Commentary on Job, part 10

Next come the two fragments from chapter 8. The second fragment, on 8:17, connects the "gathering of stones" upon which the impious lie down to the seeds of Christ's parable of the sower (Mt. 13.3-8; Mk. 4.3-8; Lk. 8.5-8).

“If your children sinned against him, he sent them into the hands of their lawlessness.” (8:4)

Because they were lawless, he sent them into their sins.

“He lies on a gathering of stones…” (8:17)

As a seed that has fallen on a gathering of stones is choked or shoots forth but immediately withers, so too is the life of impiety.