Job 15:21

“A dreadful sound [is] in his ears, etc.] Or “a voice”, or “sound of fears” f625, of what causes fears; and which are either imaginary; sometimes wicked men, fear when there is no cause or occasion for it; they fancy an enemy at their heels, and flee, when none pursues them; they are a “Magormissabib”, or “terror on every side”, a fear to themselves and all about them, (<242003>Jeremiah 20:3 *marg); like Cain, who fancied and feared that every man that met him would slay him (<010413>Genesis 4:13,14); such is the effect of a guilty conscience: or real; and these either extraordinary sounds, such as were made in the ears of the Syrian host, which caused them to flee, and leave their tents, and…”

“An evil conscience conceives alarm at every sudden sound, though it be in a time of peace ("prosperity"), when there is no real danger (Lev 26:36; Pro 28:1; Kg2 7:6).”

“A dreadful sound is in his ears - Margin, “A sound of fears.” He hears sudden, frightful sounds, and is alarmed. Or when he thinks himself safe, he is suddenly surprised. The enemy steals upon him, and in his fancied security he dies. This sentiment might be illustrated at almost any length by the mode of savage warfare in America, and by the sudden attacks which the American savage makes, in the silence of the night, on his unsuspecting foes. The Chaldee renders this, “the fear of the terrors in Gehenna are in his ears; when the righteous dwell in peace and eternal life, destruction comes upon him.” In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him - When he supposes he is safe, and his…”

“A sound - Even when he feels no evil, he is tormented with perpetual fears. Come upon him - Suddenly and unexpectedly. Job 15:22”

“15:21 Although Eliphaz generalized the terror that the wicked experience, Job had undergone similar experiences (3:25; 6:4; 9:34; 13:11, 21; 23:15; 27:20; 30:15). Bildad (18:11, 14) and Zophar (20:25) spoke of more terror to come. • The Sabeans and Chaldeans were examples of the destroyer (1:13-17), but this could refer to any destructive agent (1:18-19). Destroyers might be agents of Satan (1 Cor 10:10; Rev 9:11) or divine agents that punish wickedness (Exod 12:23; 2 Sam 24:16; 2 Chr 32:21; Acts 12:23; Heb 11:28). Eliphaz meant the latter.”

“dreadful sound: Heb. sound of fears, Job 18:11; Gen 3:9, Gen 3:10; Lev 26:36; Kg2 7:6; Pro 1:26, Pro 1:27 in prosperity: Job 1:13-19, Job 20:5-7, Job 20:22-24; Lev 26:36; Sa1 25:36-38; Psa 73:18-20, Psa 92:7; Act 12:21-23; Th1 5:3 the destroyer: Co1 10:10; Rev 9:11 Job 15:22”