XLII. (3) WHO IS HE THAT HIDETH COUNSEL? — It is quite obvious that the right way of understanding these verses is, as in Isaiah 63:1, after the manner of a dialogue, in which Job and the Lord alternately reply. “Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge?” were the words with which God Hims... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR, I BESEECH THEE. — This cannot in like manner be appropriately assigned to Job, but, as in Job 38:3; Job 40:7, must be referred to God; then the confession of Job 42:5 comes in very grandly. How much of our knowledge of God is merely hearsay? and it is not till the experimental teaching of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS SO. — The verdict that is spoken against the friends of Job is based rather on the tone and spirit of what they have said than on any of their actual words, for many of these are conspicuous for their wisdom, truth, and beauty. But throughout they had been on the wrong side, and seemed to... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU NOW SEVEN BULLOCKS AND SEVEN RAMS. — It is remarkable that the sacrifices prescribed for Job’s friends were similar to those which Balaam prescribed for Balak (Numbers 23:2). This is probably one indication out of many that the age of Job was that of Moses, or before it. “My... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS. — Job’s personal discipline was not complete till he passed from the sphere of his own sorrows to the work of intercession for his friends, and it was through the very act of this self-oblivion and self-sacrifice that his own deliverance was brought about. When he pra... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY MAN ALSO GAVE HIM A PIECE OF MONEY. — The Hebrew word _is kesîtâh,_ which is found also in the narrative of Jacob’s purchase of the field of the children of Hamor (Genesis 33:19). Some have supposed, from a comparison of this passage with Genesis 23:16, which relates the corresponding transact... [ Continue Reading ]
FOURTEEN THOUSAND SHEEP. — The number of Job’s cattle here is exactly the double of those in Job 1:3. That Job’s latter end should be blessed had been the promise of all his friends (Job 5:24, &c., Job 8:7, &c., Job 11:16, &c., 22:27, &c.), but then it was hampered with a condition which involved th... [ Continue Reading ]
JEMIMA. — This name perhaps means _as fair as the day._ KEZIA — _i.e.,_ cassia, an aromatic bark, much prized by the ancients. (See Psalms 45:9.) KERENHAPPUCH — _i.e.,_ the horn for containing kohl for the eyes. The Eastern women are in the habit of painting the upper part of the eyelids with stib... [ Continue Reading ]
AN HUNDRED AND FORTY YEARS. — The particularity of this detail forbids us to suppose that the character of Job was other than real; his great age also shows that he must be referred to the very early patriarchal times, probably anterior to Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO JOB DIED, BEING OLD AND FULL OF DAYS. — Such is the close of this mysterious book, which deals with the greatest problems that can engage the human mind, and shows us the way in which the ancients solved them, and the help which God vouchsafed them, apart from His covenant revelation and before t... [ Continue Reading ]