Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 5:23

23. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field : And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

Thou shalt be free from any annoyance by stones either in thy walking or other postures, or in thy plowing, as if they had made an inviolable leaguewith thee. Stones may be, and in these stony Countries were, hurtful to men many ways; either by bruising or hurting their feet when the, walked barefoot, as the manner then was; Or by giving them occasion of stumbling or slipping and falling: Or by falling upon a man from a rock or higher ground, as sometimes it hath happened: Or filling his grounds, so as to hinder his plowing and make his lands unfruitful Nay the stones shall not only cease to be hurtful▪ but they shall be useful, and beneficial to thee, they shall as it were present themselves to thee when thou hast occasion either to sling them at thine enemies, as then was usual, Iudg. 20. 16. 2 Chron. 26. 14. or to make fences to thy ground: Or to build an house. This is a bold Metaphor, but such are frequent, as in other Authours, so also in Scripture, as Isa. 28. 15. Hos. 2. 18.

Either 1. the wild beasts; and then this is an addition to the former priviledge; they shall not hurt thee, v. 22. nay, they shall befriend thee as being at peace with thee, here v. 23. Or, 2. the tame Beasts, who otherwise may be refractory and hurtful to a man, many having been killed by them.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] ▪ 91. 13.