IV. (2) IF WE ASSAY. — Rather, perhaps, _Has one ever assayed?_ or, _Has a word ever been tried?_ It appears from Job 29:9, that Job was held in great honour and reverence by all, and Eliphaz regarded him with awe such as would have constrained him to be silent, but he is so convinced that Job is w... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU HAST INSTRUCTED MANY. — There is a conspicuous want of feeling in Eliphaz. Without any true sympathy, however, he may have given the outward signs of it (Job 2:12). He charges Job with inability to derive from his own principles that support which he had expected them to afford to other... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THIS THY FEAR, THY CONFIDENCE...? — The meaning seems to be, “Should not thy fear or piety be thy confidence, and the uprightness of thy ways thy hope? Should not the piety thou wast so ready to commend to others supply a sufficient ground of hope for thyself?” Or we may understand, “Is not t... [ Continue Reading ]
ReMEMBER, I PRAY THEE, WHO EVER PERISHED, BEING INNOCENT? — He challenges Job’s experience, and quotes his own in proof of the universal connection between sin and suffering. In so doing, his object may be to insinuate that Job is sinful; or, as seems perhaps more probable, and certainly more gracio... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT PLOW INIQUITY. — Comp. Galatians 6:7; and comp. also the strange expression of Isaiah 5:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OLD LION PERISHETH... — This means that even though wickedness is joined with strength, it is equally unable to prosper. It is to be observed that no less than five different words are here used for _lion,_ showing that these animals must have been common and of various kinds in Job’s country.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW A THING. — He now proceeds to enforce and illustrate what he has said in highly poetical language, which has been versified in one of Byron’s Hebrew Melodies. SECRETLY BROUGHT TO ME. — Literally, _was stolen for me._ Joseph uses the same expression of himself in Genesis 40:15. MINE EAR RECEIVE... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOUGHTS FROM THE VISIONS OF THE NIGHT. — The Book of Genesis exhibits the same idea of revelation through visions of the night, _e.g.,_ Job 15:1; Job 20:3; Job 30:11; Job 40:5; Job 41:1; afterwards it is not common, except in the Book of Daniel. The word rendered “thoughts” only occurs once agai... [ Continue Reading ]
A SPIRIT PASSED BEFORE MY FACE. — It is vain to argue from this passage that spiritual essences are capable of being seen by the bodily eye, because, first of all, the language is highly figurative and poetical, and because, secondly, every one understands that a spiritual manifestation can be made... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL MORTAL MAN BE MORE JUST THAN GOD? — This is the burden, or refrain, upon which the friends of Job are for ever harping. It is perfectly orthodox, but at the same time perfectly inadequate to deal with the necessities of Job’s case. He is willing to admit that it is impossible for any man to be... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE PUT NO TRUST IN HIS SERVANTS. — The statement is a general one; it does not refer to any one act in the past. We should read _putteth_ and _chargeth._ Eliphaz repeats himself in Job 15:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOUSES OF CLAY. — This may perhaps contain an allusion to Genesis 11:3. ARE CRUSHED BEFORE THE MOTH? — That is to say, are so frail that even the moth destroys them.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM MORNING TO EVENING. — The process is continual and unceasing, and when we consider the ravages of time on history, we may well say, as in Job 4:20, that “none regardeth it.” The next verse, however, may seem to imply that they themselves are unmindful of their decay, it is so insidious and so... [ Continue Reading ]