Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 37:13

13. He causeth it to come , whether for correction , or for his land , or for mercy .

Heb. He maketh it (to wit, the Cloud or Clouds, and the Rain which is in it) to find, to wit, a path, or to find out the Persons or place to which God intends either good or hurt by it.

Heb for a rod, to scourge or correct men by immoderate showers. Or, for a Tribe, or certain Portion of Land, which God intends particularly to punish in that kind.

i. e. For God's Land whereby he understands, either 1. the Land which he favoureth, and where his Servants live, such as Canaan was, which for that reason God blessed with rain, as is noted, Deut. 11. 12. Psal. 68. 9, 10. But in Iob's time God's People were not in Canaan, but in Egypt, where little or no Rain fell. or 2. the uninhabited or desert parts of the World, which may be called Gods Land peculiarly, because it is immediately and onely under Gods care as being not regarded nor possessed by any man. For it is noted as a special act of God's Providence that he causeth Rain to fall upon such places, Iob 38. 26, 27▪ Or 3. his Earth, as it may be rendred, to wit, the whole Earth, which is said to be the Lords, Psal. 24. 1. & 50. 12. and which may be here opposed to a Tribe, or little part of the Earth. And so this may note a general judgment by excessive Rains inflicted upon the whole Earth and all its Inhabitants, even the universal Deluge, which then was in a manner of fresh memory, which came in a great measure out of the Clouds. And thus these two first members speak of correction, and the last of Mercy.

For the comfort and benefit of Mankind by cooling and cleansing the Air and refreshing and improving all the fruits of the Earth, and other ways.

Marginal references: Exod. 9. 18, [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word]. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 18. 1[illegible: 1+ letters].; [illegible: 1 span].