Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. XIII.

1. LO, mine Eye hath seen all this, mine Ear hath heard and understood it a 1.1.

2. * 1.2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferiour unto you.

3. * 1.3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty b 1.4, and I desire to reason with God.

4. But ye are forgers of Lies c 1.5, * 1.6 ye are all Physici∣ans of no value d 1.7.

5. O that ye would altogether hold your peace, and it should be your Wisdom e 1.8.

6. Hear f 1.9 now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my Lips g 1.10.

7. * 1.11 Will ye speak wickedly for God h 1.12? And talk deceitfully for him?

8. Will ye accept his Person i 1.13? Will ye contend k 1.14 for God l 1.15?

9. Is it good m 1.16 that he should search you out n 1.17? or as one mocketh another, do ye so mock him o 1.18?

10. He will surely reprove you p 1.19, if ye do secretly q 1.20 accept Persons.

11. Shall not his Excellency r 1.21 make you afraid s 1.22? And his dread fall upon you?

12. Your remembrances t 1.23 are like unto ashes, your Bodies u 1.24 are like to Bodies of Clay.

13. † 1.25 Hold your peace x 1.26, let me alone that I may speak y 1.27, and let come on me what will z 1.28.

14. Wherefore do I take my Flesh in my Teeth, and put my Life in mine hand? z 1.29

15. * 1.30 Though he slay me a 1.31, yet I will trust in him b 1.32: but c 1.33 I will † 1.34 maintain mine own ways d 1.35 before him e 1.36.

16. He also shall be, or is my Salvation f 1.37: for g 1.38 an Hypocrite shall not come before him.

17. Hear diligently my Speech h 1.39, and my declara∣tion i 1.40 with your Ears.

18. Behold now, I have ordered my † 1.41 Cause k 1.42; I know that I shall be justified l 1.43.

19. Who is he that will plead with me m 1.44? For now if I hold my Tongue, I shall give up the Ghost n 1.45.

20. Only do not Two things unto me o 1.46: then will I not hide my self from thee p 1.47.

21. * 1.48 Withdraw thine hand far from me q 1.49: and let not thy dread make me afraid r 1.50.

22. Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me s 1.51.

23. How many are mine Iniquities and sins t 1.52? Make me to know my transgression and my Sin u 1.53.

24. Wherefore hidest thou thy Face x 1.54, and * 1.55 hold∣•…•…st me for thine Enemy y 1.56.

25. * 1.57 Wilt thou break a Leaf driven to and fro? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble z 1.58?

26. For thou writest a 1.59 bitter things b 1.60 against me, and * 1.61 makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth c 1.62.

27. * 1.63 Thou puttest my Feet also in the stocks d 1.64, and † 1.65 lookest narrowly unto all my Paths e 1.66; thou settest a Print upon the † 1.67 Heels of my Feet f 1.68.

28. And he g 1.69, as a rotten thing, consumeth as a Garment that is Moth-eaten.

Notes

• a 1.1

  All this which either you or I have discoursed concerning the infinite Power and Wisdom of God, I know, both by seeing it, i. e. by my own Observation and Experience, and by hearing it from my Ancestors; so that I did not need your tedious and impertinent dis∣courses concerning those matters.
• * 1.2

  Chap. 12 3.
• * 1.3

  Chap. 23. 3.
• b 1.4

  According to thy Wish, Ch. 11. 5. I had rather debate the matter with God than with you. I am not afraid of presenting my Person and Cause before him, who is a Witness of my Integrity, and would not deal so unmercifully with me as you do.
• c 1.5

  i. e. Authors of False Doctrine, to wit, that great afflictions are peculiar to Hypocrites and wicked Men.
• * 1.6

  Chap. 6. 21. & 16. 2.
• d 1.7

  Unfaithful and un∣skilful, prescribing bad Remedies, and misapplying good ones.
• e 1.8

