Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 17:3

3. Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee , who is he that will strike hands with me ?

He turneth his Speech either to Eliphaz, who spake last; or rather to God, as is evident from the matter and scope of the words, and from the next Verse. These words contain, either 1. An humble desire to God that he would appoint him a Surety, who should undertake for his Friends, that they should refer the cause in difference between them to God, or to some other person who should determine the matter in Gods Name, and according to Gods Will: Or that God would be his Surety, or appoint him a Surety who should maintain his righteous cause against his opposers; for so this Phrase is oft used, as Psal. 119. 121, 122. Isa. 38. 14. And some expound this, as they did, Ch. 16. 21. of Christ Jesus, who was called our Surety, Heb. 7. 22. Appoint, I pray thee, my Surety (i. e. Christ who is now) with thee, to plead my Cause. Or rather 2. An appeal from God unto God, or a kind of challenge or desire of debating [illegible: 1 word] Cause with God. Which, though it favoureth of too much boldness and irreverence to God, yet seeing Iob expresseth the same desire almost in the same manner, Ch. 9. 33, 34. and is sharply reproved by God for contending with him, Ch. 40. 2. I know no Inconvenience of ascribing the same thing to him here. So the sense is, Because I am not able to deal with thee immediately, considering the dread of thy Majesty, my only desire is that thou wouldest deal with me upon fair and equal terms, as if thou were a man like my self, and appoint some man who shall in thy name and stead determine the time and place for the trial of my cause with thee. And this suits well enough with the two following Verses, because his Friends were without Understanding, v. 4. and partial, v. 5. therefore he desires to cease discoursing with them, and to debate his cause with God, who was just and impartial, and also would be favourable to him.

i. e. Agree and promise, or be Surety to me; whereof that was the usual gesture, Prov. 6. 1, 2. & 17. 18. & 22. 26.