John Trapp on Job 2:11

Ver. 11. And when Jobs three friends] His familiar friends, that did eat of his bread, as Pſal. 49.9. that were as his own ſoul, Deut. 13.6. his boſome friends, and therefore precious Jewels, ſuch as could both keep counſel, and give counſel. Of ſuch there are but few to be found. Friends, there is no friend, ſaid Socrates. Faithfull friends, [non-Latin text not transcribed] ſaith Another, are in this age all for the moſt part gone in pilgrimage, and their return is uncertain. A Friend is a changeable creature, ſaith a Third; all in changeable colours like the Peacock, as often changed as moved. Job complaineth of theſe his chief and choice friends, that they were miſerable Comforters, Phyſicians of no value,chap. 16.2. &c. Amicitia ſit tantùm inter binos, eóſque bonos; ſuch as were Jonathan and David. Corporibus geminis ſpiritus unus erat.

Heard of all this evil] Whether by the miniſtry of the good or bad Angels, or of neither, it skilleth not. Ill newes is ſwift of foot, ſaith the Greek Proverb; and like ill weather, [non-Latin text not transcribed] which comes ere it be ſent for. The ſins and miſeries of good people are much talked of, and ſoon bruited abroad. The Chaldee Paraphraſt here telleth of ſtrange buſineſſes, viz. that theſe three here mentioned (beſides the report they heard of Jobs calamity) were moved to viſit him by the wonders that fell out with them at the ſame time: for their trees ſuddenly withered in their Ort-yards, their bread at their table was turned into raw fleſh, their wine into bloud, &c. But this may well paſſe for a Jewiſh fable: The Author of that Paraphraſe was R. Joſeph Cacus, nothing ſo ancient or authentick as he who paraphraſeth upon the hiſtorical books, but exceeding full of miſtakes, and ſeldome cometh he near the right meaning of the Text, all along the Hagiographa.

They came every one from his own place] More then theſe came to ſuch a ſight, no doubt: but theſe out of a deſire and deſigne to condole with him, and comfort him. But it fel out far otherwiſe: for they tormented Job well nigh as much as Satan himſelf, though it were of ignorance, and unwittingly, rather then of ill will, or malice fore-thought. Their very ſilence and geſture before ever they ſpake a word, did ſo torment his mind, that at laſt he cryes out in that bitter manner, as chap. 3. like a frantick man, which through ſome grievous ſickneſſe hath loſt his wits.

Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhitt &c. Idumeans all (likely) and men of much eſtimation for wiſdome (Jer. 49.7. Is Wiſdom no more in Teman?) and godlineſſe, as deſcended all of Abraham, whoſe care was to catechiſe his whole Family, and to teach them the wayes of God, Gen. 18.19. Their following diſputations ſhew as much, wherein they admoniſh him to repent, aſſuring him, that he could be no leſſe then a groſſe ſinner, and an hypocrite, becauſe ſo grievouſly afflicted. Job anſwereth their ſeverall ſpeeches, tormented in body, perplexed in mind, but ſtoutly defending his own innocency, and ſeeming to tax the Lord alſo; like as dogs in a chaſe bark at their own Maſters. To this, his friends reply ſharply from chap. 15. to 22. and he anſwereth them again with greater boldneſſe and courage then before. Hereupon they begin a ſecond reply, and here Eliphaz and Bildad onely ſpake: The third man fainted and ſpake no more, for that Job was invincible &c. till at length Elihu moderateth, cenſuring both parties; and God determineth, to Jobs conviction and finall commendation.

For they had made an appointment together to come] Not by accident, or at adventure, as Origen will needs have it againſt the Text; but by ſolemn agreement; it was a pitcht meeting. Neither ſtaid they till they were ſent for, but came (as friends) to do Job all friendly offices: like as in a fright, the blood and ſpirits run to the heart to relieve it. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adverſity, Prov. 17.17. See the Note there.

To mourn with him] Heb. To ſhake the head, or other parts of the body, in token of commiſeration: to bewail his condition, as Cyprian did the perſecuted Saints of his time, Cum ſingulis pectus meum copulo, ſaith he: Moeroris pondera luctuoſa participo, &c. Who is offended, and I burn not? 2 Cor. 11.29.

And to comfort him] This they intended, but proved miſerable comforters too, by reaſon of the deceitfulneſſe of their hearts, fitly therefore compared to a broken or a deceitfull bow, that carrieth the arrow a clean contrary way. So Jonah prayed unto the Lord. chap. 4.2. He thought to have prayed, but it proved that he brawled:Pſal. 78.57 The word rendred to comfort, ſignifieth likewiſe to mourn with the mourning of repentance, to teach us here to begin our pity to others, to bewail their and our owe ſins. ſee the Note there. Theſe mens words were as a murthering weapon in Jobs bones; pious they were, and divine all along, but much miſ-applied. It is ſaid of them, that they handled an ill matter well, and Job a good cauſe as ill, eſpecially when once he came to be wet through.