Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, Ver. 1. _Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said_] Bildad (who was of the posterity of Shuah, Abraham's son by Keturah, Gen 24:1-2) interrupteth Job, and endeavours to maintain what Eliphaz had spoken; nevertheless, it appeareth by this chapter, Job 8:... [ Continue Reading ]
How long wilt thou speak these [things]? and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth [be like] a strong wind? Ver. 2. _How long wilt thou speak these things?_] _Quousque effaberis ista._ _q.d._ Hast thou nothing better than this to utter? (Tremel.) Be silent for shame, or forbear at least to vent t... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? Ver. 3. _Doth God prevent judgment?_] By not punishing the wicked; or doth the Almighty prevent justice? by not rewarding the righteous (so the Hebrews expound it). Why, no; neither did Job ever say such a thing; only he had pathetica... [ Continue Reading ]
If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; Ver. 4. _If thy children have sinned against him_] As what man is he that liveth and sinneth not? But Bildad meant that Job's children had heinously sinned, had been grievous sinners against their own souls... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; Ver. 5. _If thou wouldst seek unto God betimes_] If warned by the evil end that befell thine unhappy children, thou wouldst early and earnestly seek unto God for mercy, for which purpose it may seem that thy life has... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou [wert] pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Ver. 6. _If thou wert pure and upright_] If thou didst lift up pure hands to God in prayer, &c. Oς κε θεοις επιπειθηται μαλα τ εκλυον αυτου .. _ Pura Deus mens est, pura vu... [ Continue Reading ]
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. Ver. 7. _Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase_] Thy recent losses God will recompense with interest; and the felicity which he prepareth for thee shall be far greater than the loss wher... [ Continue Reading ]
For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: Ver. 8. _For enquire, I pray thee_] Bildad speaks fairly, as Eliphaz had done, whom he all along imitateth. _ A bove maiori discit arare minor._ _ Of the former age_] The generations who came before,... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 8:9 (For we [are but of] yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth [are] a shadow:) Ver. 9. _For we are but of yesterday_] Heb. We are yesterday, that is, yesterday's offspring, upstarts, mushrooms, novices of very small standing in the world. And yet they were old men, Job 15:10... [ Continue Reading ]
Shall not they teach thee, [and] tell thee, and utter words out of their heart? Ver. 10. _Shall they not teach thee, and tell thee_] They, that is, the forefathers, Job 8:8, these, though dead and gone, yet by their records and monuments, by their apopthegms and oracles (for the words of dying men... [ Continue Reading ]
Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? Ver. 11. _Can the rush grow up without mire?_] _Iam subiungit quod illi exploratum habuerant et perspectum, sed eleganti similitudine,_ saith Mercer; that is, here Bildad setteth forth what the fathers had observed, taught, and tol... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whilst it [is] yet in his greenness, [and] not cut down, it withereth before any [other] herb._ Ver. 12. _Whilst it is yet in his greenness, &c._] And so withereth not through age, as being but in its shooting up. _ And not cut down_] Or, cropped off, either by the hands of men or teeth of beasts... [ Continue Reading ]
So [are] the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Ver. 13. _So are the paths of all that forget God_] To remember God is as necessary as to draw breath, saith Chrysostom. This the wicked man doth not, Psalms 9:17. He will neither have God in his head, Psalms 10:4, no... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a spider's web. Ver. 14. Whose hope (or whose folly, that is, whose foolish hope) shall be cut off] The Latin translation hath it, his folly shall not please him, _sc._ when once he seeth, by the disappointment of his high hopes, what a fool's... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. Ver. 15. _He shall lean upon his house_] The spider shall, so Vatablus taketh it; but better, the hypocrite leaneth, or layeth his whole weight upon his house, that is, wealth, children, friends, c... [ Continue Reading ]
He [is] green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden. Ver. 16. _He is green before the sun_] _Succosus est,_ saith Tremellius, he is sappy and juicy, having a confluence of all kind of comforts and contentments, even more than heart could wish, as David expresseth it, Psalms 73... [ Continue Reading ]
His roots are wrapped about the heap, [and] seeth the place of stones. Ver. 17. _His roots are wrapped about the heap, &c._] _i.e._ They are deeply intrenched, and strongly incorporated into the ground, wreathed in with the heap, as thorns about a hedge. The hypocrite seemeth to be notably well roo... [ Continue Reading ]
If he destroy him from his place, then [it] shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee. Ver. 18. _If he destroy him from his place_] If he stub up this green tree, no better surely than the cyparit, of which Pliny writeth that it beareth fruit to no purpose, small berries, bitter leaves, that i... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, this [is] the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow. Ver. 19. _Behold, this is the joy of his way_] _q.d._ A goodly joy! sure the hypocrite's joy is but the hypocrisy of joy, a little counterfeit complexion, like a slight dash of rain, a handful of brushwood, or sear thorn... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, God will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help the evil doers: Ver. 20. _Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man_] _Epilogus sermonis Bildad._ This is the epilogue or close of Bildad's speech to Job; and it hath been the tartness of a threatening mixed with the sweetness... [ Continue Reading ]
Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing. Ver. 21. _Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, &c._] Here he applies the promise of the Divine help to Job, and that which is here spoken, _debent et reliqui fideles ad se transferre,_ saith Lavater, every true believer must take h... [ Continue Reading ]
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought. Ver. 22. _They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame_] It shall cover their faces, Psalms 69:7, yea, cover over the whole man; when beyond all expectation they shall see thee restored to... [ Continue Reading ]