Old Testament Commentary - Job 24

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 24 Murderers, adulterers, those who oppress the poor, and wicked people in general often go unpunished.
1 WHY, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2 Some remove the ^alandmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4 They turn the needy out^a of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.	4^a They turn the needy out When it is God who has given the commandment to treat the poor well, and it is known that all is known and not hidden from the Lord, why is it that they continue to treat the the poor poorly and turn them out into the streets? Perhaps there would be no street people and baggers if there were a place for them to go and be taken care of? Perhaps if such a place was, then there could be a law about 'no begging in the streets or door to door. Just a thought, but why not if we are commanded to care for the poor?	2^a Deut. 19:14; Prov. 22:28; Hosea 5:10
5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6 They reap every one his ^acorn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.		6^a HEB fodder
8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God ^alayeth not folly to them. 13 They are of those that ^arebel against the ^blight; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.		12^a Or does not give head to their prayer 13^a 1 Ne. 2:23 (19-24); Mosiah 15:26; D&C 10:21 (20-22) ^b Hel. 13:29
15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the ^atwilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the ^alight. 17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.		15^a Prov. 7:9-10 16^a D&C 10:21
18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19 ^aDrought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. 20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.		19^a TG Drought
21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. 22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
24 They are exalted for a ^alittle while, but are gone and brought ^blow; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the ^atops of the ears of corn. 25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?		24^a Ps. 37:10-11 ^b 2 Ne. 26:10 ^c HEB heads of grain