CAN A MAN BE PROFITABLE UNTO GOD? - Can a man confer any favor on God, so as to lay him under obligation? Eliphaz supposes that Job sets up a “claim” to the favor of God, because he was of service to him, or because God had something to fear if he was cut off. He maintains, therefore, that a man can... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT ANY PLEASURE TO THE ALMIGHTY THAT THOU ART RIGHTEOUS? - This is the same sentiment which was advanced in the previous verse. The meaning is, that it can be no advantage to God that a man is righteous. He is not dependent on man for happiness, and cannot be deterred from dealing justly with him... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL HE REPROVE THEE FOR FEAR OF THEE? - Or, rather, will he come into trial, and argue his cause before a tribunal, because he is afraid that his character will suffer, or because he feels himself bound to appear, and answer to the charges which may be brought? The language is all taken from courts... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THY WICKEDNESS GREAT? - That is, “Is it not utter presumption and folly for a man, whose wickedness is undoubtedly so great, to presume to enter into a litigation with God?” Eliphaz here “assumes” it as an undeniable proposition, that Job was a great sinner. This charge had not been directly... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU HAST TAKEN A PLEDGE FROM THY BROTHER FOR NOUGHT - The only evidence which Eliphaz seems to have had of this was, that this was a heinous sin, and that as Job seemed to be severely punished, it was to be “inferred” that he must have committed some such sin as this. No way of treating an unfo... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST NOT GIVEN WATER TO THE WEARY - That is, thou hast withheld the rites of hospitality - one of the most grievous offences which could be charged on an Arabian; compare the notes at Isaiah 21:14. In all the Oriental world, hospitality was regarded, and is still, as a duty of the highest oblig... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR THE MIGHTY MAN - Hebrew as in the margin, “man of arm.” The “arm,” in the Scriptures, is the symbol of power; Psalms 10:15, “Break thou the arm of the wicked;” Ezekiel 30:21. “I have broken the arm of Pharaoh;” Psalms 89:13, “Thou hast a mighty arm;” Psalms 97:1, “His holy arm hath gotten... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST SENT WIDOWS AWAY EMPTY - That is, without regarding their needs, and without doing anything to mitigate their sorrows. The oppression of the widow and the fatherless is, in the Scriptures, every where regarded as a crime of special magnitude; see the notes at Isaiah 1:17. THE ARMS OF THE F... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SNARES ARE ROUND ABOUT THEE - “Snares” were used for catching wild animals and birds, and the word then came to denote any sudden calamity; see Job 18:8. Eliphaz here says, that it “must be” that these calamities came upon Job in consequence of such sins as he had specified. About that he... [ Continue Reading ]
OR DARKNESS - Darkness and night in the Scriptures are emblems of calamity. THAT THOU CANST NOT SEE - Deep and fearful darkness; total night, so that nothing is visible. That is, the heaviest calamities had overwhelmed him. AND ABUNDANCE OF WATERS - An emblem, also, of calamities; Job 27:20; Psalm... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT GOD IN THE HEIGHT OF HEAVEN? - In the highest heaven. That is, Is not God exalted over all worlds? This seems to be intended to refer to the sentiments of Job, as if he had maintained that God was so exalted that he could not notice what was occurring on earth. It should, therefore, be read i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SAYEST, HOW DOTH GOD KNOW? - That is, it “follows” from what you have said; or the opinion which you have advanced is “the same” as if you had affirmed this. How common it is to charge a man with holding what we “infer,” from something which he has advanced, he must hold, and then to procee... [ Continue Reading ]
THICK CLOUDS ARE A COVERING TO HIM - This is to be understood as expressing what Eliphaz regarded as the sentiment of Job - that so thick clouds intervened between him and man that he could not take cognizance of what was going forward on earth. AND HE WALKETH IN THE CIRCUIT OF HEAVEN - Upon the ar... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU MARKED THE OLD WAY WHICH WICKED MEN HAVE TRODDEN? - Hast thou seen what has happened in former times to wicked people? Job had maintained that God did not deal with people in this world according to their character. To meet this, Eliphaz now appeals to ancient facts, and especially refers... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WERE CUT DOWN - Who were suddenly destroyed by a flood. On the word used here (קמט _qâmaṭ_) see the notes at Job 16:8. It occurs only in that place and this. Its primary notion is that of drawing together or contracting - as the feet of a lamb or calf are drawn together and tied preparatory... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH SAID UNTO GOD, DEPART FROM US - Notes, Job 21:14. A very correct description of the old world. They had no wish to retain God in their knowledge. Probably Eliphaz here refers to what Job had said, Job 21:14. He had remarked, in describing the wicked, that they said unto God, “Depart from us,”... [ Continue Reading ]
