That is to say, when the waters pass away, with them shall pass away thy miseries; the sun shall yet return brighter than ever; thou shalt be secure; thou shalt dig thy way out of these caverns; and then take thy rest in
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safety, for the great tempest shall have passed for ever. We are told by the commentators that the words "about thee" are an interpolation.
If this is not the interpretation, for what would Job dig about him? What relation can digging have with the disease which afflicted Job?
But Job refuses to receive this consolation. He refuses to believe that the tower of Siloam fell only on the wickedest men in the city. He refers to his past experience of mankind. He thinks honest poverty is without honor at the hands of successful fraud. He says (chap. xii):
"5. He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease."
But--
"6. The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly."
And he can not see how, if this calamity has come upon men for their sins, that the innocent birds and beasts, and even the fish in the heated and poisoned waters, are perishing:
"7. But ask now the beasts," ("for verily," he has just said, "ye are the men, and wisdom will die with you,") "and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: