INTRODUCTION TO JOB 8
In this chapter Bildad enters the discussion with Job; proceeding upon
the same lines as Eliphaz, he reproves him for his long and loud talk,
Job 8:1; asserts the justice of God in his providence, of which the
taking away of Job's children by death for their transgression was... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ANSWERED BILDAD THE SHUHITE, AND SAID. This was the second of
Job's friends that came to visit him, Job 2:11; and is mentioned next
to Eliphaz there, and takes his turn in this controversy in the same
side; which no doubt was agreed upon among themselves, as well as the
part each should bear, a... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG WILT THOU SPEAK THESE [THINGS]?.... Either what he had
delivered in the "third" chapter in cursing the day of his birth, and
wishing for death, in which sentiments he still continued, and
resolutely defended; or those expressed in the "two" preceding Chapter
s, in answer to Eliphaz; this he... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH GOD PERVERT JUDGMENT?.... In his dealings with men in the way of
his providence; no, he does not; here Bildad opposes himself to Job,
who he thought had charged God with injustice in dealing with him, and
his children, in the manner he had done: the same thing is intended in
the following quest... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THY CHILDREN HAVE SINNED AGAINST HIM,.... As no doubt they had,
and, as Bildad thought, in a very notorious manner, and therefore were
righteously punished for them; this instance is produced as a proof of
God's not perverting, but doing justice, and the rather, because it
was on account of this... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU WOULDEST SEEK UNTO GOD BETIMES,.... Here Bildad seems to think
more mildly, and speak more kindly to Job, that though he had sinned,
yet not in so gross a manner as his children, since he was spared, and
they were not; and therefore if he would apply himself to God, and
supplicate his grace... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU [WERT] PURE AND UPRIGHT,.... By which he tacitly intimates
that he was neither; though the character given of him is, that he was
perfect and upright, feared God and eschewed evil, and which is
confirmed by God himself, and even after he had been tried by sore
afflictions. Bildad's meaning i... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH THY BEGINNING WAS SMALL,.... When, he first set out in the
world; and which though it greatly increased, and he was the greatest
man in all the east, yet Bildad suggests, should he behave well, that
was comparatively small to what it would be with him hereafter; and
which was fact, for he had... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR INQUIRE, I PRAY THEE, OF THE FORMER AGE,.... With respect to the
truth of what he had said, or should say; he does not desire Job to
take his word for it, but inquire how it was in former times; by which
it would appear, that when good men have been in affliction and
trouble, and have behaved we... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE [ARE BUT OF] YESTERDAY \S\,.... Which is not to be understood
strictly of the day last past, but of a short space of time backward;
and especially when compared with the antediluvian fathers, who lived
the far greater part of them upwards of nine hundred years; otherwise
Bildad and his two fr... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL NOT THEY TEACH THEE, [AND] TELL THEE,.... That is, the men of
the former age, and their fathers before them, Job is directed to
inquire of, and to prepare for a search into their records and
traditions; from whom he might reasonably expect to be taught and told
things that would be very instru... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN THE RUSH GROW UP WITHOUT MIRE?.... No, at least not long, or so as
to lift up his head on high, as the word signifies a; the rush or
bulrush, which seems to be meant, delights in watery places, and has
its name in Hebrew from its absorbing or drinking up water; it grows
in moist and watery clay,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILST IT [IS] YET IN ITS GREENNESS,.... Before it is come to its full
height, or to a proper ripeness; when as yet it has not flowered, or
is about it; before the time usual for it to turn and change; it being
without moisture, water, or watery clay, will change;
[AND] NOT CUT DOWN; by the scythe,... [ Continue Reading ]
SO [ARE] THE PATHS OF ALL THAT FORGET GOD,.... Who forget that there
is a God; he is not in all, and scarce in any of their thoughts, and
they live without him in the world; who forget the works of God, of
creation and providence, in which there is a glorious display of his
being and perfections; wh... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE HOPE SHALL BE CUT OFF,.... The same thing as before, expressed
in different words, and repeated for the certainty of it; signifying
that it should be of no manner of use, should be wholly lost, and
issue in black despair: the word has the signification of loathing,
and is differently rendered,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL LEAN UPON HIS HOUSE,.... Either the spider or the hypocrite,
or the hypocrite as the spider; that is, that which is the ground of
his confidence, which is as the spider's house, on that he shall
depend, either on his riches and outward prosperity, which he promises
himself a long continuanc... [ Continue Reading ]
HE [IS] GREEN BEFORE THE SUN,.... Which some understand of the rush or
flag, of which a further account is given, as setting forth more fully
the case of wicked men and hypocrites; but to either of these do not
agree the situation of it in a garden, the shooting forth of its
branches, and the height... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS ROOTS ARE WRAPPED ABOUT THE HEAP,.... The heap of stones where the
tree stands; it strikes its roots among them, and implicates and
twists them about them, and secures itself and grows up
notwithstanding them: and this expresses the seeming stable state and
condition of hypocrites for a season,... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HE DESTROY HIM FROM HIS PLACE,.... If the sun when he is risen
strikes the tree with such vehement heat that it withers and utterly
perishes from the place where it grew; or roots it up, so the Targum
and Nachmanides; or, if God destroys the hypocrite from his place, or
he is by one means or anot... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THIS [IS] THE JOY OF HIS WAY,.... Of the state and condition
of the hypocrite, who, while he is in outward prosperity, exults and
rejoices, but his joy is but short, it is but for a moment,
Job 20:5; and this is what it comes to at last, and issues in, even
entire destruction from his place... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, GOD WILL NOT CAST AWAY A PERFECT [MAN],.... A sincere,
upright, good man; one that is truly gracious; who, though he is not
"perfect" in himself, yet in Christ; and though not with respect to
sanctification, which is as yet imperfect in him, yet with respect to
justification, being perfectly... [ Continue Reading ]
TILL HE FILL THY MOUTH WITH LAUGHING, AND THY LIPS WITH REJOICING.
Directing himself to Job; and suggesting, that if he was a perfect,
sincere, and upright man. God would not cast him away utterly, but
help him out of his present circumstances, and restore him to
prosperity; and not leave him until... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT HATE THEE SHALL BE CLOTHED WITH SHAME,.... The Chaldeans and
Sabeans, who had plundered him of his substance, when they should see
him restored to his former prosperity, beyond all hope and
expectation, and themselves liable to his resentment, and under the
displeasure of Providence: the p... [ Continue Reading ]