Elihu also proceeded, and said, Ver. 1. _Elihu also proceeded and said_] Heb. And Elihu added, viz. this his fourth oration, not unlike the former, made in behalf and for defence of God's justice, which he here further asserteth against Job (who had seemed to cast some slur upon it) by arguments dr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that [I have] yet to speak on God's behalf._ Ver. 2. _Suffer me a little, and I will show thee_] He promiseth brevity and thereby wooeth attention: brevity and perspicuity are two great graces of speech, and do very much win upon intelligent hearers, who lo... [ Continue Reading ]
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. Ver. 3. _I will fetch my knowledge from afar_] Even from heaven, as one taught of God; I will discourse of ancient things (for τα καινα κενα), and fetch my reasons from the wonderful and sublime works of God, _De ardui... [ Continue Reading ]
For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee. Ver. 4. _For truly my words shall not be false_] I shall deal truly and plainly with thee; my discourse shall be simple and solid, having no better ornament but that of truth; which is like our first parents,... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not [any: he is] mighty in strength [and] wisdom. Ver. 5. _Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any_] Much less oppresseth he any one in a good cause, or tyrannically abuseth his power to the crushing of an innocent. He is equally good as great; neither wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor._ Ver. 6. _He preserveth not the life of the wicked_] He is no such friend to them; though he be good to the godly, be greatly careth not what becomes of them. Their life they hold of him, and many good things besides; for he i... [ Continue Reading ]
He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings [are they] on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. Ver. 7. _He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous_] He is so lost in love, as I may say, toward such that he cannot like to look beside them; he... [ Continue Reading ]
And if [they be] bound in fetters, [and] be holden in cords of affliction; Ver. 8. _And if they be bound in fetters_] If it so happens, that through abuse of their prosperity and preferment, they wander, as they are men, out of the right way, and God sends out afflictions as his pursuivants to atta... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. Ver. 9. _Then he showeth them their work_] By these sharp waters he cleareth up their eyesight, and gives them to see their sin, the mother of their misery. _Vexatio dat intellectum,_ Smart makes wit. Manasseh, for i... [ Continue Reading ]
He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. Ver. 10. _He openeth also their ear to discipline_] See on Job 33:16 . _ And commandeth that they return from iniquity_] Unless they will have it to be their ruin; whereof obstinate sinners, who refuse to retur... [ Continue Reading ]
If they obey and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. Ver. 11. _If they obey and serve him, they shall, &c._] Heb. they shall finish, they shall spend and end their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure, as Joseph, Job, and some others have... [ Continue Reading ]
_But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge._ Ver. 12. _But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword_] _In gladium transibunt,_ they shall pass away by the sword; that is, some evil end shall befall them, and worthily, because they would not b... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them._ Ver. 13. _But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath_] Or, Yet; or, Howbeit: _q.d._ These foul sinners, that have turned repentance into a form, and converted conversion itself into sin, though they see bad men made good... [ Continue Reading ]
They die in youth, and their life [is] among the unclean. Ver. 14. _They die in youth_] They die before their time, as Solomon expresseth it; then, when it were better for them to do anything than to die, for they are killed with death, as Jezebel's children were, Revelation 2:20,23. Their soul die... [ Continue Reading ]
He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. Ver. 15. _He delivereth the poor in his affliction_] Oft in this life, as he did David signally, Psalms 34:6, "This poor man" (meaning himself) "cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." So... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait [into] a broad place, where [there is] no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table [should be] full of fatness. Ver. 16. _Even so would he have removed thee, &c._] _Thesin revocat ad hypothesin._ Here Elihu applieth to Job that which... [ Continue Reading ]
But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee]. Ver. 17. _But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked_] But thou contrariwise blusterest against God, and blurtest out such words, that thou seemest to be as bad as the worst, and to have little or... [ Continue Reading ]
