and above H4605 shall his branch H7105 be cut off. H5243

17 His remembrance H2143 shall perish H6 from the earth, H776 and he shall have no name H8034 in the street. H6440 H2351

18 He shall be driven H1920 from light H216 into darkness, H2822 and chased H5074 out of the world. H8398

19 He shall neither have son H5209 nor nephew H5220 among his people, H5971 nor any remaining H8300 in his dwellings. H4033

20 They that come after H314 him shall be astonied H8074 at his day, H3117 as they that went before H6931 were affrighted. H270 H8178

21 Surely such are the dwellings H4908 of the wicked, H5767 and this is the place H4725 of him that knoweth H3045 not God. H410

Job 18:1-21 American Standard (ASV)

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

2 How long will ye hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.

3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, `And' are become unclean in your sight?

4 Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?

5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the spark of his fire shall not shine.

6 The light shall be dark in his tent, And his lamp above him shall be put out.

7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down.

8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walketh upon the toils.

9 A gin shall take `him' by the heel, `And' a snare shall lay hold on him.

10 A noose is hid for him in the ground, And a trap for him in the way.

11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, And shall chase him at his heels.

12 His strength shall be hunger-bitten, And calamity shall be ready at his side.

13 The members of his body shall be devoured, `Yea', the first-born of death shall devour his members.

14 He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusteth; And he shall be brought to the king of terrors.

15 There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his: Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, And above shall his branch be cut off.

17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, And he shall have no name in the street.

18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.

19 He shall have neither son nor son's son among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned.

20 They that come after shall be astonished at his day, As they that went before were affrighted.

21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, And this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

Job 18:1-21 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Bildad the Shuhite answereth and saith: --

2 When do ye set an end to words? Consider ye, and afterwards do we speak.

3 Wherefore have we been reckoned as cattle? We have been defiled in your eyes!

4 (He is tearing himself in his anger.) For thy sake is earth forsaken? And removed is a rock from its place?

5 Also, the light of the wicked is extinguished. And there doth not shine a spark of his fire.

6 The light hath been dark in his tent, And his lamp over him is extinguished.

7 Straitened are the steps of his strength, And cast him down doth his own counsel.

8 For he is sent into a net by his own feet, And on a snare he doth walk habitually.

9 Seize on the heel doth a gin, Prevail over him do the designing.

10 Hidden in the earth is his cord, And his trap on the path.

11 Round about terrified him have terrors, And they have scattered him -- at his feet.

12 Hungry is his sorrow, And calamity is ready at his side.

13 It consumeth the parts of his skin, Consume his parts doth death's first-born.

14 Drawn from his tent is his confidence, And it causeth him to step to the king of terrors.

15 It dwelleth in his tent -- out of his provender, Scattered over his habitation is sulphur.

16 From beneath his roots are dried up, And from above cut off is his crop.

17 His memorial hath perished from the land, And he hath no name on the street.

18 They thrust him from light unto darkness, And from the habitable earth cast him out.

19 He hath no continuator, Nor successor among his people, And none is remaining in his dwellings.

20 At this day westerns have been astonished And easterns have taken fright.

21 Only these `are' tabernacles of the perverse, And this the place God hath not known.

Job 18:1-21 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

2 How long will ye hunt for words? Be intelligent, and then we will speak.

3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed stupid in your sight?

4 Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of its place?

5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the flame of his fire shall not shine.

6 The light shall become dark in his tent, and his lamp over him shall be put out.

7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.

8 For he is sent into the net by his own feet, and he walketh on the meshes;

9 The gin taketh [him] by the heel, the snare layeth hold on him;

10 A cord is hidden for him in the ground, and his trap in the way.

11 Terrors make him afraid on every side, and chase him at his footsteps.

12 His strength is hunger-bitten, and calamity is ready at his side.

13 The firstborn of death devoureth the members of his body; it will devour his members.

14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tent, and it shall lead him away to the king of terrors:

15 They who are none of his shall dwell in his tent; brimstone shall be showered upon his habitation:

16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off;

17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name on the pasture-grounds.

18 He is driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.

19 He hath neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining in the places of his sojourn.

20 They that come after shall be astonished at his day, as they that went before [them] were affrighted.

21 Surely, such are the dwellings of the unrighteous man, and such the place of him that knoweth not ùGod.

Job 18:1-21 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

2 "How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.

3 Why are we counted as animals, Which have become unclean in your sight?

4 You who tear yourself in your anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?

5 "Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, The spark of his fire shall not shine.

6 The light shall be dark in his tent, His lamp above him shall be put out.

7 The steps of his strength shall be shortened, His own counsel shall cast him down.

8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he wanders into its mesh.

