Job 15

Job 15:3

The silver - Keep it to thy own use; I accept the offer for the deed.

Job 15:7

The city - Not only the Jews, but a great number of the citizens, either because they were related to them, or engaged with them in worldly concerns; or out of humanity and compassion toward so vast a number of innocent people, appointed as sheep for the slaughter.

Job 15:9

Cry - To express his deep sense of the mischief coming upon his people. It was bravely done, thus publickly to espouse a just cause though it seemed to be a desperate one.

Job 15:10

Sackcloth - Lest it should give the king any occasion of grief and trouble. But what availed, to keep out the badges of sorrow unless they could have kept out the causes of sorrow too? To forbid sackcloth to enter unless they could likewise forbid sickness, and trouble, and death?

Job 15:12

To clothe - That so he might be capable of returning to his former place, if not of coming to her to acquaint her with the cause of his sorrow.

Job 15:19

Inner court - Within which, the king’s residence and throne was. Not called - This was decreed, to maintain both the majesty, and the safety of the king’s person; and by the contrivance of the greater officers of state, that few or none might have access to the king but themselves and their friends. I have not been called, &c. - Which gives me just cause to fear that the king’s affections are alienated from me, and that neither my person nor petition will be acceptable to him.

Job 15:22

From another place - This was the language of strong faith, against hope believing in hope. Who knoweth - It is probable God hath raised thee to this honour for this very season. We should every one of us consider, for what end God has put us in the place where we are? And when an opportunity offers of serving God and our generation, we must take care not to let it slip.

Job 15:24

Fast - And pray; so as you use to do, leave off your common dinners by day, and suppers at night, and eat and drink no more than mere necessity requires; that so you may give yourselves to constant and fervent prayers. Maidens - Which she had chosen to attend upon her person, and were doubtless either of the Jewish nation, or Proselytes. Which is not, &c. - Which may belong, either to the thing only, that as they did fast, so she would. Or, rather, to the time of three days and three nights; for so she might do, though she went to the king on the third day. For the fast began at evening, and so she might continue her fast three whole nights, and two whole days, and the greatest part of the third; a part of a day being reputed a day in the account of scripture, and other authors: of which see on Matthew 12:40. Yea, she might fast all that day too: for it is probable she went not to the king ’till he had dined; when she supposed she might find him in the most mild and pleasant humour, and then returned to her apartment, where she fasted ’till the evening.

Job 15:28

Held out - In testimony that he pardoned her presumption, and was ready to grant her petition. Touched - In token of her thankful acceptance of the king’s favour, and of her reverence and submission.

Job 15:29

It shall be given - God in his providence often prevents the fears and outdoes the hopes of his servants. To the half of the kingdom - A proverbial expression: that is, nothing in reason shall be denied.

Job 15:30

Haman - Whom she invited, that by shewing such respect to the king’s great favourite, she might insinuate herself the more into the king’s affection; and, that if she saw fit, she might then present her request to the king.

Job 15:32

Of wine - So called, because it consisted not of meats, which probably the king had plentifully eaten before, but of fruits and wines; which banquets were very frequent among the Persians.

Job 15:34

Tomorrow - I will acquaint thee with my humble request. She did not present her petition at this time, but delayed it ’till the next meeting; either because she was a little daunted with the king’s presence, or, because she would farther engage the king’s affection to her, and would also intimate to him that her petition was of a more than ordinary nature: but principally by direction of Divine providence, which took away her courage of utterance for this time, that she might have a better opportunity for it the next time, by that great accident which happened before it.

Job 15:35

Nor moved - To shew how little he feared him, and that he had a firm confidence in his God, that he would deliver him and his people in this great exigency.