Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 33:23

23. If there be a messenger with him , an interpreter , one among a thousand , to shew unto man his uprightness :

Either 1. an Angel sent to him from Heaven upon this errand; for the Angels are ministring Spirits. Psalm 103. 20. Heb. 1. 14. and are, and especially in that time and state of the Church, were frequently employed by God upon Messages to men But why then should he say, one of a thousand Angels, seeing any the meanest Angel was very competent for this work? Or rather 2. a Prophet▪ or Teacher, for such are oft called by this Name; as Iudg. 2. 1. M[illegible: 1+ letters]. 2. 7. & 3. 1. Rev. 1. 20. and such persons are appointed by God for, and are most commonly imployed in, this work.

Either 1. with God to plead man's Cause, and to pray to God for man, Or rather 2. with man, who is expressed in the last clause of this Verse, and of whom this same Pronoun him is twice used in the next Verse. Nor is it strange that the Pronoun Relative is put before the Noun to which it belongs, but u[illegible: 1+ letters]ual in the Hebrew language, as Exod. 2. 6. Prov. 5. 22. & 14 33. and elsewhere.

One whose Office and work it is to declare the mind of God unto the sick-man, and wherefore God contends with him, and what God would have him to do.

A person rightly qualified for this great and hard work, such as there are but very few, searce one of [illegible: 1+ letters] thousand; which expression is used to denote the rarity [illegible: 1+ letters]nd fewness of persons, Eccles. 7▪ 28. By which words he doth covertly reflect upon Iob's three Friends, and imply that they were not such persons, though they had undertaken to perform this offce or work to Iob; and withal modestly intimates, that although he was in himself mean and inferiour to all of them (as he acknowledgeth) yet he was selected by God for this work; which he saith, not out of a desire of vain boasting of himself, but to dispose Iob to a more diligent attention unto, and a more ready entertainment of his present discourses.

Or, rectitude, or rig[illegible: 1+ letters] ousness. His, i. e. either 1. God's: To convince a man that God is just and right in all his dealings with him, though never so fevere; of which Iob was not yet convinced. Or rather 2. man's; to teach man his duty, or to direct him to the right way and method how he may please God, and procure that mercy and deliverance which he thirsts after; which is not by quarrelling with God▪ as Iob did, but by an humble confession, and hearty detestation and forsaking of his sins, and supplication to God for mercy in and through Christ the Redeemer, of whom Iob spoke before. Or thus, To discover to man, that although he be afflicted, yet he is an upright and righteous person, and consequently in God's favour; about which good men oft doubt, and need the help of a skilful Minister to satisfie them therein. But this seems not so well to suit Iob's case, who was sufficiently and more than enough perswaded of his own Integrity, and needed no Minister to preach that Doctrine to him.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 43. [illegible: 1 word].