_CALL NOW, IF THERE BE ANY THAT WILL ANSWER THEE; AND TO WHICH OF THE SAINTS WILT THOU TURN?_ If there be any ... - rather, 'Call now! will He [God] reply to thee?' Job, after the revelation just given, cannot be so presumptuous as to think God, or any of the holy ones (Daniel 4:17, angels) round H... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR WRATH KILLETH THE FOOLISH MAN, AND ENVY SLAYETH THE SILLY ONE._ For - so far are you from profiting by your complaints. you only destroy yourself by justifying yourself and impatiently complaining against God. FOOLISH MAN ... SILLY ONE - imply at once the sin and folly of him who dreams he h... [ Continue Reading ]
_I HAVE SEEN THE FOOLISH TAKING ROOT: BUT SUDDENLY I CURSED HIS HABITATION._ The foolish - the wicked. I have seen the sinner spread his roots (Isaiah 27:6) wide in prosperity, yet circumstances suddenly occurred which gave occasion for his once prosperous dwelling being cursed as desolate. "I have... [ Continue Reading ]
_HIS CHILDREN ARE FAR FROM SAFETY, AND THEY ARE CRUSHED IN THE GATE, NEITHER IS THERE ANY TO DELIVER THEM._ His children ... crushed in the gate - a judicial formula. The gate was the place of judgment and of other public proceedings (Job 31:21; Psalms 127:5; Proverbs 22:22; Genesis 23:10; Deuteron... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHOSE HARVEST THE HUNGRY EATETH UP, AND TAKETH IT EVEN OUT OF THE THORNS, AND THE ROBBER SWALLOWETH UP THEIR SUBSTANCE._ Even out of the thorns - even when part of the grain remains hanging on the thorn bushes (or, is growing among thorns, Matthew 13:7), the hungry gleaner does not grudge the trou... [ Continue Reading ]
_ALTHOUGH AFFLICTION COMETH NOT FORTH OF THE DUST, NEITHER DOTH TROUBLE SPRING OUT OF THE GROUND;_ Although - rather, For truly (Umbreit). AFFLICTION COMETH NOT FORTH OF THE DUST - like a weed, of its own accord. Eliphaz hints that the cause of it lay with Job himself. The cause of afflictions is... [ Continue Reading ]
_YET MAN IS BORN UNTO TROUBLE, AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARD._ Yet - rather, Truly, or, But. Affliction does not come from chance, but is the appointment of God for sin - i:e., the original birth-sin of man. Eliphaz passes from the particular sin, and consequent suffering of Job, to the universal sin, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_I WOULD SEEK UNTO GOD, AND UNTO GOD WOULD I COMMIT MY CAUSE:_ I would seek unto God. Therefore (as affliction is ordered by God on account of sin) if I were in your place. (Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 9:13; Amos 5:8; 1 Chronicles 22:19).... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHICH DOETH GREAT THINGS AND UNSEARCHABLE; MARVELLOUS THINGS WITHOUT NUMBER:_ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHO GIVETH RAIN UPON THE EARTH, AND SENDETH WATERS UPON THE FIELDS:_ God's great power displayed in nature, and in His dealings with men, is a ground for hope to Job (Job 5:16), if he will humbly seek Him (Job 5:8; cf. Job 9:10; Job 36:26, connected with Job 5:9). His unsearchable dealings are wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE DISAPPOINTETH THE DEVICES OF THE CRAFTY, SO THAT THEIR HANDS CANNOT PERFORM THEIR ENTERPRISE._ ENTERPRISE - literally, realization. The Hebrew х_ TUWSHIYAAH_ (H8454)] combines in the one word the two ideas, wisdom and happiness, enduring existence х_ YEESH_ (H3426)] being the etymological and ph... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE TAKETH THE WISE IN THEIR OWN CRAFTINESS: AND THE COUNSEL OF THE FROWARD IS CARRIED HEADLONG._ He taketh - Paul (1 Corinthians 3:19) quoted this clause with the formula establishing its inspiration, It is written. He cites the exact Hebrew words, not as he usually does the Septuagint, Greek vers... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEY MEET WITH DARKNESS IN THE DAYTIME, AND GROPE IN THE NOONDAY AS IN THE NIGHT._ They meet. Judicial blindness often is sent upon keen men of the world (Deuteronomy 28:29). "Thou shalt grope at noon-day, as the blind gropeth in darkness" (Isaiah 59:10). "For judgement I am come into this world,... [ Continue Reading ]
