Job 24 Study Notes

24:1 Job’s observations of society convinced him that God’s justice was lacking. Those who kept his standards went unrewarded, and the wicked were not judged for their evil. God should establish times for administering justice.

24:2-3 The removal of boundary markers was a serious offense (Dt 19:14; Pr 23:10). Confiscation of animals in lieu of a debt was unforgivable, especially against the fatherless and widows. Care of the widow, orphans, and poor is a duty of righteousness (6:27; 22:9; Ps 82:3-4) and a priority to God (Dt 27:17; Ps 68:5).

24:4 The needy feared to travel the roads because the wicked might rob them.

24:5 Job continues his complaint regarding the treatment of the poor, comparing their search for a little food for their children to that of wild donkeys.

24:6 The poor were left to the mercy of their wicked oppressors (Dt 24:14). They worked in the field and vineyards or gathered what remained behind the harvesters (Lv 19:9-10; Ru 2:2).

24:7-8 Lacking proper clothing, sometimes seized cruelly by the wicked (Dt 24:10-13,17), the poor were left to the mercy of the elements.

24:9 The poor, fatherless, and widows were often victims of the powerful (Is 10:2).

24:10-11 The poor toiled under oppressive conditions. Contrary to human decency (Mt 25:34-40), they were denied food and drink. They were not permitted portions of the produce they were hired to harvest (Dt 25:4; 1Tm 5:18). Grain, wine, and olive oil were basic staples (Jr 31:12).

24:12 Job complained that God did not rectify the prevailing injustice (9:23-24; 19:7). It was a familiar prophetic complaint (Jr 20:8; Hab 1:2-4), but the truth is God does act in his time (Is 29:15-21).

24:13-17 Evil persons use the cover of darkness to commit foul deeds, including murder, adultery, and theft. These are violations of the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments. The verb lock (lit “seal”) indicates that the wicked stay enclosed in their houses like a person who puts his seal on a document. The dark is a friend to evildoers, so light terrifies them (Jn 3:20; 1Co 4:5; Eph 5:8-11).

24:18-20 Job adapted his argument to his friends’ teaching about the sudden demise of the wicked (18:14; 20:4-5; 22:16-18). As objects that float on . . . water move downstream, so the wicked pass on and their ill-gotten property becomes unusable. Their cycle of injustice is broken, and they are forgotten.

24:21-24 However much the wicked gain by preying on the helpless, it will not protect them against God’s power. Although they feel secure, God is not unaware of their wickedness. They will experience short-lived success. Job acknowledged that God can and will judge. It just seems to be delayed.

24:25 Although the wicked might die prematurely, they do so without being brought to justice in this life (21:22-34). Job defied his friends to disprove his thesis (17:10).