Job 6:18

18 Caravans turn aside from their paths; they go up into untamed areas and perish.

Job 6:18 Meaning and Commentary

Job 6:18

The paths of their way are turned aside
That is, the waters, when melted by the heat of the sun, and the warmth of the weather, run, some one way, and some another in little streams and windings, till they are quite lost and the tracks of them are no more to be seen; denoting that all appearance of friendship was quite gone, and no traces of it to be found:

they go to nothing, and perish:
some of them are lost in little meanders and windings about, and others are exhaled by the heat of the sun, and go into "Tohu", as the word is, into empty air; so vain and empty, and perishing, were all the comforts he hoped for from his friends; though some understand this of the paths of travellers in the deserts being covered in the sand, and not to be seen and found; of which see Pliny F26.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 29.

Job 6:18 In-Context

16 like those darkened by thawing ice, in which snow is obscured
17 but that stop flowing in dry times and vanish from their channels in heat.
18 Caravans turn aside from their paths; they go up into untamed areas and perish.
19 Caravans from Tema look; merchants from Sheba hope for it.
20 They are ashamed that they trusted; they arrive and are dismayed.
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