Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. Ver. 1. _Wherefore Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches_] Plain Job, for flattering titles Elihu would give none, Job 32:22; only in prefacing to his discourses he is very large, witness the whole former chapter, which may we... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. Ver. 2. _Behold, now I have opened my mouth_] I have taken upon me to be a speaker, an arbitrator in this controversy, which is usually a thankless office; for he who interposeth in business of this nature, if he had two friends... [ Continue Reading ]
My words [shall be of] the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. Ver. 3. _My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart_] _i.e._ Out of the uprightness of my heart I will deal fairly and faithfully with thee; I will carve thee a piece of my heart, without doubling o... [ Continue Reading ]
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Ver. 4. _The Spirit of God hath made me_] That is, I am God's creature no less than thou art, made and maintained by the word of his power, by the breath of his mouth; why then may I not utter pure and holy doctrine?... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou canst answer me, set [thy words] in order before me, stand up. Ver. 5. _If thou canst answer me_] Or, If thou canst, do thou answer me. This bold challenge, and the like confident expressions, not unlike in appearance to that of Campian, with his ten unanswerable reasons (as he accounted th... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I [am] according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. Ver. 6. _Behold, I am according to thy wish_] Heb. According to thy mouth. If the saints do but open their mouths wide God will fill them; he will give them not only the desires of their hearts, but the request o... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. Ver. 7. _Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid_] This Job had earnestly desired of God, Job 9:24; Job 13:21, and Elihu, as a cunning disputant, presseth him with his own words: I will not, saith he, neith... [ Continue Reading ]
Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying], Ver. 8. _Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing_] Here beginneth the charge, and it is for words; _Quae leviter volant, non leviter violant. Nihil tam volucre quam maledictum, nihil facilius emittitur_ sait... [ Continue Reading ]
I am clean without transgression, I [am] innocent; neither [is there] iniquity in me. Ver. 9. _I am clean without transgression_] Clear as the picked glass, without defection. _ I am innocent_] Heb. Neat and compt, not a hair out of order; as it was objected to Pompey the Great, _Nitidus ego,_ הפ... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, Ver. 10. _Behold, he findeth occasions against me_] Or, breaches; he picks quarrels with me, and would fain find out somewhat in my carriage wherefore to break friendship with me, and to break me in pieces. But did Job ever say... [ Continue Reading ]
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. Ver. 11. _He putteth my feet in the stocks, &c._] See Job 13:27; Job 14:16, _See Trapp on "_ Job 13:27 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Job 14:16 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, [in] this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. Ver. 12. _Behold, in this thou art not just_] In this thy expostulation with God, as if he had dealt unjustly with thee (think the same of thy postulation, or unreasonable request, that God should give thee a rea... [ Continue Reading ]
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. Ver. 13. _Why dost thou strive against him?_] Why dost thou wrangle and reason it thus irreverently with God, whose will alone is the supreme reason, _nec recta solum, sed et ipsa regula; _ and not only right, but th... [ Continue Reading ]
For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not. Ver. 14. _For God speaketh once, yea twice_] He loveth to foresignify; and although not bound to it, yet he usually gives warning; as "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance," 2 Peter 3:9. For which p... [ Continue Reading ]
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Ver. 15. _In a dream, in a vision of the night_] At sundry times and in various manners. God delivered his mind to men of old by dreams in the night, by visions in the day time, imprinting upon thei... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, Ver. 16. _Then he openeth the ears of men_] He maketh the bore bigger, as it were, that good counsel may enter; he calleth up the ears of the soul to the ears of the body, that one sound may pierce both; he saith, as to him in the Gosp... [ Continue Reading ]
That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man. Ver. 17. _That he may withdraw man from his purpose_] Or, rather, practice. Heb. work, that is, evil work, called a man's own work, Hebrews 4:10; for when we do evil we work _de nostro, et secundum hominem,_ 1 Corinthians 3:3, as... [ Continue Reading ]
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. Ver. 18. _He keepeth back his soul from the pit_] Or, That he may keep back his soul, that is, his body, as Psa 16:10 Leviticus 21:1, from the pit; _i.e._ from the grave, or from the pit falls made for him by his enemi... [ Continue Reading ]
He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain]: Ver. 19. _He is chastened also with pain upon his bed_] He is chastened or chidden, _Coarguitur dolore; _ for all diseases are vocal; they are real reprehensions. As God is said to hold his peace when he... [ Continue Reading ]
So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. Ver. 20. _So that his life abhorreth bread_] Which is the staff of man's life, and by the Latins called _panis,_ of the Greek παν, as if it were all in all. This the sick man _velut sordidum abominatur,_ abhorreth as some filthy thing, so... [ Continue Reading ]
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones [that] were not seen stick out. Ver. 21. _His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen_] He that was _habilior paulo,_ corpulent and well lined within, as we say, is so pined with long sickness, that you can hardly know him for... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. Ver. 22. _Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave_] His soul, that is, his body, as Job 33:18, for Elihu was no mortalist, neither dreamed he of a psychopannychia. _All-night sleep of the soul; a state in which (according... [ Continue Reading ]
If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Ver. 23. _If there be a messenger with him_] An angel, say some; but one man may be an angel to another, as Bradford was to Dr Taylor, martyr, who usually called him, That angel of God, John Br... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. Ver. 24. _Then is he gracious unto him, and saith_] If the sick man, thus counselled and comforted, repent and believe the gospel, delivering himself up to God, and to that his messenger by the w... [ Continue Reading ]
His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: Ver. 25. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's] Tender and smooth, full of good blood and fresh spirits, he shall be battle and blithe like a suckling. See a like hyperbole concerning Naaman the Syrian restored... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. Ver. 26. _He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him_] All former unkindnesses notwithstanding. God will cast his sins into the bottom of th... [ Continue Reading ]
He looketh upon men, and [if any] say, I have sinned, and perverted [that which was] right, and it profited me not; Ver. 27. _He looketh upon men_] He looketh to see when any will repent and return unto him. Now Christ's looks are often operative, and cause that which he looks after. A stroke from... [ Continue Reading ]
He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Ver. 28. _He will deliver his soul from going, &c._] God will heal him, and lengthen out his life. Or, the sick man will, by his unfeigned repentance, procure his own reprieve and deliverance from deadly danger. Som... [ Continue Reading ]
Lo, all these [things] worketh God oftentimes with man, Ver. 29. _Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes_] Heb. twice, thrice; such is his patience, that he trieth all conclusions, as it were, and beareth long with men's evil manners; one while casting them down, and making them believe he wil... [ Continue Reading ]
To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. Ver. 30. _To bring back his soul from the pit_] _i.e._ That he may save him from temporal and eternal destruction, which is the most excellent fruit of affliction sanctified. We are judged by the Lord, that we may... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. Ver. 31. _Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me_] For I speak from God, and for God. It was a good speech of Austin to Manicheus, contesting with him for audience. Hear me, hear me, said Manicheus. Nay, saith Austin, _Nec ego to, nec... [ Continue Reading ]
If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. Ver. 32. _If thou hast anything to say, answer me_] Heb. If thou hast words, yet not empty words, but such as may bear weight, and make for thy defence. Some men's discourses are nothing else but words. Hermodorus of old... [ Continue Reading ]
If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. Ver. 33. _If not, hearken unto me_] Elihu is much in calling for attention; so are all the prophets, and Christ the arch prophet, as Matthew 13:9, where, although it might seem superfluous to stir up such to hear, as had come f... [ Continue Reading ]