NO DOUBT BUT YE ARE THE PEOPLE - That is, the only wise people. You have engrossed all the wisdom of the world, and all else are to be regarded as fools. This is evidently the language of severe sarcasm; and it shows a spirit fretted and chafed by their reproaches. Job felt contempt for their reason... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I HAVE UNDERSTANDING AS WELL AS YOU - Margin, as in the Hebrew “an heart.” The word “heart” in the Scriptures is often used to denote the understanding or mind. It seems to have been regarded as the source of that which was called life or soul. Indeed, I do not recollect a single instance in the... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM AS ONE MOCKED OF HIS NEIGHBOUR - There has been considerable variety in the interpretation of this verse. The general sense is, that Job felt himself to be a mere laughing-stock for his neighbors. They treated him as if he were not worth regarding. They had no sympathy for him in his sorrows, a... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS READY TO SLIP WITH HIS FEET - The man whose feet waver or totter; that is, the man in adversity; see Proverbs 25:19. A man in prosperity is represented as standing firm; one in adversity as wavering, or falling; see Psalms 73:2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TABERNACLES OF ROBBERS PROSPER - The tents or dwellings of robbers are safe and secure. This is Job’s original proposition, to which he all along adheres. It is, that God does not deal with people in this life according to their character; and in support of this he now appeals to the fact that t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ASK NOW THE BEASTS - Rosenmuller supposes that this appeal to the inferior creation should be regarded as connected with Job 12:3, and that the intermediate verses are parenthetical. Zophar had spoken with considerable parade of the wisdom of God. He had said (Job 11:7 ff) that the knowledge of... [ Continue Reading ]
OR SPEAK TO THE EARTH, AND IT SHALL TEACH THEE - Perhaps this appeal to the earth may mean, as Stuhlman supposes, that the same thing is shown in the productions of the earth, as in the case of fierce animals. Noxious weeds and useless plants are more thrifty than the plants which are useful and the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO KNOWETH NOT IN ALL THESE - Who cannot see in all these the proofs of the same divine and sovereign agency? Who cannot see the hand of the same God and the same great principles of administration? The meaning of Job is, that the position which he defends is so plain, that it may be learned from t... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOSE HAND IS THE SOUL OF EVERY LIVING THING - Margin, “Life.” The margin is the more correct rendering. The idea is, that all are under the control of God. He gives life, and health, and happiness when he pleases, and when he chooses he takes them away. His sovereignty is manifested, says Job, i... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH NOT THE EAR TRY WORDS? - The literal meaning of this, which is evidently a proverbial expression, is plain; but about its bearing here there is more difficulty. The literal sense is, that it is the office of the ear to mark the distinction of sounds, and to convey the sense to the soul. But in... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE ANCIENT IS WISDOM - With the aged. The word ישׁישׁ _yâshı̂ysh_ used here, means an old man, one gray-headed. It is used chiefly in poetry, and is commonly employed in the sense of one who is decrepit by age. It is rendered “very aged” in Job 15:10; “him that stooped for age.” 2 Chronicles... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH HIM IS WISDOM - Margin, correctly, “God.” However much wisdom there may seem to be with aged men, yes the true wisdom - that which was supreme and worthy of the name - was to be found in God alone. The object of Job was to lead the thoughts up to God, and to bring his friends to a contemplation... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE BREAKETH DOWN - None can repair what he pulls down. Cities and towns he can devote to ruin by fire, or earthquake, or the pestilence, and so completely destroy them that they can never be rebuilt. We may now refer to such illustrations as Sodom, Babylon, Petra, Tyre, Herculaneum, and Pomp... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WITHHOLDETH THE WATERS - From the clouds and springs. He has control over the rains and the fountains; and when these are withheld, rivers and lakes become dry. The Syriac renders this, - “if he rebuke the waters,” supposing that there might perhaps be an allusion to the drying up of the Red Sea,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DECEIVED AND THE DECEIVER ARE HIS - This is designed to teach that all classes of people are under his control. All are dependent on him, and all are subject to him. He has power to keep them, and he can destroy them when he pleases. Dr. Good supposes that Job refers here to himself and his frie... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LEADETH COUNSELLORS AWAY SPOILED - Plundered or captive. That is, the counsels of wise and great men do not avail against God. Statesmen who promised themselves victory as the result of their plans he disappoints, and leads away into captivity. The object of this is to show that God is superior o... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LOOSETH THE BOND OF KINGS - The bond of kings (מוּסר _mûsâr_) here means that by which they bind others. Their power over others he loosens or takes away. AND GIRDETH THEIR LOINS WITH A GIRDLE - That is, he girds them with a rope or cord, and leads them away as prisoners. The whole series of r... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LEADETH PRINCES AWAY SPOILED - That is, plundered. The word here rendered “princes” כהנים _kôhênı̂ym_ means properly priests, and it is usually so rendered in the Scriptures. The ancient Hebrew interpreters suppose that the word sometimes also means prince. The Chaldee paraphrasist has not unfr... [ Continue Reading ]
HE REMOVETH AWAY THE SPEECH OF THE TRUSTY - Margin, “lip of the faithful.” “He takes away the lip,” that is, he takes away the power of giving safe counsel or good advice. The “trusty” or “faithful” here refer to those of age and experience, and on whose counsel men are accustomed to rely. The meani... [ Continue Reading ]
HE POURETH CONTEMPT UPON PRINCES - He has power to hurl them from their thrones, and to overwhelm them with disgrace. AND WEAKENETH THE STRENGTH OF THE MIGHTY - Margin, as in Hebrew “looseth the girdle of the strong.” The Orientals wore loose flowing robes, which were secured by a girdle around the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DISCOVERETH DEEP THIRSTS OUT OF DARKNESS - That is, God discloses truths which are wholly beyond the power of man to discover - truths that seem to be hidden in profound night. This may refer either to the revelation which God was believed to have furnished, or to his power of bringing out the mo... [ Continue Reading ]
HE INCREASETH THE NATIONS, AND DESTROYETH THEM - He has entire control over them. The sources of prosperity are in his hand, and at his pleasure he can visit them with famine, pestilence, or war, and diminish their numbers and arrest their prosperity. Dr. Good renders this very improperly, “He lette... [ Continue Reading ]
HE TAKETH AWAY THE HEART - The word heart here evidently means mind, intelligence, wisdom; see the notes at Job 12:3. OF THE CHIEF OF THE PEOPLE - Hebrew “Heads of the people;” that is, of the rulers of the earth. The meaning is, that he leaves them to infatuated and distracted counsels. By withdra... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GROPE IN THE DARK - They are like persons who attempt to feel their way along in the dark; compare the notes at Isaiah 59:10. AND HE MAKETH THEM TO STAGGER LIKE A DRUNKEN MAN - Margin, “wander.” Their unstable and perplexed counsels are like the reelings of a drunken man; see Isaiah 19:14, note... [ Continue Reading ]