They drive away the donkey of the fatherless
This phrase highlights the exploitation and injustice faced by the vulnerable in society, specifically orphans. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the donkey was a valuable asset for transportation and agricultural work. By driving away the donkey, oppressors are depriving the fatherless of their means to sustain themselves, reflecting a broader theme of social injustice. This act is condemned in various parts of Scripture, such as in Exodus 22:22-24, where God warns against mistreating widows and orphans. The fatherless are often mentioned alongside widows and foreigners as those deserving of protection and justice (Deuteronomy 10:18).

and take the widow’s ox in pledge
Taking an ox in pledge refers to seizing it as collateral for a debt. In the agrarian society of the time, an ox was essential for plowing fields and ensuring a livelihood. By taking a widow's ox, creditors are stripping her of her ability to provide for herself, which is a direct violation of the Mosaic Law that commands care for widows (Deuteronomy 24:17). This act of taking a pledge from a widow is seen as particularly egregious because it exploits her vulnerability. The Bible consistently calls for the protection of widows, as seen in James 1:27, which describes pure religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress. This phrase underscores the broader biblical theme of God's concern for justice and care for the marginalized.

1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who endures immense suffering and questions the justice of God.

2. The Fatherless
Represents orphans or those without parental protection, often vulnerable in society.

3. The Widow
Symbolizes women who have lost their husbands, often facing economic and social challenges in ancient times.

4. The Oppressors
Unnamed individuals who exploit the vulnerable, taking advantage of their lack of protection and resources.

5. The Donkey and the Ox
Animals used for labor and livelihood, representing essential resources for survival in an agrarian society.God's Heart for the Vulnerable
The verse highlights God's concern for the fatherless and widows, urging believers to reflect His compassion and justice in their own lives.

The Sin of Exploitation
Taking advantage of the vulnerable is a grave sin. Christians are called to stand against such injustices and advocate for those who cannot defend themselves.

Stewardship and Responsibility
Believers are entrusted with resources not just for personal gain but to support and uplift those in need, reflecting God's provision and care.

Justice and Mercy
The balance of justice and mercy is crucial in the Christian walk. While justice demands accountability, mercy calls for compassion and aid to those suffering.

Community and Support
The church is called to be a community that supports the vulnerable, providing practical help and spiritual encouragement to those in distress.(3) They drive away the ass.--The ass and the ox, the fatherless and the widow presumably having no more than one. He first describes the oppression of the country, and then that of the city (Job 24:12). We seem here to catch a glimpse of the sufferings of some oppressed and subject aboriginal race, such as the Canaanites may have been to the Jews, though there is probably no allusion to them. But, at all events, the writer and the speaker seem to have been familiar with some such abject and servile race, who haunted the desert and suffered at the hands of the more powerful tribes. Man's inhumanity to man is, unhappily, a crime of very long standing.

Verse 3 - They drive away the ass of the fatherless. This was another form of oppression. "Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed?" says Samuel, on laying down his judgeship (1 Samuel 12:3). The "fatherless" were particularly liable to such ill treatment, seeing that they had lost their natural protector. They take the widow's ox for a pledge. It may be true that this was nowhere a legal offence, not even among the Hebrews (Lee); but it was a real act of oppression, and forms a fitting counterpart to the injury done to the orphan. (On the natural tendency of selfish men to bear hard on these two classes, see Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 24:17; Deuteronomy 27:19; Psalm 94:6; Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 10:2; Jeremiah 5:28; Zechariah 7:10.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


They drive away
יִנְהָ֑גוּ (yin·hā·ḡū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5090: To drive forth, lead, carry away, to proceed, to sigh

the donkey
חֲמ֣וֹר (ḥă·mō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2543: A male ass

of the fatherless
יְתוֹמִ֣ים (yə·ṯō·w·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3490: A bereaved person

and take the widow’s
אַלְמָנָֽה׃ (’al·mā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 490: A widow, a desolate place

ox
שׁ֣וֹר (šō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7794: A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera)

in pledge.
יַ֝חְבְּל֗וּ (yaḥ·bə·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2254: To wind tightly, to bind, a pledge, to pervert, destroy, to writhe in pain


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OT Poetry: Job 24:3 They drive away the donkey (Jb)