9 A snare shall take him by the heel; A trap shall lay hold on him.

10 A noose is hidden for him in the ground, A trap for him in the way.

11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, And shall chase him at his heels.

12 His strength shall be famished, Calamity shall be ready at his side.

13 The members of his body shall be devoured, The firstborn of death shall devour his members.

14 He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusts. He shall be brought to the king of terrors.

15 There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulfur shall be scattered on his habitation.

16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, Above shall his branch be cut off.

17 His memory shall perish from the earth. He shall have no name in the street.

18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.

19 He shall have neither son nor grandson among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned.

20 Those who come after shall be astonished at his day, As those who went before were frightened.

21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, This is the place of him who doesn't know God."

Job 18:1-21 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Then Bildad the Shuhite made answer and said,

2 How long will it be before you have done talking? Get wisdom, and then we will say what is in our minds.

3 Why do we seem as beasts in your eyes, and as completely without knowledge?

4 But come back, now, come: you who are wounding yourself in your passion, will the earth be given up because of you, or a rock be moved out of its place?

5 For the light of the sinner is put out, and the flame of his fire is not shining.

6 The light is dark in his tent, and the light shining over him is put out.

7 The steps of his strength become short, and by his design destruction overtakes him.

8 His feet take him into the net, and he goes walking into the cords.

9 His foot is taken in the net; he comes into its grip.

10 The twisted cord is put secretly in the earth to take him, and the cord is placed in his way.

11 He is overcome by fears on every side, they go after him at every step.

12 His strength is made feeble for need of food, and destruction is waiting for his falling footstep.

13 His skin is wasted by disease, and his body is food for the worst of diseases.

14 He is pulled out of his tent where he was safe, and he is taken away to the king of fears.

15 In his tent will be seen that which is not his, burning stone is dropped on his house.

16 Under the earth his roots are dry, and over it his branch is cut off.

17 His memory is gone from the earth, and in the open country there is no knowledge of his name.

18 He is sent away from the light into the dark; he is forced out of the world.

19 He has no offspring or family among his people, and in his living-place there is no one of his name.

20 At his fate those of the west are shocked, and those of the east are overcome with fear.

21 Truly, these are the houses of the sinner, and this is the place of him who has no knowledge of God.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 18

Commentary on Job 18 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 18

In this chapter Bildad makes a second assault upon Job. In his first discourse (ch. 8) he had given him encouragement to hope that all should yet be well with him. But here there is not a word of that; he has grown more peevish, and is so far from being convinced by Job's reasonings that he is but more exasperated.

  • I. He sharply reproves Job as haughty and passionate, and obstinate in his opinion (v. 1-4).
  • II. He enlarges upon the doctrine he had before maintained, concerning the miser of wicked people and the ruin that attends them (v. 5-21).

In this he seems, all along, to have an eye to Job's complaints of the miserable condition he was in, that he was in the dark, bewildered, ensnared, terrified, and hastening out of the world. "This,' says Bildad, "is the condition of a wicked man; and therefore thou art one.'

Job 18:1-4

Bildad here shoots his arrows, even bitter words, against poor Job, little thinking that, though he was a wise and good man, in this instance he was serving Satan's design in adding to Job's affliction.