  For then your Ignorance and Folly had been concealed, which is now manifest. Compare Prov. 17. 28.
• f 1.9

  i. e. Attend to it, and consider it more seriously than you have done.
• g 1.10

  i. e. To the arguments which I shall produce.
• * 1.11

  •…•…p. 17. 5. •…•… 32. 21. •…•… 35. 4.
• h 1.12

  Will you utter falshoods upon pretence of pleasing God, or of maintaining Gods Honour or Justice? Doth he need such de∣fences?
• i 1.13

  Not judging according to the right of the Cause, but the qua∣lity of the Person, as corrupt Judges do.
• k 1.14

  i. e. Wrangle and quarrel with me, and cavil at my Speeches, and pervert my meaning.
• l 1.15

  i. e. That you may gratifie him, or defend his Rights?
• m 1.16

  Will it be to your Credit and Comfort?
• n 1.17

  i. e. Narrowly ex∣amine your Hearts and discourses, whether you have uttered Truth or Falshood; and whether your Speeches proceed from true Zeal for God, or from your own Prejudices and Passions, and from a desire to curry Favour with him.
• o 1.18

  To wit, by covering your un∣charitableness and corrupt affections with pretences of Piet•…•…, as if God could not discern your Artifices; or by pleading his Cause with weak and foolish Arguments, which is a kind of Mockery to him, and an Injury to his Cause; or by seeking to flatter him with false Praises, as if he did distribute the things of this world with exact Justice, prospering only the good, and severely af∣flicting none but wicked Men.
• p 1.19

  i. e. Punish you; as this word is o•…•…t used, as hath been once and again observed.
• q 1.20

  Though it be concealed in your own Breasts, and no Eye see it; yea, though it be so close that your own Minds and Consciences, through ignorance, or inadvertency, or sloth∣fulness, do not perceive it, yet he, who is greater than your Con∣sciences, sees and knows it.
• r 1.21

  His infinite Wisdom which sees your secret Falshoods, and his Justice and Power, which can and will punish you for it.
• s 1.22

  Of speaking rashly or falsly of his ways and Counsels.
• t 1.23

  Either 1. Actively, i. e. your Memorials, or your Discourses and Arguments by which you design to bring things to my remem∣brance. So he might possibly allude to that passage, Ch. 4. 7 Re∣member I pray thee, &c. That and all your other Memento's are like unto ashes, i. e. contemptible and unprofitable: Heb. are Parables, or Speeches of dust, or ashes. Or 2. Passively, all that which is most excellent and memorable in you; your Wealth, and Dignity, and Wit, and Reputation, or whatsoever it is for which you expect or desire to be remembered, it is all but poor despicable dust and ashes: And therefore you have just reason to abhor your selves, and to dread the Divine Majesty, as I now advised you.
• u 1.24

  Though they be not full of sores and boils as mine is, yet they are but dust, and to dust they shall return as well as mine. Heb. Your backs, which, being the strongest part of the Body, is put for the whole Body. Or, Your Eminences, or Excellencies, as this word most pro∣perly signifies, as Hebricians observe so it answers to their memo∣•…•…bles. All those things wherein you do, or think that you do ex∣cel others, are but like Eminencies, or Lumps, or Heaps of Clay, vain and useless things, if compared with the Excellencies of God. Or, Your heights, i. e. your losty Discourses are like Clay, i. e. with∣out solidity and strength.
• † 1.25

  Heb. be silens from me.
• x 1.26

  Do not now interrupt me in my Discourse; which peradventure he observed by their gestures some of them were now attempting.
• y 1.27

  That I may freely utter my whole mind.
• z 1.28

  For the event of my Discourse with God, wherewith you threaten me, I am willing to submit my self to him, to do with me as he pleaseth: For I know he will not judge so severely and partially of me, or my words, as you do, but will accept what is good, and pass by any circum∣stantial defects in my Person or Speech, as knowing that I speak from an upright Heart.
• z 1.29

