
&c.] A leaf that falls from a tree in autumn, and withers and is rolled up, and driven about by the wind, which it cannot resist, to which Job here compares himself but it is not to be understood of him with respect to his spiritual estate for being a good man, and one that trusted in the Lord, and made him his hope, he was, as every good man is, like to a tree planted by rivers of water, whose leaf withers not, but is always green, and does not fall off, as is the case of carnal professors, who are compared to trees in autumn, which cast their leaves and rotten fruit see ( Psalms 1:3 ) ( Jeremiah 17:7 Jeremiah 17:8 ) ( Jude 1:12 ) but in respect to his outward estate, his frailty, weakness, and feebleness, especially as now under the afflicting hand of God see ( Isaiah 64:6 ) so John the Baptist, on account of his being a frail mortal man, a weak feeble creature, compares himself to a reed shaken with the wind, ( Matthew 11:7 ) now to break such an one was to add affliction to affliction, and which could not well be borne and the like is signified by the next clause,


Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro?
