John Trapp on Job 9:24

Verſe 24. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked] God many times ſuffereth the wicked moſt licentiouſly to raign in the world, Jer. 27.6. Dan. 5.18, 19. And it is thought by ſome, that Job ſpeaking here in the ſingular number, aims at ſome famous tyrant in thoſe parts, known both to himſelf and to his friends: ſuch as was Phocas the Emperour, who when he had ſlain his Maſter Mauritius, and was ſet up in his ſtead; there was an honeſt poor man (ſaith Ce[illegible: 1 letter]renus) who was wonderful importunate at the throne of grace to know a reaſon why that wicked man proſpered ſo in his deſign? he was anſwered again by a voice, that there could not be a worſe man found; and that the ſins of Chriſtians, and of the City of Constantinople did require it.

He covereth the faces of the Judges thereof] i. e. That Tyrant above-mentioned, ſubverteth all order of juſtice, condemneth and putteth to death even the Judges themſelves,Spartian. if they will not pervert juſtice, as Baſſia[illegible: 1 letter]us did Papinian. The covering of the face was the mark of a condemned man, Esth. 7.8. Job. 40.8. Iſai. 12.17. Mar. 14.65. Or thus, God blindeth the Judges by giving them over to error, or permitting them to take bribes; ſo that they cannot diſcern right from wrong &c. Some by judges here underſtand the Saints, who ſhall one day judg the world, but are in the mean-while grievouſly afflicted by the wicked.

If not, where, and who is he?] Which things, if we ſay they are done, beſides the will and foreknowledg of God, we ſhall thruſt God out of the world, and ſet up fate and blind fortune: or thus, It is even ſo; or if not where is he, and who is he (ſee Esth. 7.5. Mal. 2.17) that can diſprove what I have aſſerted?Mercer. pagnin. Vatab. prodeat, ſiqui[illegible: 1 letter] me poteſt falſi arguere, I would fain ſee the man that can convince me of errour.