Job 19:24

Verse 24. In a. Hebrew “lead, in the rock for ever.” Prot. Septuagint have, “for ever,” after book, (verse 23) and subjoins, “with a writing instrument of iron and (or) lead, or be engraven on the rocks for a memorial.” Grabe insinuates that before there was only, “and on lead, or be engraven on the rocks.” Bible.—Instrument, (celte) means “a chisel,” ( Bible.) like cœlum from cœlo: “I engrave.” Pineda.—S. Jerom, (ad Pam.) and the late editor of his works, retain this word, as the older editions of Saint Gregory did; ( Calmet.) though certè, “surely,” has been inserted instead, from several MSS. by the Benedictines. Bible.—Ancient MSS. and Latin Bibles have more generally the latter word. But the received editions are supported by many MSS. ( Calmet.) and the Septuagint εγγλυφηναι, expresses as much. Celtis est, γλυφειον. Amama. Casaub. in Athen. vii. 20. p. 556.—An inscription, in Dalmatia, has the same sense: Neque hic atramentum vel papyrus aut membrana ulla adhuc; sed malleolo et celte literatus silex. “Here as yet was neither ink, nor paper, nor any parchments; but a flint stone was lettered with a mallet and a chisel.” The former modes of writing were not, in effect, invented by the days of Job. Calmet.—But it was long very usual to make use of lead. Pineda.—What he desired to have written in such durable characters, ( Bible.) was the following sentence, in proof of his unshaken confidence in God, and as a refutation of his friends, who accused him of despair and blasphemy, ( Calmet.) as also the whole history of his conflict. His desire has been granted. Tirinus.