_BUT HE SAVETH THE POOR FROM THE SWORD, FROM THEIR MOUTH, AND FROM THE HAND OF THE MIGHTY._ From the sword which proceedeth from their mouth - (Psalms 59:7). "Swords are in their lips" (Psalms 57:4) - i:e., from the mouth of the mighty oppressors.... [ Continue Reading ]
_SO THE POOR HATH HOPE, AND INIQUITY STOPPETH HER MOUTH._ The poor hath hope - of the interposition of God. INIQUITY STOPPETH HER MOUTH - (Psalms 107:42, which seems a quotation and inspired confirmation of the book of Job; Micah 7:9; Isaiah 52:15). Especially at the last day, through shame (Jude... [ Continue Reading ]
_BEHOLD, HAPPY IS THE MAN WHOM GOD CORRECTETH: THEREFORE DESPISE NOT THOU THE CHASTENING OF THE ALMIGHTY:_ Happy. Not that the actual suffering is joyous; but the consideration of the righteousness of Him who sends it, and the end for which it is sent, make it a cause for thankfulness, not for comp... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR HE MAKETH SORE, AND BINDETH UP: HE WOUNDETH, AND HIS HANDS MAKE WHOLE._ For - assigning a motive to induce Job to accept chastisement patiently-namely, God, who chastises us, can and will remove the stroke upon our penitent submission to Him. HE MAKETH SORE, AND BINDETH UP - (Deuteronomy 32:... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE SHALL DELIVER THEE IN SIX TROUBLES: YEA, IN SEVEN THERE SHALL NO EVIL TOUCH THEE._ In six ... yea, in seven - (Proverbs 6:16; Amos 1:3). The Hebrew idiom fixes on a certain number (here six), in order to call attention as to a thing of importance; then increases the force by adding, with a yea,... [ Continue Reading ]
_IN FAMINE HE SHALL REDEEM THEE FROM DEATH: AND IN WAR FROM THE POWER OF THE SWORD._ Power - (Jeremiah 18:21 - "Famine ... force," literally, hands, "of the sword:" the two chief sources of public calamity.) [Hebrew, hands.] OF THE SWORD - (Ezekiel 35:5, margin). Hands are given to the sword perso... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU SHALT BE HID FROM THE SCOURGE OF THE TONGUE: NEITHER SHALT THOU BE AFRAID OF DESTRUCTION WHEN IT COMETH._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AT DESTRUCTION AND FAMINE THOU SHALT LAUGH: NEITHER SHALT THOU BE AFRAID OF THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH._ Famine thou shalt laugh - not in spite of destruction and famine, which is true (Habakkuk 3:17), though not the truth meant by Eliphaz, but because those calamities shall not come upon thee. A dif... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR THOU SHALT BE IN LEAGUE WITH THE STONES OF THE FIELD: AND THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD SHALL BE AT PEACE WITH THEE._ In league with the stones of the field - they shall not hurt the fertility of thy soil (2 Kings 3:19; 2 Kings 3:25; Isaiah 5:2), nor the wild beasts thy fruits. Spoken in Arabia Dese... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT THY TABERNACLE SHALL BE IN PEACE; AND THOU SHALT VISIT THY HABITATION, AND SHALT NOT SIN._ Know - as a matter of blessed experience. 'Thou shalt rest in the assurance that thine habitation is (not as the English version, shall be) the abode of peace; and (if) thou numberes... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU SHALT KNOW ALSO THAT THY SEED SHALL BE GREAT, AND THINE OFFSPRING AS THE GRASS OF THE EARTH._ As the grass. "They of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth" (Psalms 72:16). Properly, herb-bearing seed (Genesis 1:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
_THOU SHALT COME TO THY GRAVE IN A FULL AGE, LIKE AS A SHOCK OF CORN COMETH IN IN HIS SEASON._ In a full age - so full of days (42:17; Genesis 35:29). Not mere length of years, but ripeness for death: one's inward and outward full development not being prematurely cut short, is denoted. "As the day... [ Continue Reading ]
_LO THIS, WE HAVE SEARCHED IT, SO IT IS; HEAR IT, AND KNOW THOU IT FOR THY GOOD._ Searched it ... for thy good - literally, for thyself. "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein" (Psalms 111:2); "If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself" (Proverbs 9... [ Continue Reading ]