Because [there is] wrath, [beware] lest he take thee away with [his] stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Ver. 18. _Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke_] Beza readeth it thus, Surely it is wrath, take heed lest with strokes it take thee away; _i.e._ Cer... [ Continue Reading ]
Will he esteem thy riches? [no], not gold, nor all the forces of strength. Ver. 19. _Will he esteem thy riches?_] Tremellius rendereth it, thy nobility. Others read it thus, Will he regard thy crying in thine adversity? Or, That thou shouldest not abide in adversity? See Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 11:... [ Continue Reading ]
_Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place._ Ver. 20. _Desire not the night, &c._] That is, as some sense it, do not thou peevishly desire death, _see _ Job 7:15 lest it come too soon, and it do by thee as it doth by many a one, whom it cuts off in judgment. For surely in the sta... [ Continue Reading ]
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. Ver. 21. _Take heed, regard not iniquity_] This especially of blaming God's judgments, as if they were unequal. No more of that, saith Elihu. _Cave tibi, ne coniecias oculos ad vanitatem,_ Beware thou cast not an eye... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? Ver. 22. _Behold, God exalteth by his power_] Vulgate - God is high in his strength. He both exalteth himself and others whensoever he pleaseth. Beza reads it, Behold, God in his strength is above all; _q.d._ It is he that must restore thee,... [ Continue Reading ]
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? Ver. 23. _Who hath enjoined him his way?_] _q.d._ Wilt thou take upon thee to teach this great Teacher how to govern the world? This were a strange kind of arrogance. _ Or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?_] God's jud... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Ver. 24. _Remember that thou magnify his work_] His work of creation; wherein the wisdom, power, and goodness of God is clearly manifested, Romans 1:19, in that glorious structure of the heavens especially, which men behold. Or his work of admi... [ Continue Reading ]
Every man may see it; man may behold [it] afar off. Ver. 25. _Every man may see it_] _sc._ _In quo est vel mica bonae mentis; _ for a brutish man knoweth it not, Psalms 92:6,7. But _stupidus est, et dignus cui oculi eruantur,_ saith Plato, He is a very blockhead, and worthy to have his eyes pulled... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, God [is] great, and we know [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. Ver. 26. _Behold, God is great_] Yea, he is _maximus in minimis,_ greatest and most of all seen in the meanest creatures; as in ants more than in elephants, &c. God showeth in his works of all sorts,... [ Continue Reading ]
For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Ver. 27. _For he maketh small the drops of water_] Here Elihu beginneth to instance the greatness of God in his works, and particularly in the meteors; many of which Aristotle confesseth he understood not.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which the clouds do drop [and] distil upon man abundantly. Ver. 28. _Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly_] Hence the Dutch call it _raegen,_ and we rained, _a rigando,_ from watering the earth all over, at times. This is God's work, and it ought to be marvellous in our eyes; it... [ Continue Reading ]
Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the noise of his tabernacle? Ver. 29. _Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds_] That is, the skill that God showeth in spreading forth the clouds to that large extent, and muffling the whole heavens with them, so that nature... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. Ver. 30. _Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it_] That is, his fair weather, clearing up the cloudy sky, as some expound it; or, as others, his lightning shot forth every way, Psalms 18:13; Psalms 18:15; Psalms 144:6. Or t... [ Continue Reading ]
For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. Ver. 31. _For by them judgeth he the people_] _i.e._ By rain and drought in excess or defect, he punisheth people at his pleasure; whom oh how easily could he affamish by denying them a harvest or two! in granting whereof he giveth tes... [ Continue Reading ]
With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it [not to shine] by [the cloud] that cometh betwixt. Ver. 32. _With clouds he covereth the light_] Heb. With the palms of his hands (so the clouds are called, see 1Ki 18:44) he hideth light; that is, the sunbeams, viz. when he sendeth rain, the hea... [ Continue Reading ]
The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. Ver. 33. _The noise thereof sheweth concerning it_] The hurrying noise made in the air before a shower of rain foreshoweth it to be at hand. _ The cattle also concerning the vapour_] Heb. concerning that which goeth up... [ Continue Reading ]