JOB'S SIXTH SPEECH Zophar, like the other friends, had insisted on the certain retribution for sin which befalls the wicked in this life. Now at length these views draw from Job a direct contradiction. It is his manner to wait till the three friends have spoken before he demolishes their case. 1-2... [ Continue Reading ]
TO MAN] RM 'of man.' It is of God that Job complains. AND IF, etc.] RV 'And why should I not be impatient?'... [ Continue Reading ]
Job trembles at the thought of the bold arraignment of God's government which he is about to make, or possibly at the remembrance of how unrighteous that government seems to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unlike Job, who had lost all his children at a stroke.... [ Continue Reading ]
TIMBREL] a small drum still used in Palestine. ORGAN] RV 'pipe.'... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A MOMENT] without prolonged illness or pain, such as that from which he himself suffers.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE] better, 'though' or 'yet.'... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, THEIR GOOD, etc.] It may mean, They cannot control their fortunes: it must be God who has prospered them. IS FAR] rather, 'be far.' Job repudiates the devices of sinners. Possibly the whole v. is an objection uttered by the friends. 17, 18. The vv. should be read as questions, the words 'How of... [ Continue Reading ]
RV '_Ye say,_ God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself that he may know it.' The friends may argue that retribution may, at all events, fall upon the wicked man's children. To which Job replies that the sinner ought to suffer personally. Possibly, however, we s... [ Continue Reading ]
PLEASURE] better, 'interest.' 22-26. It is presumptuous for the friends to settle what are the rules by which God decides the fate of men, God who judges even the angels.... [ Continue Reading ]
BREASTS] mg. 'milk-pails.' AND HIS BONES, etc.] RV 'And the marrow of his bones is moistened': he is strengthened and refreshed. 27-34. Job says he knows that the friends' remarks are aimed at him. He is to take warning from the sure doom of the sinner. But experience does not justify their conclu... [ Continue Reading ]
PRINCE] here probably means 'tyrant.' 29, 30. The meaning is: Have you not asked the traveller who has seen the world what are his conclusions on the subject? Are you not familiar with the examples he quotes? He would tell you that the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, and led away (safel... [ Continue Reading ]
Who boldly rebukes or punishes the tyrant?... [ Continue Reading ]
RM 'He is borne to the grave and keepeth watch over the tomb'; i.e. he is buried with honours. Perhaps we should read, 'they keep watch.'... [ Continue Reading ]
After his life of happiness he rests in the sweet-smelling earth. His career of successful wickedness draws many to imitate him, as indeed he had himself many to anticipate him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Job concludes that the arguments of the friends are worthless, since he has shown that the wicked do not get their deserts. So ends the second cycle of debate, the main theme of which is the assertion denied by Job, that trouble overtakes the evildoer. Job does not deal with this in his first and s... [ Continue Reading ]