XXXIV. (1) FURTHERMORE ELIHU. — Elihu here hardly makes good the profession with which he starts, for he begins immediately to accuse Job in no measured language. Elihu makes, indeed, a great profession of wisdom, and expressly addresses himself to the wise (Job 34:2), and insists upon the necessit... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOB HATH SAID. — See Job 13:18; Job 27:2, especially.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULD I LIE AGAINST MY RIGHT? — Comp. Job 27:2. MY WOUND IS INCURABLE. — Literally, _my arrow, i.e.,_ the arrow which hath wounded me. (See Job 16:11; Job 17:1, &c.) WITHOUT TRANSGRESSION. — That is to say, _on my part._ (See Job 16:17.) Some understand the former clause, “Notwithstanding my righ... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DRINKETH UP SCORNING? — The same word had been applied to Job by Zophar (Job 11:3), “And when thou _mockest,_ shall no man make thee ashamed?” and the same reproach by Eliphaz (Job 15:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WALKETH WITH WICKED MEN. — This was the charge that was brought against Job by Eliphaz (Job 15:4; Job 22:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
IT PROFITETH A MAN NOTHING. — Comp. what Job had said (Job 9:20; Job 9:30; Job 10:6; Job 10:14). Eliphaz had virtually said the same thing, though the form in which he cast it was the converse of this (see Job 22:3), for he had represented it as a matter of indifference to _God_ whether man was righ... [ Continue Reading ]
YE MEN OF UNDERSTANDING. — Elihu now appeals to the men of understanding, by whom he can hardly mean the three friends of whom he has already spoken disparagingly, but seems rather to appeal to an audience, real or imagined, who are to decide on the merits of what he says. This is an incidental indi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH DISPOSED THE WHOLE WORLD? — Or, _Who hath set the whole world upon Him? i.e.,_ entrusted it to His care; in the other sense it means, “Who but He hath made the whole world, and who, therefore, can have the interest in it which He must have?”... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HE SET HIS HEART UPON MAN. — Or, _upon himself._ It is ambiguous: and so, likewise, the next clause is. We must either regard it as the consequence of the former one — “If He set His heart upon Himself, had regard to His own interest, then He would gather unto Himself His own spirit and His own b... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL EVEN HE.... — The argument is that one who holds such a position of absolute rule cannot be other than most just. He who is fit to rule must be just, and He who is the ultimate ruler must be fit to rule, and must, therefore, be just; but if He is absolutely just, how shall we condemn His gover... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT FIT TO SAY TO A KING? — The argument is from the less to the greater. “Who could challenge a king or princes? and if not a king, how much less the King of kings?” There is a strong ellipse in the Hebrew, but yet one that is naturally supplied. (Comp. Psalms 137:5.)... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A MOMENT SHALL THEY DIE — _i.e._, “they all alike die, rich and poor together; the hour of death is not hastened for the poor nor delayed for the rich. They all alike die.” EVEN AT MIDNIGHT THE PEOPLE ARE TROUBLED.... — It is hard to think that the writer did not know of Exodus 12:29. It is bett... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS EYES ARE UPON THE WAYS OF MAN. — He is not only just and mighty, but He is also all-wise; He cannot therefore err.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO DARKNESS. — As Job had perhaps seemed to imply in Job 24:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE WILL NOT LAY UPON MAN MORE THAN RIGHT — _i.e.,_ so much that he should enter into judgment with God. This is probably the meaning, as the Authorised Version; but some render, “He needeth not yet again to consider a man that he should go before God in judgment.” He hath no need to consider any... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT NUMBER. — Rather, _in an unsearchable manner,_ as before, Job 34:20, “without hand,” _i.e.,_ without human means.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE. — We should expect _because_ rather; but the writer, believing in God’s justice, infers that since God acts thus He knoweth the works of man, and has grounds for acting as He acts.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE STRIKETH THEM AS WICKED MEN. — Rather, _in the place of wicked men he striketh them: i.e.,_ the wicked — that is, “He executeth His judgments in the sight of all beholders, striking down wicked men in their very place, so that there can be no doubt as to who are stricken or why they are stricken.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THEY TURNED BACK FROM HIM. — Elihu, therefore, as well as Job’s other friends, believed in the direct execution of God’s judgments.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE GIVETH QUIETNESS, WHO THEN CAN MAKE TROUBLE? — This is probably the meaning, but literally it is, _Who can condemn?_ OR AGAINST A MAN ONLY. — Rather, _against a man alike: i.e.,_ it is all one in either case. He judges nations as He judges individuals, and individuals as He does nations.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE HYPOCRITE REIGN NOT. — Rather, (whether God is provoked), _on account of an ungodly man reigning, or by the snares of a whole people: i.e.,_ the corruption of A nation, _e.g.,_ Sodom, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE BORNE CHASTISEMENT... — These verses express the attitude that should be assumed towards God: one of submission and penitence.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULD IT BE ACCORDING TO THY MIND? is obscure from its abruptness. We understand it thus: “Should he recompense it (_i.e.,_ a man’s conduct) according to thy mind, with thy concurrence, whether thou refusest or whether thou choosest?” AND NOT I — _i.e._, “Then why not according as I refuse or choo... [ Continue Reading ]
LET MEN OF UNDERSTANDING TELL ME. — Rather, _Men of understanding will say to me,_ or, _agree with me; and every wise man that heareth me will say,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY DESIRE IS THAT JOB MAY BE TRIED. — There seems to be reason to prefer the marginal rendering, and consider the words as addressed to God: “Oh my Father, let Job be tried, &c.” “_Pater mi probetur Job,” V_ulg. Elihu’s words cannot have fallen upon Job with more acceptance or with lighter weight th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CLAPPETH HIS HANDS AMONG US. — As though he were confident of victory in argument.... [ Continue Reading ]