24:9 The fatherless child is snatched 1 from the breast, 2
the infant of the poor is taken as a pledge. 3
36:8 But if they are bound in chains, 4
and held captive by the cords of affliction,
36:15 He delivers the afflicted by 5 their 6 afflictions,
he reveals himself to them 7 by their suffering.
1 tn The verb with no expressed subject is here again taken in the passive: “they snatch” becomes “[child] is snatched.”
2 tn This word is usually defined as “violence; ruin.” But elsewhere it does mean “breast” (Isa 60:16; 66:11), and that is certainly what it means here.
3 tc The MT has a very brief and strange reading: “they take as a pledge upon the poor.” This could be taken as “they take a pledge against the poor” (ESV). Kamphausen suggested that instead of עַל (’al, “against”) one should read עוּל (’ul, “suckling”). This is supported by the parallelism. “They take as pledge” is also made passive here.
4 tn Dhorme thinks that the verse is still talking about kings, who may be in captivity. But this diverts attention from Elihu’s emphasis on the righteous.
7 tn The preposition בּ (bet) in these two lines is not location but instrument, not “in” but “by means of.” The affliction and the oppression serve as a warning for sin, and therefore a means of salvation.
8 tn Heb “his.”
9 tn Heb “he uncovers their ear.”