Job 12:9

_WHO KNOWETH NOT IN ALL THESE THAT THE HAND OF THE LORD HATH WROUGHT THIS?_ Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In all these cases, says Job, the agency must be referred to Yahweh ("the Lord," English version), though they may seem to man to imply imperfection (Job 12:6; Job 9:24). This is the only undisputed passage of the poetical part in which the name "Yahweh" occurs: in the historical parts it occurs frequently....

6-11 Job appeals to facts. The most audacious robbers, oppressors, and impious wretches, often prosper. Yet this is not by fortune or chance; the Lord orders these things. Worldly prosperity is of small value in his sight: he has better things for his children. Job resolves all into the absolute proprietorship which God has in all the creatures. He demands from his friends liberty to judge of what they had said; he appeals to any fair judgment....

WHO KNOWETH NOT IN ALL THESE - Who cannot see in all these the proofs of the same divine and sovereign agency? Who cannot see the hand of the same God and the same great principles of administration? The meaning of Job is, that the position which he defends is so plain, that it may be learned from the very earth and the lowest orders of animals which God has made. THAT THE HAND OF THE LORD HATH WROUGHT THIS - In this place the original word is יהוה _y__e__hovâh_. On the meaning of the word see the notes at Isaiah 1:2. The Chaldee also renders it here יה _yâhh_. It is remarkable that this is the only place where the name yahweh occurs in poetical parts of the book of Job, in the printed editions. In...

EXPOSITION The discourse of Job, here begun, continues through three chapters (Job 12:1; Job 13:1; Job 14:1.). It is thought to form the conclusion of the first day's colloquy. In it Job for the first time really pours scorn upon his friends, and makes a mock of them (see verses 2, 8, 20; Job 13:4). This, however, is a secondary matter; his main object is to justify his previous assertions, (1) that the whole course of mundane events, whether good or evil, must be attributed to God (verses 6-25); (2) that his sufferings entitle him to plead with God, and demand to know why he is so punished ...

WHO KNOWETH NOT IN ALL THESE,.... Or "by" or "from all these" o creatures; what man is there so stupid and senseless, that does not discern, or cannot learn, even from irrational creatures, the above things, even what Zophar had discoursed concerning God and his perfections, his power, wisdom and providence? for, by the things that are made, the invisible things of God are clearly seen and understood, even his eternal power and Godhead, Romans 1:20; particularly it may be known by these, and who is it that does not know thereby, THAT THE HAND OF THE LORD HATH WROUGHT THIS? made this visible world, and all things in it, to which Job then pointed as it were with his finger, meaning the heavens, earth, and sea, and all that in them are, which were all created by him: hence he is called the Former and Maker of all things; and which are all the works of his hand, that is, of his

CHAPTER S 12-14 JOB'S ANSWER TO ZOPHAR _ 1. His sarcasm (Job 12:1)_ 2. He describes God's power (Job 12:7) 3. He denounces his friends (Job 13:1) 4. He appeals to God (Job 13:14) 5. The brevity and trouble of life (Job 14:1) 6. The ray of light through hope of immortality (Job 14:7) Job 12:1. He answers not only Zophar but the others as well. Before this Job had expressed his

Eliphaz had appealed to revelation, Bildad to the wisdom of the ancients, Zophar assumes that he himself is the oracle of God's wisdom. Job answers this assumption. Firstly Zophar is not the only wise man in the world, and secondly, as to this wisdom of God, which explains everything, Job has himself studied the ways of God, and whatever wisdom there may be in them there is certainly also the most arbitrary exercise of Divine power. The friends take themselves to be the whole people (Job 12:2); in your own estimation, Job says, you-' re everybody (Peake). Job, however, is not behind them in wisdom: they are not its sole oracle (Job 12:3). JOB 12:4. According to Duhm an interpolation. They treat of the contrast between the fate of the

THE HAND. Figure of speech _Anthropopatheia._ App-6. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4....

Such knowledge as the friends possessed of God's wisdom and power and their action in the world could be learned by any one who had eyes to observe the life and fate of the lower creatures. In all may be seen God's absolute might and sway prevailing (Job 12:10)....

WHO KNOWETH NOT, &C.?— _Who knoweth not among all these, that it is the hand of Jehovah which hath made them all?_ From the word _Jehovah's_ being used in this place, some would infer that the book of Job must be at least posterior to the time of Moses, and written by a Jew: a very weak argument! as there seems no doubt that the name _Jehovah_ was well known to Abraham and the patriarchs; nor was it made known to Moses by God, as a new name which he chose for himself, but as a name referring to the great covenant. See Exodus 3:14. Job means in these verses to express his firm opinion, that all animate and inanimate nature clearly bore testimony to the creating power and over-ruling providence of God. See Nehemiah 9:6....