For want and famine [they were] solitary
The Targum interprets it, without children; but then this cannot
be understood of the fathers; rather through famine and want they
were reduced to the utmost extremity, and were as destitute of
food as a rock, or hard flint, from whence nothing is to be had,
as the word signifies, see ( Job 3:7 ) ;
fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and
waste:
to search and try what they could get there for their sustenance
and relief, fleeing through fear of being taken up for some
crimes committed, or through shame, on account of their miserable
condition, not caring to be seen by men, and therefore fled into
the wilderness to get what they could there: but since men in
want and famine usually make to cities, and places of resort,
where provision may be expected; this may be interpreted not of
their flying into the wilderness, though of their being there,
perhaps banished thither, see ( Job 30:5 ) ; but of their
"gnawing" F17, or biting the dry and barren
wilderness, and what they could find there; where having short
commons, and hunger bitten, they bit close; which, though
extremely desolate, they were glad to feed upon what they could
light on there; such miserable beggarly creatures were they: and
with this agrees what follows.
F17 (hyu Myqreh) "qui rodebant in solitudine", V. L. "rodentes siccitatem", Schultens.