  According to this Translation the sense seems to be this, If you speak truth, and God punisheth none but wicked men, why doth he bring me (whom he Knows to be no Hypocrite, as you slaunder me) to that extremity of Pain and misery, that I am almost constrained to tear, and eat my own flesh (which is mentioned as the Character of men in great anguish, Isa. 9. 20. & 49. 26.) and am ready to lay violent hands upon my self? Is it so great a crime to complain in this case, or at least to enquire into the cause of this unwonted severity: But this sense seems not well to suit ei∣ther with the foregoing or following Verses, but to come in abrupt∣ly. Others therefore render the words thus, Why should I take my flesh in my Teeth, &c. And so this may be either 1. A Reason of his ardent desire of Liberty of Speech, because he could hold his Tongue no longer, but must needs tear himself to pieces, if he had not some vent for his grief. So this agrees well both with v. 13. where he desired this freedom, and with v. 19. where the same sense is expressed in plainer words. Or 2. An Antidote against despair. I perceive O my Friends by your Discourses, that you intend to drive me to utter Despair, if I do not turn to God in a∣nother manner than yet I have done. Which if it were true, I should certainly tear my flesh, and violently take away my own Life: But I see no reason why I should give way to any such de∣spair or desperate Actions? And this also hath a good dependance upon the foregoing words, Let come on me what will. But I have no reason to fear such Consequences as you suggest, nor to despair of a merciful Audience and Relief from God; and a good con∣nexion with those which follow, v. 15. where he declares his Hope and Confidence in God. The Phrase of having ones Life in his hand, notes a condition extremely dangerous, and almost desperate, as Iudg. 12. 3. 1 Sam. 19. 5. & 28. 21. Psal. 119. 109.
• * 1.30

  Psa. 23. 4. Prov. 14. 32.
• a 1.31

  Though God should yet more and more encrease my torments, so that I could bear them no longer, but should perceive my self to be at the point of Death, and without all hopes of Recovery in this World.
• b 1.32

  Or, shall I not trust in him? Should I despair? No, I will not. I know he is a just, and a faithful, and merciful God, and he knows that mine Heart is upright before him, and that I am no Hypocrite.
• c 1.33

  Though I will trust in him, yet I will humbly expostulate the matter with him.
• † 1.34

  Heb. prove, or argue.
• d 1.35

  I will argue, or prove, or de∣monstrate my ways, i. e. I will make a full free Confession of the whole course of my Life, and I will boldly, though submissively, assert mine own Integrity, which he also will▪ I doubt not ac∣knowledge. And what I have done amiss I will as freely confess; and make Supplication to my judge for the pardon of it.
• e 1.36

  Before his Tribunal: for I desire no other Judge but him.
• f 1.37

  I rest assured that he will save me out of these miseries sooner or later, one way or other, if not with a temporal, yet with an eternal Salvation after Death▪ of which he speaks, Ch. 19. 25, &c.
• g 1.38

  Or, but, as this particle commonly signifies, for this Clause is put by way of opposition to the former, and the sense is▪ But if I were an Hypocrite as you alledge, I durst not present my self before him to plead my Cause with him, as now I desire to do, nor could I hope for any Salvation from, or with, him in Heaven.
• h 1.39

  This he desired before, v. 6. and now repeateth, either be∣cause they manifested some neglect or dislike of his Speech, and some desire to interrupt him: Or, because he now comes more closely to his business, the foregoing Verses being mostly in way of Preface to it.
• i 1.40

  i. e. The words whereby I declare my Mind.
• † 1.41

  Heb. judg∣ment▪
• k 1.42

  To wit, within my self. I have seriously and sincerely consi∣dered the state of my case, and what can be said either for me, or against me, and am ready to plead my Cause.
• l 1.43

  i. e. Acquitted by God from that Hypocrisie and Wickedness wherewith you charge me, and declared a righteous and innocent person, humane Infir∣mities excepted.
• m 1.44

  Where is the man that will do it? Nay, Oh that God would do it: which here he implies, and presently expresseth.
• n 1.45

  My grief for Gods heavy Hand, and for your bitter Reproaches would break my Heart, if I should not give it vent.
• o 1.46

