Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Job 31:11
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
For this [is] an heinous crime, etc.] Adultery; it is contrary to the light of nature, and is condemned by it as a great sin, (<012009>Genesis 20:9 26:10); as well as contrary to the express will and law of God, (<022014>Exodus 20:14); and, though all sin is a transgression of the law of God, and deserving of death; yet there are some sins greater and more heinous than others, being attended with aggravating circumstances; and such is this sin, it is a breach of the marriage contract and covenant between man and wife; it is doing injury to a man’s property, and to that which is the nearest and dearest to him, and is what introduces confusion into families, kingdoms, and states; and therefore it follows: yea, it [is] an iniquity [to he punished by] the judges; who might take cognizance of it, examine into it, and pass sentence for it, and execute it; and, if they neglect do their duty, God, the Judge of all the earth, will punish for it in the world to come, unless repented of: “for whoremongers and adulterers God will judge”, (<581304>Hebrews 13:4); the punishment of adultery was death by the law of God, and that by stoning, as appears from (<032010>Leviticus 20:10 <052221>Deuteronomy 22:21 <430804>John 8:4,5); and it is remarkable, that the Heathens, who were ignorant of this law, enjoined the same punishment for it; so Homer f1129 introduces Hector reproving Paris for this sin, and suggests to him, that if he had his deserved punishment, he would have been clothed with a “stone coat”, as he beautifully expresses it; which Suidas f1130 explains, by being overwhelmed with stones, or stoned; as Eustathius f1131.
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