Fourthly, Many of the Jewish Doctors tell us that the most strict and proper signification of this word, is, To contend or strive, to chide or wrangle (we may give it in that homely language.) As if the meaning of Job were, My soul doth even contend, chide and wrangle with my life, my soul contests and disputes the matter with my life, why it will not end, that I may get out from this body of mine, ⟨p. 416⟩and go beyond the reach of these afflictions. The 95. Psalm, vers. 10. is so translated,1 Forty years long did I contend, chide or contest angerly with that generation: The Lord did often chide with the people of Israel, and they used to chide with Moses; whence one place was called Meribah, yea, through their unbelief they did chide with God himself, and (there is no reason dust and ashes should have the last word) God also gave them their chidings, and told them plainly their own, more then once. Thus the soul of Job chid his life, what's the reason that I am held in this condition, why wilt not thou be gone, that I may be at rest? Carnal men chide with their lives for hastening so fast away, because they know of no rest, or have hope of none hereafter. A godly man may be brought to chide with his life for making no more haste away, because he finds none, or so little rest here. Elihu (Ch. 33.19) describing in the method which God uses to humble proud man, ads, He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pains; He is chastened; the word signifies also reproving, or convincing by arguments, and that in a quick and passionate, as well as in a rational and solid way. Now, while afflictions chidingly smite us, we are apt to chide them, and give them at least a word for a blow. Job did not only chide with his afflictions, but with his life, because it would not depart and be gone, being so unkindly used and embittered by afflictions. His soul did even chide his life out a doors.
Fourthly, Many of the Jewish Doctors tell us that the most strict and proper signification of this word, is, To contend or strive, to chide or wrangle (we may give it in that homely language.) As if the meaning of Job were, My soul doth even contend, chide and wrangle with my life, my soul contests and disputes the matter with my life, why it will not end, that I may get out from this body of mine, ⟨p. 416⟩and goe beyond the reach of these afflictions. The 95. Psalm, vers. 10. is so translated,1 Fourty years long did I contend, chide or contest angerly with that generation: The Lord did often chide with the people of Israel, and they used to chide with Moses; whence one place was called Meribah, yea, through their unbelief they did chide with God himself, and (there is no reason dust and ashes should have the last word) God also gave them their chidings, and told them plainly their own, more then once. Thus the soul of Job chid his life, what's the reason that I am held in this condition, why wilt not thou be gone, that I may be at rest? Carnall men chide with their lives for hastening so fast away, because they know of no rest, or have hope of none hereafter. A godly man may be brought to chide with his life for making no more haste away, because he findes none, or so little rest here. Elihu (Ch. 33.19) describing in the method which God uses to humble proud man, ads, He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pains; He is chastened; the word signifies also reproving, or convincing by arguments, and that in a quick and passionate, as well as in a rationall and solid way. Now, while afflictions chidingly smite us, we are apt to chide them, and give them at least a word for a blow. Job did not only chide with his afflictions, but with his life, because it would not depart and be gone, being so unkindly used and imbittered by afflictions. His soul did even chide his life out a doors.
- 1Litigavi, Pag