YET HE FILLED THEIR HOUSES WITH GOOD THINGS - This is undoubtedly a biting sarcasm. Job had maintained that such people were prosperous. “Yes,” says Eliphaz, “their houses were well filled! They were signally blessed and prospered!” BUT THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED IS FAR FROM ME - This is the very la... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS SEE IT, AND ARE GLAD - see the destruction of the wicked; compare Revelation 15:3; Revelation 16:7; Revelation 19:1. This is designed by Eliphaz, probably, not only to state a fact about the righteous of other times who saw the wicked punished, but, also, to vindicate his own conduct a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREAS OUR SUBSTANCE IS NOT CUT DOWN - Margin, or, “Estate” Gesenius supposes that this means our adversary or enemy. The word used here (קים _qı̂ym_) he regards as derived from קוּם _qûm_ - to rise, to rise up; and, hence, it may have the sense of rising up against, or an enemy. So Noyes understa... [ Continue Reading ]
ACQUAINT NOW THYSELF WITH HIM - Margin, that is, “with God.” Eliphaz takes it for granted now, that Job was a sinner wholly unreconciled to God, and unacquainted with him. This fact, he supposes, was the source of all his calamities. As long as he remained thus unreconciled to God, he must be misera... [ Continue Reading ]
RECEIVE, I PRAY THEE, THE LAW FROM HIS MOUTH - Listen to his commands, and obey his precepts. AND LAY UP HIS WORDS IN THINE HEART - Embrace his truth, and do not forget it. Let it abide with you, and let it influence your secret feelings and the purposes of the soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU RETURN TO THE ALMIGHTY - Assuming that he was an impenitent sinner, and wholly unreconciled to him. THOU SHALT BE BUILT UP - A figure taken from building up a house, in contradistinction from pulling one down, and denoting that he would be prospered and happy. THOU SHALT PUT AWAY INIQUITY... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALT THOU LAY UP GOLD AS DUST - Margin, or, “on the dust.” Dr. Good renders this, “Thou shalt then count thy treasure as dust” - implying that he would have much of it. Noyes, “Cast to the dust thy gold” - implying that he would throw his gold away as of no account, and put his dependence on G... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THE ALMIGHTY SHALL BE - Or, rather, “then the Almighty shall be” - והיה _y__e__hâyâh_. The meaning is, that if he would return to God, and cast off his anxiety for gold, “then” the Almighty would be his real treasure, and would impart to him solid happiness. THY DEFENSE - Margin, “gold.” The... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALT THOU HAVE THY DELIGHT IN THE ALMIGHTY - Instead of complaining of him as you now do, you would then find calm enjoyment in contemplating his character and his moral government. This is a correct account of the effects of reconciliation. He who becomes truly “acquainted” with God has pleasure i... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT MAKE THY PRAYER UNTO HIM - God would then hear him, for he would be righteous. This was one of the blessings which would follow reconciliation. It is, in fact, one of the blessings of a return to God. He hears the cry of his people, and answers their supplications. To be permitted to go t... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT ALSO DECREE A THING, AND IT SHALL BE ESTABLISHED UNTO THEE - Thou shalt form a purpose or plan, and it shall not be frustrated. It shall not be opposed by the events of divine Providence, but whatever you undertake shall prosper. AND THE LIGHT SHALL SHINE UPON THY WAYS - Thou shalt be pr... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN MEN ARE CAST DOWN - The meaning of this is, probably, when people are usually cast down, or in the times of trial and calamity, which prostrate others, you shall find support. You shall then be enabled to say, “there is lifting up, or there is support.” Or, more probably still, it may mean, “in... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL DELIVER THE ISLAND OF THE INNOCENT - Margin, “the innocent shall deliver the island.” Never was there a more unhappy translation than this; and it is quite clear that our translators had no intelligible idea of the meaning of the passage. What can be meant by “saving the island of the innoc... [ Continue Reading ]