An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Further we may expound the words thus; They shall die without knowledge, that is, without the knowledge or consideration of of that special affliction or judgement which is coming upon them,¹ they shall die unawares, not thinking, nor so much as dreaming of such a judgement, or that such a hand of God was so near them. According to this interpretation, Elihu intends either their inadvertency of that approaching scourge or calamity with which they are overtaken, or their not understanding the reason of it. Christ saith in the Gospel (Luke 12.46.) The master of that servant (the evil servant) shall come in a day which he knows not of, and in a time when he looked not for him. Now, as the last Judgement, the great Judgement shall come upon the wicked in a time when they look not for it, so the Lord may bring a special particular judgement upon some one or more of his own people, when they do not think of it, or never suspected that they should fall under it. Good men are sometimes surprised; and so, they shall die without knowledge, is no more than this, they shall be taken unawares by a sudden unexpected judgement. Though every godly man hath a preparation for the general judgement, yet as to a particular one, he may be much unprepared.

Further we may expound the words thus; They shall die without knowledge, that is, without the knowledge or consideration of of that special affliction or judgement which is coming upon them,¹ they shall die unawares, not thinking, nor so much as dreaming of such a judgement, or that such a hand of God was so near them. According to this interpretation, Elihu intends either their inadvertency of that approaching scourge or calamity with which they are overtaken, or their not understanding the reason of it. Christ saith in the Gospel (Luke 12.46.) The master of that servant (the evil servant) shall come in a day which he knowes not of, and in a time when he looked not for him. Now, as the last Judgement, the great Judgement shall come upon the wicked in a time when they look not for it, so the Lord may bring a special particular judgement upon some one or more of his own people, when they do not think of it, or never suspected that they should fall under it. Good men are sometimes surprized; and so, they shall die without knowledge, is no more than this, they shall be taken unawares by a suddain unexpected judgement. Though every godly man hath a preparation for the general judgement, yet as to a particular one, he may be much unprepared.