John Trapp on Job 12:24

Verſe 24. He taketh away the heart of the chiefe of the people] That is, of the greateſt part of the people of the world (ſay ſome) theſe God ſuffereth to walk in their own wayes, Acts 14.16. To become vain in their imaginations, and their fooliſh heart is darkned; profeſſing themſelves to be wiſe, they became fools, Rom. 1.21, 22. As the Philoſophers of old, and the Chineſes at this day, who are known to be ingenious, and uſe to ſay of themſelves, that all other nations of the world ſee but with one eye, they only with two; yet continue they groſſe Idolaters,Deſcrip. of the world, of China and Cataia. meer heathens, having no leſſe then an hundred thouſand gods, which they worſhip one while, and whip another, if they come not at a call. But the moſt Interpreters, by chief, or heads of the people, here underſtand their Governors, of whom though Job had ſaid as much in effect before, (17) viz. that God diſpiriteth and beſotteth them for a plague to the people who follow their Rulers (and fall with them) as the body of a beaſt followeth the head, yet becauſe few obſerve and improve this truth, therefore he repeateth and illuſtrateth it by three elegant Similies. And firſt,

He cauſeth them to wander in a wilderneſſe &c.] Not knowing which way to extricate themſelves, they beat their brains about it, but to no purpoſe; they are ſo bewildered and puzzled, as if they were treading a maze: and this God cauſeth, he is active in it, whiles he with-draweth his light, and delivereth them up to their own fooliſh hearts, and to the Prince of darkneſſe, to be further benighted, 2 Cor. 4.4.