איוב, פרק ל״ו, פסוק כ׳

In moments of profound distress, a person might naturally crave swift revenge, the downfall of the wicked, or even the end of their own life. A clear warning addresses these deep-seated desires, urging a deeper understanding of how God manages the world and the timing of disaster. The craving for justice is often intense, compared by [תקות אנוש] to a thirsty person gasping for a breath of cool air. However, the primary approach among commentators views this dark time of trouble as a destructive force that sweeps away entire nations while they sit peacefully in their lands. [רש״י] and [מצודת דוד] explain that Job is warned not to long for this sudden darkness. They point to historical examples of nations that lived in comfort but sinned and were entirely removed, such as the generation of the Flood, the people of Sodom, and the armies of Sennacherib and Pharaoh. The underlying message to Job is that he should not expect a life of absolute tranquility free from hardship and God's guidance. Boundless peace can ultimately lead to complete ruin, just as it did for those ancient peoples. Building on this, [תקות אנוש] notes that since the punishment of the wicked frequently occurs in the literal darkness of night, one should not be drawn toward or anticipate such moments of sudden devastation.

Beyond general destruction, this warning also applies to personal grievances. [אלשיך] explains that Job must not pray for the immediate downfall of the specific nations that directly harmed him, such as Sheba and the Chaldeans. Every kingdom has a specific lifespan determined by God, and demanding that He rush the end of another nation is inappropriate and will not be accepted. Offering a psychological perspective, [מלבי״ם] highlights the stark contrast between Job's days of comfort and his days of suffering. During his prosperous years, Job had no desire to see the wicked destroyed overnight. It is only now, from a place of deep agony, that he demands swift and absolute justice. Because this plea stems from immediate personal distress rather than a consistent, lifelong worldview, his prayer for their sudden destruction goes unanswered.

Taking an entirely different approach, the darkness of night can also symbolize the personal death of the one who is suffering. [ביאור שטיינזלץ] interprets the warning as an instruction to Job not to wish for death out of sheer despair. Hidden within this caution is a promise: a time will come when Job will regain immense strength, possessing the power to remove entire nations in their place. Therefore, he must hold firmly to life rather than wishing for its end. Reflecting a similar theme of sudden, dramatic reversals, [רמב״ן] observes that one should not yearn for the night or desperately hope for the morning. Reality can shift in a single moment, and powerful nations can be completely uprooted before the dawn even breaks.