  Which Two he expresseth, v. 21.
• p 1.47

  Then shall I boldly pre∣sent my self and Cause before thee.
• * 1.48

  Ch. 9. 34, 35. & 33. 7.
• q 1.49

  i. e. Suspend my Torments during the time of my pleading with thee, that my Mind may be at liberty.
• r 1.50

  Do not present thy self to me in terrible Majest, neither deal with me in rigorous Ju∣stice; but hear me meekly, as one man heareth another, and plead with me upon those gracious Terms, wherewith thou usest to deal with Mankind.
• s 1.51

  Then chuse thy own Method. Either do thou charge me with Hypocrisie, or more than common Guilt, and I will de•…•…end my self: Or I will argue with thee concerning thy extraordinary seve∣rity towards me; and do thou •…•…hew me the reasons of it. This proposal savoured of too great self-confidence, and of Irreverence towards God; for which, and such like Speeches, he is reproved by God, Ch. 38. 2, 3. & 40. 2.
• t 1.52

  That I am a sinner I confess; but that I am guilty of so many or such heinous Crimes as my Friends suppose, I utterly deny; and if I be so, do thou, O Lord, discover it to my shame.
• u 1.53

  If peradventure my heart deceive me therein; for I am not consci∣ous to my self of any enormous crime.
• x 1.54

  i. e. Withdrawest thy favour and help which thou didst use to afford me; as this Phrase is commonly used, as Deut. 31. 17. Psal. 13. 1. & 102. 2. &c.
• * 1.55

  Deut. 32. 20. Ruth. 1, 21. Ch. 16. 9. & 19. 11. & 33. 10.
• y 1.56

  i. e. Dealest as harshly with me, as if I were thy professed Enemy.
• * 1.57

  Isa. 42. 3.
• z 1.58

  Doth it become thy infinite and excellent Majesty to use all thy might to crush such a poor, impotent, frail Creature as I am, that can no more resist thy Power, than a Leaf, or a little loose and dry straw can resist the fury of the Wind or Fire.
• a 1.59

  i. e. Thou appointest or inflictest. A Metaphor from Princes or Judges, who antiently used to write their Sentences or Decrees, concerning Persons, or Causes, brought before them. See Psal. 149. 9. Ier. 22. 30. Ioh. 19. 22.
• b 1.60

  i. e. A terrible Sentence, or most grievous punishments.
• * 1.61

  Psa. 25. 7.
• c 1.62

  Thou dost now at once bring upon me the punishment of all my sins, not excepting those of my Youth, which, because of the Folly and weakness of that Age, are usually excused or winked at, or, at least, but gently punished.
• * 1.63

  Chap 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 11.
• d 1.64

  Thou encompassest me with thy Judgments, that I may have no way or possibility to escape.
• † 1.65

  Heb. observ∣est.
• e 1.66

  When thou hast me fast in Pri∣son, thou makest a strict and diligent search into all the actions of my life, that thou m•…•…ist find matter to condemn me.
• † 1.67

  Heb. roots.
• f 1.68

  i. e. Thou followest me close at the Heels, either to observe my Actions, or to pursue me with thy Judgments, so that thou dost oft tread upon my Heels, and leave the prints of thy Footsteps upon them.
• g 1.69

  Either 1. Man, or Iob, supposed to be Gods Adversary in this contest. So he speaks of himself in the third Person, as is usual in this and other sacred Books. So the Sense is, He, i. e. this poor frail Creature, this Carkass or Body of mine; which possibly he pointed a•…•… with his Finger, consumeth or pineth away, &c. So he mentions here the effect of Gods severe proceedings against him, to wit, his Consum•…•…tion, and utter Destruction, which was making haste towards him. Or, 2▪ God, of whom he hitherto spoke in the second Person, and now in the third Person, such changes of persons being very frequent in poetical Writings, such as this is. So he continueth the former Discourse, and as before he mentioned Gods severe Enquiry into his ways, and Sentence against him, so here he describes the Consequence and dreadful Execution of it upon him: He i. e. God, consumeth (for the Verb is Active) me as rottenness consumeth that in which it is, or as a rotten thing is consu∣med, and as a Moth which eateth a Garment.