  • I. He charges him with idle endless talk, as Eliphaz had done (ch. 15:2, 3): How long will it be ere you make an end of words? v. 2. Here he reflects, not only upon Job himself, but either upon all the managers of the conference (thinking perhaps that Eliphaz and Zophar did not speak so closely to the purpose as they might have done) or upon some that were present, who possibly took part with Job, and put in a word now and then in his favour, though it be not recorded. Bildad was weary of hearing others speak, and impatient till it came to his turn, which cannot be observed to any man's praise, for we ought to be swift to hear and slow to speak. It is common for contenders to monopolize the reputation of wisdom, and then to insist upon it as their privilege to be dictators. How unbecoming this conduct is in others every one can see; but few that are guilty of it can see it in themselves. Time was when Job had the last word in all debates (ch. 29:22): After my words they spoke not again. Then he was in power and prosperity; but now that he was impoverished and brought low he could scarcely be allowed to speak at all, and every thing he said was as much vilified as formerly it had been magnified. Wisdom therefore (as the world goes) is good with an inheritance (Eccl. 7:11); for the poor man's wisdom is despised, and, because he is poor, his words are not heard, Eccl. 9:16.
  • II. With a regardlessness of what was said to him, intimated in that, Mark, and afterwards we will speak. And it is to no purpose to speak, though what is said be ever so much to the purpose, if those to whom it is addressed will not mark and observe it. Let the ear be opened to hear as the learned, and then the tongues of the learned will do good service (Isa. 50:4) and not otherwise. It is an encouragement to those that speak of the things of God to see the hearers attentive.
  • III. With a haughty contempt and disdain of his friends and of that which they offered (v. 3): Wherefore are we counted as beasts? This was invidious. Job had indeed called them mockers, had represented them both as unwise and as unkind, wanting both in the reason and tenderness of men, but he did not count them beasts; yet Bildad so represents the matter,
    • 1. Because his high spirit resented what Job had said as if it had been the greatest affront imaginable. Proud men are apt to think themselves slighted more than really they are.
    • 2. Because his hot spirit was willing to find a pretence to be hard upon Job. Those that incline to be severe upon others will have it thought that others have first been so upon them.
  • IV. With outrageous passion: He teareth himself in his anger, v. 4. Herein he seems to reflect upon what Job had said (ch. 13:14): Wherefore did I take my flesh in my teeth? "It is thy own fault,' says Bildad. Or he reflected upon what he said ch. 16:9, where he seemed to charge it upon God, or, as some think, upon Eliphaz: He teareth me in his wrath. "No,' says Bildad; "thou alone shalt bear it.' He teareth himself in his anger. Note, Anger is a sin that is its own punishment. Fretful passionate people tear and torment themselves. He teareth his soul (so the word is); every sin wounds the soul, tears that, wrongs that (Prov. 8:36), unbridled passion particularly.
  • V. With a proud and arrogant expectation to give law even to Providence itself: "Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Surely not; there is no reason for that, that the course of nature should be changed and the settled rules of government violated to gratify the humour of one man. Job, dost thou think the world cannot stand without thee; but that, if thou art ruined, all the world is ruined and forsaken with thee?' Some make it a reproof of Job's justification of himself, falsely insinuating that either Job was a wicked man or we must deny a Providence and suppose that God has forsaken the earth and the rock of ages is removed. It is rather a just reproof of his passionate complaints. When we quarrel with the events of Providence we forget that, whatever befals us, it is,
    • 1. According to the eternal purpose and counsel of God.
    • 2. According to the written word. Thus it is written that in the world we must have tribulation, that, since we sin daily, we must expect to smart for it; and,
    • 3. According to the usual way and custom, the track of Providence, nothing but what is common to men; and to expect that God's counsels should change, his method alter, and his word fail, to please us, is as absurd and unreasonable as to think the earth should be forsaken for us and the rock removed out of its place.

Job 18:5-10

The rest of Bildad's discourse is entirely taken up in an elegant description of the miserable condition of a wicked man, in which there is a great deal of certain truth, and which will be of excellent use if duly considered-that a sinful condition is a sad condition, and that iniquity will be men's ruin if they do not repent of it. But it is not true that all wicked people are visibly and openly made thus miserable in this world; nor is it true that all who are brought into great distress and trouble in this world are therefore to be deemed and adjudged wicked men, when no other proof appears against them; and therefore, though Bildad thought the application of it to Job was easy, yet it was not safe nor just. In these verses we have,

