To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

They dwelt in the desert places of torrents, and in caves of earth, or upon the gravel.

To dwell in gloomy gorges, in caves of the earth and the rocks:

In the clefts of the valleys must they dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.

To dwell in the clefts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

In a frightful place of valleys to dwell, Holes of earth and clefts.

To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

They have to get a resting-place in the hollows of the valleys, in holes of the earth and rocks.

They lived in the parched desert and in caves underground or above the rocks.

To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys - The word here rendered "cliffs" (ערוץ ‛ârûts) denotes rather "horror," or something "horrid," and the sense here is, that they dwelt in "the horrer of valleys;" that is, in horrid valleys. The idea is that of deep and frightful glens, where wild beasts ranged, far from the abodes of men, and surrounded by frightful wastes. The word rendered "valleys" (נחל nachal) means properly a brook, stream, water-course - what is now called a wady; a place where the winter torrents run, but which is usually dry in summer; see the notes at Job 6:15.
In caves of the earth - Margin, as in Hebrew "holes." Septuagint "Whose houses are - πρῶγλαι πετρῶν trōglai petrōn - caverns of the rocks;" that is, who are "Troglodytes." Caves furnished a natural dwelling for the poor and the outcast, and it is well known that it was not uncommon in Egypt, and in the deserts of Arabia, to occupy such caves as a habitation; see Diod. Sic. Lib. iii. xiv. and Strabo, Lib. 16,
And in the rocks - The caverns of the rocks. Dr. Richardson found a large number of such dwellings in the vicinity of Thebes, many of which were large and beautifully formed and sculptured with many curious devices. Mr. Rich, also, saw a large number of such caves not far from Mousal. Residence in Koordistan, vol. ii. p. 94.

To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys - They were obliged to take shelter in the most dangerous, out-of-the-way, and unfrequented places. This is the meaning.

To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys,.... Or "brooks" (l), in such hollow places as were made by floods and streams of waters:
in caves of the earth, and in the rocks; where they betook themselves for fear of men, and through shame, being naked and miserable not fit to be seen: Job has respect to the Horites and Troglodytes, his neighbours, who dwelt in such places chiefly.
(l) "torrentium", Tigurine version, Pagninus, Montanus, &c.

They are forced "to dwell."
cliffs of the valleys--rather, "in the gloomy valleys"; literally, "in the gloom of the valleys," or wadies. To dwell in valleys is, in the East, a mark of wretchedness. The troglodytes, in parts of Arabia, lived in such dwellings as caves.