Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 6:19
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
19. Tema lies in the northern highlands of Arabia, towards the Syrian desert, Isa 21:14; Jer 25:33. On Sheba see Job 1:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The troops of Tema looked – That is, looked for the streams of water. On the situation of Tema, see Notes, Job 2:11. This was the country of Eliphaz, and the image would be well understood by him. The figure is one of exquisite beauty. It means that the caravans from Tema, in journeying through the desert, looked for those streams. They came with an expectation of finding the means of allaying their thirst. When they came there they were disappointed, for the waters had disappeared. Reiske, however, renders this, Their tracks (the branchings of the flood) tend toward Tema; – a translation which the Hebrew will bear, but the usual version is more correct, and is more elegant.
The companies of Sheba waited for them – The Sheba here referred to was probably in the southern part of Arabia; see the notes at Isa 45:14. The idea is, that the caravans from that part of Arabia came and looked for a supply of water, and were disappointed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. The troops of Tema looked] The caravans coming from Tema are represented as arriving at those places where it was well known torrents did descend from the mountains, and they were full of expectation that here they could not only slake their thirst, but fill their girbas or water-skins; but when they arrive, they find the waters totally dissipated and lost. In vain did the caravans of Sheba wait for them; they did not reappear: and they were confounded, because they had hoped to find here refreshment and rest.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The troops, as this word is used, Gen 37:25; Isa 21:13. Heb. the ways, put for the travellers in the ways, by a usual metonymy. And so it must needs be meant here, and in the next clause, because the following verse, They were confounded, &c., plainly showeth that he here speaks of persons, not of senseless things. Tema: this place and
Sheba were both parts of the hot and dry country of Arabia, in which waters were very scarce, and therefore precious and desirable, especially to travellers, who by their motion, and the heat to which they were exposed, were more hot and thirsty than other men.
The companies; as before, the troops. And thus he speaks, because men did not there travel singly, as here we do, but in troops and companies, for their greater security against wild beasts and robbers, of which they had great store.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. the troopsthat is,”caravans.”
Temanorth ofArabia-Deserta, near the Syrian desert; called from Tema son ofIshmael (Gen 25:15; Isa 21:14;Jer 25:23), still so called bythe Arabs. Job 6:19; Job 6:20give another picture of the mortification of disappointed hopes,namely, those of the caravans on the direct road, anxiously awaitingthe return of their companions from the distant valley. The mentionof the locality whence the caravans came gives living reality to thepicture.
Shebarefers here notto the marauders in North Arabia-Deserta (Job1:15), but to the merchants (Eze27:22) in the south, in Arabia-Felix or Yemen, “afar off”(Jer 6:20; Mat 12:42;Gen 10:28). Caravans are firstmentioned in Ge 37:25; menneeded to travel thus in companies across the desert, for defenseagainst the roving robbers and for mutual accommodation.
The companies . . . waitedfor themcannot refer to the caravans who had gone in quest ofthe waters; for Job 6:18describes their utter destruction.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The troops of Tema looked,…. A city in Arabia, so called from Tema a son of Ishmael, Ge 25:15; these troops or companies were travelling ones, either that travelled to Tema, or that went from thence to other places for merchandise, see Isa 21:13; these, as they passed along in their caravans, as the Turks their successors now do, looked at those places where in the wintertime they observed large waters frozen over, and covered with snow, and expected to have been supplied from thence in the summer season, for the extinguishing of their thirst:
the companies of Sheba waited for them: another people in Arabia, which went in companies through the deserts, where being in great want of water for their refreshment, waited patiently till they came to those places, where they hoped to find water to relieve them, which they had before marked in the wintertime.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(19) The troops of Tema.Frst says of Tema that it was a tract in the north of the Arabian Desert, on the borders of the Syrian one, where traffic was carried on from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean by caravans (Isa. 21:14; Jer. 25:23; Job. 6:19). Sheba, as understood here, was probably a district on the Arabian Gulf (see Job. 1:15), where merchants trafficked with the distant cities of the East, as well as enriched themselves with the plunder of their neighbours, as in Job. 1:15.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. Troops of Tema The caravans of Tema. Job now enlarges, according to Oriental usage, upon the thought of the preceding verse, and specifies the mighty caravans of Tema and Sheba. In very remote ages caravan routes lay through Idumaea. Umbreit improperly makes these troops a part of the caravans referred to in Job 6:18, who had gone on and perished. “These,” he says, “await their return and blush over their disappointment.” This is altogether too tame. Tema was the ninth of the sons of Ishmael. (Gen 25:15.) The tribe that bore his name probably resided not far from Idumaea. The prophets speak of a Tema in connexion with Arabia and her kings; Isa 21:14, and Jer 25:23. The Arabs still give the name Taima to a region in the north of Arabia-Deserta, on the borders of Syria. The town Taima lies on the route of the Damascus caravan. It is interesting to remember that it was a company of Ishmaelites that bought Joseph of his brethren and carried him down into Egypt. For Sheba see note on Job 1:15. Job probably alluded to some well-known destruction of a caravan that had failed to find a supply of water at the appointed place.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 6:19. The troops of Tema looked Mr. Heath so translates this verse, as to introduce the speaker using an animated prosopopoeia, or addressing himself to the travellers: Look for them ye troops of Tema, ye travellers of Sheba, expect them earnestly. This gives great life to the poetry, and sets a very beautiful image before the eye: the travellers wasting their time, depending on those torrents for water; but when they come thither, how great the disappointment! They are dried up; Job 6:20. The beginning of the 21st verse should be rendered, so now, ye are nothing. Mr. Peters observes of this simile, that there is not a more apt one in Homer or Milton, nor one more finely wrought up into a picture. See Jer 14:2-3.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Job 6:19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
Ver. 19. The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them ] The troops, that is, the travellers, the caravan or company of merchants from those parts, passing through dangerous and dry deserts, expected relief from those brooks which they had marked out for themselves against summer; but with what success?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
troops = caravans.
companies = travellers.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Tema: Gen 25:15, Isa 21:14, Jer 25:23
Sheba: Gen 10:7, Gen 25:3, 1Ki 10:1, Psa 72:10, Eze 27:22, Eze 27:23
Reciprocal: 1Ch 1:32 – Sheba Job 2:11 – Temanite Isa 21:15 – from the swords Jer 49:20 – Teman
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 6:19. The troops of Tema looked This place and Sheba were both parts of the hot and dry country of Arabia; in which waters were very scarce, and therefore precious and desirable, especially to travellers. The word , orchoth, signifies companies of travellers or merchants, such as that mentioned Gen 37:25, A company of the Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels, &c., or those spoken of Isa 21:13-14, In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies. The inhabitants of Tema brought water, &c. The Hebrew word, however, properly means ways, or roads; but is here put for travellers in the ways, by a common metonymy. The companies of Sheba waited for them The Scenit, who lived in tents, may here be included, as well as the troops before mentioned, for they removed with their cattle from one place to another for the convenience of pasture and water. It must be observed, men did not there travel singly as we do, but in companies, for their security against wild beasts and robbers. By a very slight alteration in the pointing, Mr. Heath so translates this verse as to introduce the speaker using a prosopopia, or addressing himself to the travellers: Look for them, ye troops of Tema, ye travellers of Sheba, expect them earnestly. This gives great life to the poetry, and sets a very beautiful image before the eye: the travellers wasting their time, depending on those torrents for water; but, when they come hither, how great the disappointment! Dodd.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
6:19 The troops of Tema {l} looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
(l) They who pass by it to go into the hot countries of Arabia, think to find water there to quench their thirst but they are deceived.