In the previous chapter, Job spoke about what God gave him and in this, he speaks about what God took away from him.
Notice he begins by using the words, ‘but now’, he uses these words to contrast the way things used to be. Those who were disadvantaged were the ones who greatly benefited from Job’s charity work but now they are the very people who mock and taunt him. He once held a position that was envied by all, but now he was in a situation that was despised by all.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘To have associated with my dogs in guarding my flock. That is, they were held in less esteem than his dogs. This was the lowest conceivable point of debasement. The Orientals had no language that would express greater contempt of anyone than to call him a dog, Deuteronomy 23:18 / 1 Samuel 17:43 / 1 Samuel 24:14/ 2 Samuel 3:8 / 2 Samuel 9:8 / 2 Samuel 16:9 / 2 Kings 8:13 / Isaiah 66:3’.
Job says he is a byword and those he once helped are now spitting in his face. It’s possible he’s exaggerating with his words, but he clearly tells us why they are now treating him the way they are.
He says that ‘God has unstrung his bow’, etc, which probably refers to how he felt God had punished him. The disadvantaged would feel they need to treat Job in this manner because he has been rejected by God, Job 19:19-22.
Watson, in his commentary, says the following.
‘These people were gaunt with hunger and vice, herded in the wilderness where alone they were allowed to exist, eating salt-wort and broom-roots for food. The appearance of one of them prompted cries of ‘thieves and robbers’.
They lived in caves, and among the rocks, like wild asses, they brayed in the scrub and gathered among the nettles. Base men, children of fools, having dishonoured humanity, had been whipped out of the land. Even these abhorred Job, mocking him in song and byword, even spitting in his face.’
As far as Job is concerned, his physical condition is enough evidence that God has rejected him.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The bones are often represented in the Scriptures as the seat of acute pain, Psalms 6:2 / Psalms 22:14 / Psalms 31:10 / Psalms 38:3 / Psalms 42:10 / Proverbs 14:30 / Job 20:11. The meaning here is, that he had had shooting or piercing pains in the night, which disturbed and prevented his rest. It is mentioned as a special aggravation of his sufferings that they were ‘in the night’, a time when we expect repose.’
Physically, he’s in a lot of pain but he’s all in a lot of pain emotionally. He cries out to God for help but receives nothing but silence and he claims that God has been cruel.
Remember it is Satan who is causing him all the pain, not God. He’s basically asking God, why is He treating him this way? What is the reason for it?
Job is again reminded of the treatment he has received from his fellow men. He has wept for others when he saw them suffering, but now, who weeps for him? When he expected men to do good towards him, he ended up waiting in vain, for the good never came. This is a picture of how Job is feeling.
Job mentions that his skin grows black, which is probably a reference to black leprosy, Job 17:7.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘By my mournful and continual cry, I resemble the jackals or hyenas. To the daughters of howling, generally understood to be the ostrich, for both the jackal and the female ostrich are remarkable for their mournful cry, and their attachment to desolate places.’
The lyre was used to make cheerful sounds, but now it plays notes of lament, Isaiah 5:12, likewise the pipe, Isaiah 5:12.