Clarke's Bible Commentary - Job 17:12
Verse 12. They change the night into day ] These purposes and thoughts are so very gloomy, that they change day into night. The light is short because of darkness. ] j ynpm bwrq rwa or karob mippeney choshek, "The light is near from the face of darkness." I have scarcely any light: what is called light is so near akin to darkness, that it is scarcely severed from it. There is either no light, or merely such as is sufficient to render darkness visible. A fine picture of the state of his mind-he was generally in darkness; but had occasional gleams of hope.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-16 - Job's friends had pretended to comfort him with the hope of his retur to a prosperous estate; he here shows that those do not go wisely abou the work of comforting the afflicted, who fetch their comforts from the possibility of recovery in this world. It is our wisdom to comfor ourselves, and others, in distress, with that which will not fail; the promise of God, his love and grace, and a well-grounded hope of eterna life. See how Job reconciles himself to the grave. Let this make believers willing to die; it is but going to bed; they are weary, an it is time that they were in their beds. Why should not they go willingly when their Father calls them? Let us remember our bodies ar allied to corruption, the worm and the dust; and let us seek for tha lively hope which shall be fulfilled, when the hope of the wicked shal be put out in darkness; that when our bodies are in the grave, ou souls may enjoy the rest reserved for the people of God __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
לילה 3915 ליום 3117 ישׂימו 7760 אור 216 קרוב 7138 מפני 6440 חשׁך׃ 2822
