Job 35:9

By reason of the multitude of oppressions, they make [the oppressed] to cry,.... Which is either an illustration by an instance of what is before said, that wickedness hurts men, as particularly

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

The multitude, or greatness. This verse is supposed to contain an argument to prove what he said , that one man’ s wickedness may hurt another. But he rather seems to begin a new matter, and having answered one of Job’ s objections, to proceed to another, which may be either, 1. That which Job had oft complained of, that he cried to God, and God did not hear his cry; which Elihu answers by a parallel case of men crying out for oppression; whom yet God doth not hear nor help, and that for just reasons, which he leaves to Job to apply to himself. Or, 2. That which Job had alleged, , and which might seem to reflect upon God’ s providence. This therefore Elihu repeats in this verse, and answereth in the following. To cry; not only to murmur and complain, but to cry out by reason of sore oppression, and to cry to the oppressors or others for pity and help. By reason of the arm of the mighty; because their oppressors are too strong for them.

Job 35:9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make [the oppressed] to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. Ver. 9. By reason of the multitude (or magnitude) of oppressions, &c.] Or, of the oppressed, whom they (that is, whom the oppressors, not worthy to be named, as neither is that rich glutton, Luke 16:19-31) make to cry. Job had said, Job 24:12, "Men groan out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them." He punisheth not the wrong dealers according to their deserts, as Elihu interprets Job; and here refuteth him, as one that accused God of injustice, because he heareth not the cries of the oppressed. But this is merely their own fault, saith Elihu; because they cry not to God with truth and devotion. They ask and miss, because they ask amiss. For God never faileth to be with his afflicted, Psalms 91:1-16, to preserve the simple, as David found by experience, &c., Psalms 116:1-19, to hear those that call upon him in truth, Psalms 145:1-21; he requireth nothing of them but lawful petitions aud honest hearts, and then they are sure to have out their prayers, either in money or money’ s worth; either the same thing they ask or a better. They cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty] Magnatum. Such as was Pompey, of whom the Romans cried out, Nostra miseria tu es Magnus, We rue by thy greatness, and are ruined. The greater any man is, unless gracious also, the more he thinks he may oppress the meaner sort. They "eat up my people as they eat bread," Psalms 14:4, as so many cannibals, and as the bigger fishes devour the lesser; they lay load upon them without mercy or measure; they beat them with a strong arm, and make them cry aloud, filling the air with their complaints, as nature teacheth even brute beasts to do when they are hurt: Videri possunt magnates non alio loco habere tenues quam minutos pisciculos, quos confertim et pleno ore pro deliciis esitent (Merl.). It was not patience, but pertinace, an obstinate stiffness of mind, that made some heathens, as Mithridates, Marius, Epicurus, &c., forbear crying when grievously tormented.

(9) By reason of the multitude of oppressions.—The argument seems to be that among men there may be oppression, but not with an almighty and just Judge. The right course, therefore, is to wait. “Men may, indeed, complain because of the oppression of an earthly tyrant; but how canst thou say thou beholdest Him not?” (See Job 9:9.)

Verse 9. By reason of the multitude] Or rather, "From among the multitude" the oppressed clamour, יזעיקו yaziku: they shout, ישועו yeshavveu, because of the mighty. The wicked rich oppress the wicked poor; these cry aloud because of their oppressors; but they have no relief, because they call not upon God.

9–15. Having laid down his principle Elihu now proceeds to clear away some anomalies which seem to support Job’s contention. There are instances where godliness does not seem to advantage men, where oppressed innocence cries in vain for redress. The reason is that the cry is merely the natural voice of suffering; it is no true devout appeal to heaven—none saith, Where is God my maker?

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry - It is not quite easy to see the connection which this verse has with what goes before, or its bearing on the argument of Elihu.

Second half — PIETY (SO CALLED) THAT CALLS FORTH NO BENEFIT, IS UNREAL AND , IN THAT IT IS FROM THE SOUL OF MAN BY , Job 35:9-16.a.