am I in the place of God] Or (as some Hebricians render the words) am not I under God? First of the former reading. They had called themselves Gods servants, vers. 17. and presently they fall downe before him, vers. 18. and call themselves his servants, as if they put him in Gods stead, by fearing him more then God; for it seemes they feared his revenge more then Gods vengeance; This might make him thinke worse of their homage done unto him, then at other times before, and give him occasion to aske this question Am I in the place of God? that is, in Gods stead to revenge my selfe, or take vengeance into mine hands, which belongeth to him; See Deuteronomy 32:35. Romans 12:19. Hebrews 10:30. Or, may I take upon me to turne that to your hurt which God hath ordered and disposed for your good, as if I were a God as well as he? The former exposition hath best coherence with the words that went before, and the latter with those that follow after; and either may be true. Secondly, the other reading, am I not under God? may beare this sense; If God who is rich in mercy doth abundantly pardon the penitent, why should I, who am under him, and in subordination to him, be obdurate against my relenting brethren?