  • I. The destruction of the wicked foreseen and foretold, under the similitude of darkness (v. 5, 6): Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out. Even his light, the best and brightest part of him, shall be put out; even that which he rejoiced in shall fail him. Or the yea may refer to Job's complaints of the great distress he was in and the darkness he should shortly make his bed in. "Yea,' says Bildad, "So it is; thou art clouded, and straitened, and made miserable, and no better could be expected; for the light of the wicked shall be put out, and therefore thine shall.' Observe here,
    • 1. The wicked may have some light for a while, some pleasure, some joy, some hope within, as well as wealth, and honour, and power without. But his light is but a spark (v. 5), a little thing and soon extinguished. It is but a candle (v. 6), wasting, and burning down, and easily blown out. It is not the light of the Lord (that is sun-light), but the light of his own fire and sparks of his own kindling, Isa. 50:11.
    • 2. His light will certainly be put out at length, quite put out, so that not the least spark of it shall remain with which to kindle another fire. Even while he is in his tabernacle, while he is in the body, which is the tabernacle of the soul (2 Co. 5:1), the light shall be dark; he shall have no true solid comfort, no joy that is satisfying, no hope that is supporting. Even the light that is in him is darkness; and how great is that darkness! But, when he is put out of this tabernacle by death, his candle shall be put out with him. The period of his life will be the final period of all his days and will turn all his hopes into endless despair. When a wicked man dies his expectation shall perish, Prov. 11:7. He shall lie down in sorrow.
  • II. The preparatives for that destruction represented under the similitude of a beast or bird caught in a snare, or a malefactor arrested and taken into custody in order to his punishment, v. 7-10.
    • 1. Satan is preparing for his destruction. He is the robber that shall prevail against him (v. 9); for, as he was a murderer, so he was a robber, from the beginning. He, as the tempter, lays snares for sinners in the way, wherever they go, and he shall prevail. If he make them sinful like himself, he will make them miserable like himself. He hunts for the precious life.
    • 2. He is himself preparing for his own destruction by going on in sin, and so treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. God gives him up, as he deserves and desires, to his own counsels, and then his own counsels cast him down, v. 7. His sinful projects and pursuits bring him into mischief. He is cast into a net by his own feet (v. 8), runs upon his own destruction, is snared in the work of his own hands (Ps. 9:16); his own tongue falls upon him, Ps. 64:8. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare.
    • 3. God is preparing for his destruction. The sinner by his sin is preparing the fuel and then God by his wrath is preparing the fire. See here,
      • (1.) How the sinner is infatuated, to run himself into the snare; and whom God will destroy he infatuates.
      • (2.) How he is embarrassed: The steps of his strength, his mighty designs and efforts, shall be straitened, so that he shall not compass what he intended; and the more he strives to extricate himself the more will he be entangled. Evil men wax worse and worse.
      • (3.) How he is secured and kept from escaping the judgments of God that are in pursuit of him. The gin shall take him by the heel. He can no more escape the divine wrath that is in pursuit of him than a man, so held, can flee from the pursuer. God knows how to reserve the wicked for the day of judgment, 2 Pt. 2:9.

Job 18:11-21

Bildad here describes the destruction itself which wicked people are reserved for in the other world, and which, in some degree, often seizes them in this world. Come, and see what a miserable condition the sinner is in when his day comes to fall.

