John Trapp on Job 24:5

Verſe 5.Onagri inter fer as ſunt efferatiſſimi, neque unquam manſueſcunt. Merc. Beza. Behold, as wild-Aſſes in the deſart, go they forth to their work] Theſe barbarous and bruitiſh Oppreſſors, skilful to deſtroy, do live in this world, as the wild-Aſs doth in the wilderneſs, roving and rambling up and down for booty, whereunto early in the morning they prepare and harneſs themſelves, as if this were their trade and occupation whereby they muſt needs get their living. Hic labor, hoc opus, vel artificium corum eſt, ſaith Lavater. As man goeth forth unto his work, and to his labour until the evening, Pſal. 104.23. ſo do theſe greedy Cormorants, theſe evening Wolves (as Micah calleth them) theſe ſpoylers that deviſe iniquity, and work evil upon their beds, when the morning is light they practiſe it, becauſe it is in the power of their hands. And they covet fields and take them by violence; and houſes, and take them away, &c. Mich. 2.1, 2. Job had ſuffered much by the Arabian ſpoylers, Fabric. in deſcrip. peregr. Hieroſol. thoſe wild-Aſſes, who continue their old trade to this day, catching and ſnatching, vivitur ex rapto: neither can they be repelled or reſtrained by reaſon of their multitudes, and their incredible ſwiftneſs.

The wilderneſs yieldeth food, &c.] Their pillage is their tillage, their rapine their revenue, whereby they maintain themſelves and theirs: as the wild-Aſs picks out a living in the deſart. But ſhall they thus eſcape by iniquity? Have they no other wayes to work? no better Mediums? Never think it: In thine anger caſt dawn the people. O God; Pſal. 56.7. He will do it: for the words are prophetical, as well as optative. Treaſure of wickedneſs profit nothing, Prov. 10.2. Mammon of iniquity, is the next odious name to the Devil; and to the Devil it will bring a man, 1 Tim. 6.9. Engliſh Hubertus, a covetous Oppreſſor, is ſaid to have made this, Will; I yield my Goods to the King, my Body to the Grave, my Soul to the Devil. Pope Sylveſter 2. is ſaid to have given his Soul to the Devil for ſeven years enjoyment of the Popedom.

And for their Children] We have a profane and falſe proverb, Happy is that Child, whoſe Father goeth to the Devil. O faithful drudge! ſaid a graceleſs Son once of ſuch a Father, who died and left him great ſtore of ill-gotten goods.