George Leo Haydock

In a. Hebrew, “lead, in the rock for ever.” (Protestants) Septuagint have, “for ever,” after book, (ver. 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.” (Haydock) — Instrument, ( celte ) means “a chisel,” (Haydock) like cœlum from cœlo: ” I engrave.” (Pineda) — St. Jerome, (ad Pam.) and the late editor of his works, retain this word, as the older editions of St. Gregory did; (Calmet) though certe, “surely,” has been inserted instead, from several manuscripts by the Benedictines. (Haydock) — Ancient manuscripts and Latin Bibles have more generally the latter word. But the received editions are supported by many manuscripts (Calmet) and the Septuagint eggluthenai , expresses as much. Celtis est, gluthaion . (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 in 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, (Haydock) 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)