  • I. See him disheartened and weakened by continual terrors arising from the sense of his own guilt and the dread of God's wrath (v. 11, 12): Terror shall make him afraid on every side. The terrors of his own conscience shall haunt him, so that he shall never be easy. Wherever he goes, these shall follow him; which way soever he looks, these shall stare him in the face. It will make him tremble to see himself fought against by the whole creation, to see Heaven frowning on him, hell gaping for him, and earth sick of him. He that carries his own accuser, and his own tormentor, always in his bosom, cannot but be afraid on every side. This will drive him to his feet, like the malefactor, who, being conscious of his own guilt, takes to his heels and flees when none pursues, Prov. 28:1. But his feet will do him no service; they are fast in the snare, v. 9. The sinner may as soon overpower the divine omnipotence as flee from the divine omniscience, Amos 9:2, 3. No marvel that the sinner is dispirited and distracted with fear, for,
    • 1. He sees his ruin approaching: Destruction shall be ready at his side, to seize him whenever justice gives the word, so that he is brought into desolation in a moment, Ps. 73:19.
    • 2. He feels himself utterly unable to grapple with it, either to escape it or to bear up under it. That which he relied upon as his strength (his wealth, power, pomp, friends, and the hardiness of his own spirit) shall fail him in the time of need, and be hunger-bitten, that is, it shall do him no more service than a famished man, pining away for hunger, would do in work or war. The case being thus with him, no marvel that he is a terror to himself. Note, The way of sin is a way of fear, and leads to everlasting confusion, of which the present terrors of an impure and unpacified conscience are earnests, as they were to Cain and Judas.
  • II. See him devoured and swallowed up by a miserable death; and miserable indeed a wicked man's death is, how secure and jovial soever his life was.
    • 1. See him dying, arrested by the first-born of death (some disease, or some stroke that has in it a more than ordinary resemblance of death itself; so great a death, as it is called, 2 Co. 1:10, a messenger of death that has in it an uncommon strength and terror), weakened by the harbingers of death, which devour the strength of his skin, that is, it shall bring rottenness into his bones and consume them. His confidence shall then be rooted out of his tabernacle (v. 14), that is, all that he trusted to for his support shall be taken from him, and he shall have nothing to rely upon, no, not his own tabernacle. His own soul was his confidence, but that shall be rooted out of the tabernacle of the body, as a tree that cumbered the ground. "Thy soul shall be required of thee.'
    • 2. See him dead, and see his case then with an eye of faith.
      • (1.) He is then brought to the king of terrors. He was surrounded with terrors while he lived (v. 11), and death was the king of all those terrors; they fought against the sinner in death's name, for it is by reason of death that sinners are all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb. 2:15), and at length they will be brought to that which they so long feared, as a captive to the conqueror. Death is terrible to nature; our Saviour himself prayed, Father, save me from this hour. But to the wicked it is in a special manner the king of terrors, both as it is a period to that life in which they placed their happiness and a passage to that life where they will find their endless misery. How happy then are the saints, and how much indebted to the Lord Jesus, by whom death is so far abolished, and the property of it altered, that this king of terrors becomes a friend and servant!
      • (2.) He is then driven from the light into darkness (v. 18), from the light of this world, and his prosperous condition in it, into darkness, the darkness of the grave, the darkness of hell, into utter darkness, never to see light (Ps. 49:19), not the least gleam, nor any hopes of it.
      • (3.) He is then chased out of the world, hurried and dragged away by the messengers of death, sorely against his will, chased as Adam out of paradise, for the world is his paradise. It intimates that he would fain stay here; he is loth to depart, but go he must; all the world is weary of him, and therefore chases him out, as glad to get rid of him. This is death to a wicked man.
  • III. See his family sunk and cut off, v. 15. The wrath and curse of God light and lie, not only upon his head and heart, but upon his house too, to consume it with the timber and stones thereof, Zec. 5:4. Death itself shall dwell in his tabernacle, and, having expelled him, shall take possession of his house, to the terror and destruction of all that he leaves behind. Even the dwelling shall be ruined for the sake of its owner: Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation, rained upon it as upon Sodom, to the destruction of which this seems to have reference. Some think he here upbraids Job with the burning of his sheep and servants with fire from heaven. The reason is here given why his tabernacle is thus marked for ruin: Because it is none of his; that is, it was unjustly got, and kept, from the rightful owner, and therefore let him not expect either the comfort or the continuance of it. His children shall perish, either with him or after him, v. 16. So that, his roots being in his own person dried up beneath, above his branch (every child of his family) shall be cut off. Thus the houses of Jeroboam, Baasha, and Ahab, were cut off; none that descended from them were left alive. Those who take root in the earth may expect it will thus be dried up; but, if we be rooted in Christ, even our leaf shall not wither, much less shall our branch be cut off. Those who consult the true honour of their family, and the welfare of its branches, will be afraid of withering it by sin. The extirpation of the sinner's family is mentioned again (v. 19): He shall neither have son nor nephew, child nor grandchild, to enjoy his estate and bear up his name, nor shall there be any remaining in his dwelling akin to him. Sin entails a curse upon posterity, and the iniquity of the fathers is often visited upon the children. Herein, also, it is probable that Bildad reflects upon the death of Job's children and servants, as a further proof of his being a wicked man; whereas all that are written childless are not thereby written graceless; there is a name better than that of sons and daughters.
  • IV. See his memory buried with him, or made odious; he shall either be forgotten or spoken of with dishonour (v. 17): His remembrance shall perish from the earth; and, if it perish thence, it perishes wholly, for it was never written in heaven, as the names of the saints are, Lu. 10:20. All his honour shall be laid and lost in the dust, or stained with perpetual infamy, so that he shall have no name in the street, departing without being desired. Thus the judgments of God follow him, after death, in this world, as an indication of the misery his soul is in after death, and an earnest of that everlasting shame and contempt to which he shall rise in the great day. The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot, Prov. 10:7.
  • V. See a universal amazement at his fall, v. 20. Those that see it are affrighted, so sudden is the change, so dreadful the execution, so threatening to all about him: and those that come after, and hear the report of it, are astonished at it; their ears are made to tingle, and their hearts to tremble, and they cry out, Lord, how terrible art thou in thy judgments! A place or person utterly ruined is said to be made an astonishment, Deu. 28:37; 2 Chr. 7:21; Jer. 25:9, 18. Horrible sins bring strange punishments.
  • VI. See all this averred as the unanimous sense of the patriarchal age, grounded upon their knowledge of God and their many observations of his providence (v. 21): Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place (this the condition) of him that knows not God! See here what is the beginning, and what is the end, of the wickedness of this wicked world.
    • 1. The beginning of it is ignorance of God, and it is a wilful ignorance, for there is that to be known of him which is sufficient to leave them for ever inexcusable. They know not God, and then they commit all iniquity. Pharaoh knows not the Lord, and therefore will not obey his voice.
    • 2. The end of it, and that is utter destruction. Such, so miserable, are the dwellings of the wicked. Vengeance will be taken of those that know not God, 2 Th. 1:8. For those whom he has not honour from he will get himself honour upon. Let us therefore stand in awe and not sin, for it will certainly be bitterness in the latter end.