Job 3:22

22 who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they find the grave?

Job 3:22 Meaning and Commentary

Job 3:22

Which rejoice exceedingly
Or, "which joy till they do skip again", as Mr. Broughton renders it, and to the same purport others F4; are so elated as to skip and dance for joy:

[and] are glad when they can find the grave;
which is to be understood either of those who dig in the earth for hid treasure, such as is laid there by men; when they strike and hit upon a grave where they expect to find a booty; it being usual in former times to put much riches into the sepulchres of great personages, as Sanctius on the place observes; so Hyrcanus, opening the sepulchre of David, found in it three thousand talents of silver, as Josephus F5 relates: or rather this is said of the miserable and bitter in soul, who long for death, and seek after it; who, when they perceive any symptoms of its near approach, are exceedingly pleased, and rejoice at it, as when they observe the decays of nature, or any disorder and disease upon them which threaten with death; for this cannot be meant of the dead carrying to the grave, who are insensible of it, and of their being put into it.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 (lyg yla Myxmvh) "qu laetantur ad choream usque", Schultens, "quasi ad tripudium", Michaelis.
F5 Antiqu. l. 13. c. 8. sect. 4. Ed. Hudson.

Job 3:22 In-Context

20 "Why is light given to one in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,
21 who long for death, but it does not come, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;
22 who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in?
24 For my sighing comes like my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.