They came [upon me] as a wide breaking in [of
waters]
As when a wide breach is made in the banks of a river, or of the
sea, the waters rush through in great abundance, with great
rapidity and swiftness; and with a force irresistible; and in
like manner did Job's enemies rush in upon him in great numbers,
overwhelming him in an instant, and he not able to oppose them;
or as, when a wide breach is made in the wall of a city besieged,
the besiegers pour themselves in, and bear down all before them:
and thus Job in a like violent manner was run upon, and bore down
by the persons before described:
in the desolation they rolled themselves [upon
me];
as when a breach is made in a bank of a river, or of the sea, the
waters roll themselves, one wave and flood over another; or, as
when a breach is made in a wall, "in the broken place they
tumble"; as Mr. Broughton renders it; the soldiers tumble one
over another in haste, to get possession and seize the plunder:
in such like manner did Job's enemies roll themselves on him, in
order to crush and destroy him; and it may be rendered, "because
of the desolation" F18, because of bringing calamity on
him in order to make him desolate; they came pouring in upon him
with all their numbers, force, and strength, to bear him down,
and crush him to the earth, as grass may be rolled upon, and
beaten down by heavy bodies.
F18 (hav txt) "pro desolatione", Pagninus, Montanus; "propter vestalionem", Noldius, p. 3. No. 1864.
