The last opinion with which I shall conclude the opening of the words, is this: That Job in this verse, doth allude to the custom of his own Country, and of other Eastern Countries, who had certain persons amongst them, both men and women, whom, upon solemn occasions either of joy or sorrow, they were wont to hire or call in for reward, to come and help them out either in rejoicing or in mourning. We find mention of such in Scripture divers times, who were thus called and invited or hired to mourn and lament, in times of sad and sorrowful accidents, whether personal ⟨p. 376⟩or public. These had (Lachrimas venales) tears to sell, or sale-tears, making both a profession and a profit of mourning.1 Such the Prophet speaks of, Jer. 9.17, 18. Thus saith the Lord, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, (he speaks of them as of a society or sister-hood well known, and as well customed) and cunning women, that they may come, (that is, women cunning in mourning,) And let them make hast and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eye-lids gush out with waters, for a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled? And ver. 20. Teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation; (you see it was an art taught amongst them,) for death is come up into our windows, &c. In 2 Chron. 35.25. We have a record to the same effect, concerning the lamentation for Josiah. And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing-men and singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day. So that there were both men and women prepared and usually called forth to lament such occasions of sorrow. Again, Amos 5.16. Therefore the Lord, the God of Hosts, the Lord saith thus, wailing shall be in all streets, and they shall say in all the high-ways, Alas, Alas! And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. Observe here different mourners, they shall call the husbandman to mourning and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. You see he speaks of two sorts of persons, they shall call the husbandman to mourning; Husbandmen are such as mourn when they mourn, when they mourn, they mourn indeed, they mourn down-right;
The last opinion with which I shall conclude the opening of the words, is this: That Iob in this verse, doth allude to the custome of his own Countrey, and of other Easterne Countries, who had certaine persons amongst them, both men and women, whom, upon solemne occasions either of joy or sorrow, they were wont to hire or call in for reward, to come and helpe them out either in rejoycing or in mourning. We find mention of such in Scripture divers times, who were thus called and invited or hired to mourne and lament, in times of sad and sorrowfull accidents, whether personall ⟨p. 376⟩or publick. These had (Lachrimas venales) teares to sell, or sale-teares, making both a profession and a profit of mourning.1 Such the Prophet speakes of, Ier. 9.17, 18. Thus saith the Lord, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, (he speakes of them as of a society or sister-hood well knowne, and as well custom'd) and cunning women, that they may come, (that is, women cunning in mourning,) And let them make hast and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may runne downe with teares, and our eye-lidds gush out with waters, for a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled? And ver. 20. Teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation; (you see it was an art taught amongst them,) for death is come up into our windowes, &c. In 2 Chron. 35.25. We have a record to the same effect, concerning the lamentation for Josiah. And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing-men and singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day. So that there were both men and women prepared and usually called forth to lament such occasions of sorrow. Againe, Amos 5.16. Therefore the Lord, the God of Hosts, the Lord saith thus, wailing shall be in all streets, and they shall say in all the high-wayes, Alas, Alas! And they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skillfull of lamentation to wailing. Observe here different mourners, they shall call the husbandman to mourning and such as are skillfull of lamentation to wailing. You see he speakes of two sorts of persons, they shall call the husbandman to mourning; Husbandmen are such as mourne when they mourne, when they mourne, they mourne indeed, they mourne down-right;
- 1Solent in luctu voce slebili, & lacertos manibus verberantes ad lachrymas populum provocare. Hic enim mos permanet in Judaea, ut mulieres sparsis crinibus, nudatisque pectoribus voce modulara omnes ad fletū concitent, Hieron. in cap 9. Jerem.Solent in luctu voce slebili, & lacertos manibus verberantes ad lachrymas populum provocare. Hic enim mos permanet in Judaea, ut mulieres sparsis crinibus, nudatisque pectoribus voce modulara omnes ad fletū concitent, Hieron. in cap 9. Ierem.
