John Trapp on Job 20:24

Verſe 24. He ſhall flee from the iron weapons.] i. e. whiles he ſeeks to ſhun one miſchief, he ſhall fall into another: and when he thinks to run from death, he runs to it. God, who can do what he will with his own bare hand, is here brought in after the manner of men with ſword and bow, to ſhew, that both at home and afar off he can tame his Rebels. Neither boots it any man to ſtand out with God, or to ſeek to ſave himſelf by ſight or flight: ſith he is that King againſt whom there is no riſing up. Prov. 30.31. and if he be angry, no other helps can relieve us. Braſſe and iron can fence me againſt an Arrow or a ſword, but if I were to be caſt into a furnace of fire, it would help to torment me, if into a pit of water to ſink me. Now our God is a conſuming fire, and his breath a ſtream of brimſtone, Iſai. 30.33. Submit your ſelves therefore to God, Jam. 4.7. Humble your ſelves therefore under his mighty hand, and he ſhall lift you up in due ſeaſon, 1 Pet. 5. To run into God, is the way to eſcape him: as to cloſe and get in with him that would ſtrike you, doth avoyd the blow.

And the bow of ſteel ſhall ſtrike him through] Or, ſhall change him; that is, kil him: Death is our great change, and to the wicked a diſmal change, for they ſhal be killed with death Rev. 2.23. Then Balaam and his bribes, Baltaſar and his bowls. Dives and his diſhes, Herod and his Harlots, the Uſurer and his bills, the Merchant and his meaſures, &c. ſhall part aſunder for ever. But that is not the worſt of it: The word here uſed ſignifieth exciſion or cutting off, and hence that of Bathſheba, Prov. 31.8. Bene chaloph. children of deſtruction, anſwerable to that of our Saviour, John 17.12. A ſon or child of perdition; that is, a man devoted to utter deſtruction.