John Trapp on Job 17:1

CHAP. XVII. Verſe 1. My breath is corrupt.]

WHich argueth that my inwards are Impoſthumated, and rotten, ſo that I cannot in likelihood have long to live; Oh therefore that I might have a day of hearing and clearing, before I dye. But Job ſhould have remembered, that there will be at the laſt day a reſurrection of names, as well as of bodies; which he that believeth maketh not haſte. Howſoever it was not amiſſe for Job ſo grievouſly diſeaſed, and now well in years, to bethink himſelf of death, and to diſcourſe of theſe three particulars, that ſpeak him a dying man. In the old, the Palm tree is full of bloomes, the map of age is figured on his forehead, the Calendars of death appear in the furrowes of his face, the mourners are ready to go about the ſtreets, and he is going to his long home, according to that elegant deſcription, Eccleſ. 12.Varro de're ruſt. l. 1. c. 1. He ſhould therefore ſay with Varro, Annus octogeſimus wie admonet, ut ſarcinas colligam, &c. It is high time for me to pack up, and to be gone out of this life: Or rather, as Simeon, Lord, now let thou thy ſervant depart in peace, &c.

My dayes are extinct] As a candle, Prov. 13.9. Or, Cut off (as a web) ſo ſome read it. The Original word is found only here.

The graves are ready for me.] Heb. The graves for me; q.d. I bid adieu to all things elſe, and as the grave gapes for me, ſo do I gape for the grave, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. I would it were even ſo, as Baſil ſaid, when Valens the Arian Emperor threatned him with death. But why doth Job ſpeak of graves in the plural? Surely, to ſhew that he was beſieged with many deaths: or elſe, becauſe the dead are buried (as it were) firſt in their grave-cloathes, and then in the coffin, and then in the Beir or Hearſe, and laſtly in the Sepulcher, which every place did, as it were, proffer to Job, and threaten him with death, in regard of his many paines and preſſures, by the ſcoffs and taunts of his friends. For,