Job 22:20

“Whereas our substance is not cut down, etc.] As yours is; Noah and his family were preserved in the ark, and the creatures with him, and sufficient sustenance was laid up for them all, when everything relating to the wicked was destroyed: but this may be thought too restrictive, as well as what follows too subtle, that this should respect the human species not being cut down and utterly destroyed in the flood, but preserved in and restored by Noah and his family; it may perhaps be thought better to interpret these words as the words of Eliphaz and his friends, joining with the righteous and the innocent, putting themselves in their number, and rejoicing with them at the destruction of the…”

“The triumphant speech of the pious. If "substance" be retained, translate, rather as the Septuagint, "Has not their substance been taken away, and . . . ?" But the Hebrew is rather, "Truly our adversary is cut down" [GESENIUS]. The same opposition exists between the godly and ungodly seed as between the unfallen and restored Adam and Satan (adversary); this forms the groundwork of the book (Job 1:1-2:13; Gen 3:15). remnant--all that "is left" of the sinner; repeated from Job 20:26, which makes UMBREIT'S rendering "glory" (Margin), "excellency," less probable. fire--alluding to Job (Job 1:16; Job 15:34; Job 18:15). First is mentioned destruction by water (Job 22:16); here, by fire (Pe2…”

“Whereas our substance is not cut down - Margin, or, “Estate” Gesenius supposes that this means our adversary or enemy. The word used here (קים qı̂ym) he regards as derived from קוּם qûm - to rise, to rise up; and, hence, it may have the sense of rising up against, or an enemy. So Noyes understands it, and renders it: “Truly, our adversary is destroyed; And fire hath consumed his abundance.” Rosemmuller accords with this, and it seems to me to be the correct view. According to this, it is the language of the righteous Job 22:19 when exciting over the punishment of the wicked, saying, “Our foe is cut down.” Jerome renders it, Nonne succisa est erectio eorum, etc. The Septuagint, “Has not…”

“Because - Because when wicked men are destroyed, they are preserved. He should have said their substance; but he changes the person, and saith, our substance; either as including himself in the member of righteous persons, and thereby intimating that he pleaded the common cause of all such, while Job pleaded the cause of the wicked, or because he would hereby thankfully acknowledge some eminent and particular preservation given to him amongst other righteous men. Remnant - All that was left undestroyed in the general calamity. Fire - Sodom and Gomorrah. As if he had said, thou mayest find here and there an instance, of a wicked man dying in peace. But what is that to the two great instances…”

“our substance: or, our estate, Job 4:7, Job 8:3, Job 8:4, Job 15:5, Job 15:6, Job 20:18, Job 20:19, Job 21:27, Job 21:28; Luk 13:1-5 the remnant: or, their excellency the fire: Job 1:16, Job 20:26; Gen 19:24; Luk 17:29, Luk 17:30; Pe2 2:6, Pe2 2:7 Job 22:21”