23 or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand?' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?'
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Or, Deliver me out of the enemy's hand? - At no time have I called on you to rescue me from a foe.
Or, Redeem me? - That is, rescue me from the hand of robbers. The meaning is, that he was in no way beholden to them; he had never called on them for assistance; and there was therefore no claim which they could now have to afflict him further by their reflections. There seems to be something peevish in these remarks; and we need not attempt to justify the spirit which dictated them.
Or, Deliver me - Did I send to you to come and avenge me of the destroyers of my property, or to rescue my substance out of the hands of my enemies?
Or, deliver me from the enemies' hand?.... Or, "out of the hand of straitness" (c); out of tribulation and difficulties with which he was pressed on every side:
or redeem me from the hand of the mighty? fetch back his cattle out of the hands of the Sabeans and Chaldeans, either by force of arms, as Abraham brought back Lot, and all his goods, when taken and carried away by the four king's, or by giving a ransom price for them. Job had asked no such favour of them; he had not troubled them with any such suits, and therefore they had no reason to use him in the manner they did, as he apprehended; it would be soon enough to flout and fling at him when he applied to them for any relief.
(c) "e manu tribulatoris, vel tribulationis", Vatablus.
the mighty--the oppressor, or creditor, in whose power the debtor was [UMBREIT].
Deliver - By the force of your arms, as Abraham delivered Lot. Redeem - By price or ransom.
*More commentary available at chapter level.