Job 35

Job 35:1

The wicked - And thus Christ was delivered into wicked hands, by the determinate counsel of God.

Job 35:2

Shaken - As a mighty man doth with some stripling, when he wrestleth with him. Mark - That he may shoot all his arrows in me.

Job 35:3

His archers - Whoever are our enemies, we must look on them as God’s archers, and see him directing the arrow.

Job 35:5

I have - So far am I from stretching out my hand against God, chap.15:25, that I have humbled myself deeply under his hand. I have not only put on sackcloth, but sewed it on, as being resolved to continue my humiliation, as long as my affliction continues. Defiled my horn - I have willingly parted with all my wealth, and power, and glory (as the horn often signifies in scripture,) and been content to lie in the dust.

Job 35:7

Not - And all this is not come upon me for any injurious dealing, but for other reasons known to God only. Pure - I do not cast off God’s fear and service, chap.15:4. I do still pray and worship God, and my prayer is accompanied with a sincere heart.

Job 35:8

Earth - The earth is said to cover that blood, which lies undiscovered and unrevenged: but saith Job, if I be guilty of destroying any man, let the earth disclose it; let it be brought to light. Cry - Let the cry of my complaints to men, or prayers to God, find no place in the ears or hearts of God or men, if this be true.

Job 35:9

Witness - Besides the witness of my conscience, God is witness of my integrity.

Job 35:12

Go - To the state and place of the dead, whence men cannot return to this life. The meaning is, my death hastens, and therefore I earnestly desire that the cause depending, between me and my friends, may be determined, that if I be guilty of these things, I may bear the shame of it before all men, and if I be innocent, that I may see my own integrity, and the credit of religion, (which suffers upon this occasion) vindicated. How very certainly, and how very shortly are we likewise to go this journey.

Job 35:14

The graves - He speaks of the sepulchres of his fathers, to which he must be gathered. The graves where they are laid, are ready for me also. Whatever is unready, the grave is ready for us: it is a bed soon made. And if the grave be ready for us, it concerns us, to be ready for the grave.

Job 35:15

Are not - Do not my friends, instead of comforting, mock me? Thus he returns to what he had said, chap.16:20, and intimates the justice of his following appeal.

Job 35:16

Surety - These words contain, an humble desire to God that he would be his surety, or appoint him a surety who should maintain his righteous cause against his opposers. Strike hands - Be surety to me; whereof that was the usual gesture.