Job 4:1
THEN ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE ANSWERED - See the notes at Job 2:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE ANSWERED - See the notes at Job 2:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE ASSAY TO COMMUNE WITH THEE - Margin, A word. Hebrew - הנסה דבר _dâbâr_ _hanı̂câh_. “May we attempt a word with thee?” This is a gentle and polite apology at the beginning of his speech - an inquiry whether he would take it as unkind if one should adventure on a remark in the way of argument... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU HAST INSTRUCTED MANY - That is, thou hast instructed many how they ought to bear trials, and hast delivered important maxims to them on the great subject of the divine government. This is not designed to be irony, or to wound the feelings of Job. It is intended to recall to his mind the... [ Continue Reading ]
THY WORDS HAVE UPHOLDEN HIM THAT WAS FALLING - That is, either falling into sin, or sinking under calamity and trial. The Hebrew will bear either interpretation, but the connection seems to require us to understand it of one who was sinking under the weight of affliction. THE FEEBLE KNEES - Margin,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOW IT IS COME UPON THEE - That is, calamity; or, the same trial which others have had, and in which thou hast so successfully exhorted and comforted them. A similar sentiment to that which is here expressed, is found in Terence: _Facile omnes, cum valemus, recta consilia aegrotis damus_. _And... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THIS THY FEAR, THY CONFIDENCE? - There has been considerable variety in the interpretation of this verse. Dr. Good renders it, Is thy piety then nothing? thy hope Thy contidence? or the uprightness of thy ways? Noyes renders it, Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER, I PRAY THEE, WHO EVER PERISHED, BEING INNOCENT? - The object of this question is manifestly to show to Job the inconsistency of the feelings which he had evinced. He claimed to be a righteous man. He had instructed and counselled many others. He had professed confidence in God, and in the... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS I HAVE SEEN - Eliphaz appeals to his own observation, that people who had led wicked lives were suddenly cut off. Instances of this kind he might doubtless have observed - as all may have done. But his inference was too broad when he concluded that all the wicked are punished in this manner.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE BLAST OF GOD - That is, by the judgment of God. The figure is taken from the hot and fiery wind, which, sweeping over a field of grain, dries it up and destroys it. In like manner Eliphaz says the wicked perish before God. AND BY THE BREATH OF HIS NOSTRILS - By his anger. The Scripture often... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ROARING OF THE LION - This is evidently a continuation of the argument in the preceding verses, and Eliphaz is stating what had occurred under his own observation. The expressions have much of a proverbial cast, and are designed to convey in strong poetic language what he supposed usually occurr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OLD LION - The word used here, לישׁ _layı̂sh_, denotes a lion, “so called,” says Gesenius,” from his strength and bravery,” or, according to Urnbreit, the lion in the strength of his old ago; see an examination of the word in Bochart, Hieroz. P. i. Lib. iii. c. 1, p. 720. PERISHETH FOR LACK OF... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW A THING - To confirm his views, Eliphaz appeals to a vision of a most remarkable character which he says he had had on some former occasion on the very point under consideration. The object of the vision was, to show that mortal man could not be more just than God, and that such was the purity o... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOUGHTS - Amidst the tumultuous and anxious thoughts which occur in the night. The Hebrew word rendered thoughts, (שׂעפים _śâ‛ı̂phı̂ym_), means thoughts which divide and distract the mind. FROM THE VISIONS OF THE NIGHT - On the meaning of the word visions, see the notes at Isaiah 1:1. This wa... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR CAME UPON ME - Margin, “Met me.” The Chaldee Paraphrase renders this, “a tempest,” זיקא. The Septuagint, φρίκη _frikē_ - “shuddering,” or “horror.” The sense is, that he became greatly alarmed at the vision. WHICH MADE ALL MY BONES TO SHAKE - Margin, as in Hebrew, the multitude of my bones.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN A SPIRIT PASSED BEFORE MY FACE - He does not intimate whether it was the spirit of a man, or an angel who thus appeared. The belief in such apparitions was common in the early ages, and indeed has prevailed at all times. No one can demonstrate that God could not communicate his will in such a m... [ Continue Reading ]
IT STOOD STILL - It took a fixed position and looked on me. It at first glided by, or toward him, then stood in an immovable position, as if to attract his attention, and to prepare him for the solemn announcement which it was about to make. This was the point in which most horror would be felt. We... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL MORTAL MAN - Or, shall feeble man. The idea of “mortal” is not necessarily implied in the word used here, אנושׁ _'ĕnôsh_. It means man; and is usually applied to the lower classes or ranks of people; see the notes at Isaiah 8:1. The common opinion in regard to this word is, that it is derive... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE PUT NO TRUST IN HIS SERVANTS - These are evidently the words of the oracle that appeared to Eliphaz; see Schultens, in loc. The word servants here refers to angels; and the idea is, that God was so pure that he did not confide even in the exalted holiness of angels - meaning that their ho... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW MUCH LESS - (אף _'aph_). This particle has the general sense of addition, accession, especially of something more important;” yea more, besides, even.” Gesenius. The meaning here is, “how much more true is this of man!” He puts no confidence in his angels; he charges them with frailty; how much... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE DESTROYED FROM MORNING TO EVENING - Margin, “beaten in pieces.” This is nearer to the Hebrew. The phrase “from morning to evening” means between the morning and the evening; that is, they live scarcely a single day; see the notes at Isaiah 38:12. The idea is, not the continuance of the work... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH NOT THEIR EXCELLENCY ... - Dr. Good renders this, “Their fluttering round is over with them,” by a very forced construction of the passage. Translators and expositors have been very much divided in opinion as to its meaning; but the sense seems to be, that whatever is excellent in people is tor... [ Continue Reading ]