J5 N¹ 1-4. Reproof of Job.
N² 5-21. Doom of the wicked.
1656 B.C.
Job 18)
1 Then answered Bildad (see 2:11) the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long will it be before you make an end (or perversion) of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile (or stupid) in your sight?
4 He tears his soul in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for you? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
N² O¹ 5-20. Particular.
O² 21. General.
O¹ e 5,6. Extinction.
f 7-16. Result. vv.7,8. Evils from himself.
vv.9-16. Evils from others.
e 17-19. Extinction.
f 20. Result. Astonishment of others.
5 Yes, the light of the lawless shall be put out (the reference is to the universal practice of burning a light during the night), and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
6 The light shall be dark in his tent (showing that the man is dead, and not alive to keep the light burning), and his candle shall be put out over him.
7 His firm step 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 walks habitually upon a snare.
9 A gin (= a snare) shall take him by the heel, and a noose shall prevail against him.
10 The snare is hidden for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall follow his feet. (Cp. 1 Sam. 25:42.)
12 His strength shall be hunger-bitten (i.e. shall be weakened by hunger), and destruction shall be ready at his side.
13 It shall devour the members of his body: even the firstborn of death shall devour his members of his body.
14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors. (Euphemy for death.)
15 It (i.e. every one of the terrors) shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is not, indeed, his own: 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 grandson among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20 They that come after him shall be astonished at his day (put for the thing done in the day, i.e. his fall), as they that went before were frightened.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knows not GOD (El)."