Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. If thy children have sinned ] I know thy children have been cut off by a terrible judgment; but was it not because by transgression they had filled up the measure of their iniquity? And he have cast them away - Has sent them off, says the Targum, to the place of their transgression-to that punishment due to their sins.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Job spake much to the purpose; but Bildad, like an eager, angr disputant, turns it all off with this, How long wilt thou speak thes things? Men's meaning is not taken aright, and then they are rebuked as if they were evil-doers. Even in disputes on religion, it is to common to treat others with sharpness, and their arguments with contempt. Bildad's discourse shows that he had not a favourable opinio of Job's character. Job owned that God did not pervert judgment; yet i did not therefore follow that his children were cast-aways, or tha they did for some great transgression. Extraordinary afflictions ar not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, sometimes they are the trials of extraordinary graces: in judging of another's case, we ough to take the favorable side. Bildad puts Job in hope, that if he wer indeed upright, he should yet see a good end of his present troubles This is God's way of enriching the souls of his people with graces an comforts. The beginning is small, but the progress is to perfection Dawning light grows to noon-day.
Original Hebrew אם518 בניך1121 חטאו2398 לו וישׁלחם7971 ביד3027 פשׁעם׃6588
