איוב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק י״ג

A man hunted and surrounded by ruthless enemies serves as a harsh, vivid image of profound agony and the desperate wish for the pain to end. Job feels entirely encircled by archers who shoot arrows that mercilessly pierce and slice his flesh, ultimately causing his gallbladder to spill out [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון]. The primary approach among commentators is that the shattered kidneys and spilled gallbladder are powerful metaphors for the crushing weight of his illness and his severe, varied torments [מצודת דוד, רמב״ן]. The arrows themselves represent the blows of Satan or the boils covering Job, which sting every part of his body like venomous darts.

While generally understood as a metaphor, another perspective suggests these injuries happened to Job's body literally. Surviving such catastrophic wounds—severed kidneys and a ruptured gallbladder—is considered an open miracle [רמב״ן]. This physical devastation unfolds in brutal stages. First, the arrows strike the kidneys without pity, and the relentless pain continues until the gallbladder finally spills to the earth [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].

The specific organs targeted in this assault are not random; they reveal the cruel intent behind the strikes. Hitting the kidneys is a calculated move designed to prolong the suffering, as this type of injury does not cause immediate death. The archers intentionally aim for areas that will keep Job alive in a state of continuous torment. Driven to the edge by this unbearable pain, Job actually yearns for his gallbladder to spill out, hoping the fatal blow will finally allow him to die and find rest [אלשיך].

Beyond the physical devastation, this relentless attack carries a deeper spiritual purpose. God deliberately placed Job as the target for these arrows so that he would absorb the harsh judgment and suffering originally destined to strike the Israelites [אלשיך].