An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

Secondly, (As the Septuagint gives the sense) He will not put forth his hand; that is, to receive a gift or an offering from wicked men. When a gift or a present is brought, the receiver (if he would testify his liking and acceptance of it) puts forth his hand and receives it.¹ Now (saith Bildad) God will not put forth his hand to receive any offering or gift from wicked men; the oblations of wicked men are an abomination unto the Lord, The good deeds of evil doers are evil in his sight. He had no respect to Cain and his offering. He did not put forth his hand to receive Cains offering, but he put forth his hand to receive Abel's offering. This is a profitable sense.

Secondly, (As the Septuagint gives the sense) He will not put forth his hand; that is, to receive a gift or an offering from wicked men. When a gift or a present is brought, the receiver (if he would testifie his liking and acceptance of it) puts forth his hand and receives it.¹ Now (saith Bildad) God will not put forth his hand to receive any offering or gift from wicked men; the oblations of wicked men are an abomination unto the Lord, The good deeds of evil doers are evil in his sight. He had no respect to Cain and his offering. He did not put forth his hand to receive Cains offering, but he put forth his hand to receive Abels offering. This is a profitable sense.

1. 1Nec ullum munus impij accipier. Sept. q. d. Non porriget manus, accepturus manus, impiorum dona non sunt Deograta. Pined.

Thirdly, It rather refers to Gods not assisting wicked men. So Mr Broughton renders it, He will not maintain the hand of the mischievous. To put forth or stretch out the hand, according to this Hebrew phrase,¹ implies strong holding, or the taking of strong hold upon any thing, so as by taking hold of it to strengthen and confirm it, to give it help and assistance. A man that would give assistance to another in any business or work, puts forth his hand to him. When we want help, we usually bespeak a friend, Pray lend me your hand. Now here, The Lord will not put forth his hand to evil doers; that is, the Lord gives them no assistance or help in their wickedness. If wicked men say, Lord, lend us thy hand: no, saith he, I will not lend you my hand. We find this phrase frequent in Scripture. That (