An exposition with practical observations upon the three first chapters of the book of…

Now when Job had named these eminent persons, Kings and Counsellors, he addeth somewhat further by way of their description, he giveth as it were a character of them from their studies and employments, With Kings and Counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves.

Now when Job had named these eminent persons, Kings and Counsellours, he addeth somewhat further by way of their description, he giveth as it were a character of them from their studies and imployments, With Kings and Counsellours of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves.

It may seem very doubtful what is here meant by these desolate places, and the building of them. ¹The word in the Hebrew is, desolations, or destructions; It comes from Charab, which signifies to dry up, because dry places are desolate places, as a desolate wilderness for the dryness of it, being unfit to sustain man or beast. Hence the name of the Mount Horeb, Exod. 3.1. called so from dryness, because there was no water, Deut. 8.15. The same word also signifies, a sword; because the sword (as we see by woeful experience) makes places desolate. But what Job should mean by this, That Kings and Counsellors of the earth, build solitary places for themselves, is questionable.

It may seeme very doubtfull what is here meant by these desolate places, and the building of them. ¹The word in the Hebrew is, desolations, or destructions; It comes from Charab, which signifies to dry up, because dry places are desolate places, as a desolate wildernesse for the drinesse of it, being unfit to sustaine man or beast. Hence the name of the Mount Horeb,