his armies The words still amplify the idea of the "dominion" and omnipotence of God. The armies that obey Him are innumerable. The reference is probably to the phenomena of the heavens by night; comp. Isaiah 40:26, "He bringeth out their host by number, he calleth them all by their names; by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power, not one faileth." There was a tendency in Oriental thought to identify the angels with the stars, or at least to regard the stars as animated.

his light arise The reference is probably to the heavens or world by day; and the words express the pervading universality of God's influence and rule. The sun as a body is not directly alluded to, for the word "arise" is not that which ordinarily expresses rising or coming above the horizon; the meaning is rather "on whom doth not his light shine?" By "his light" is not meant the nature of God as essential light; the meaning rather is that by His light which He sends forth God reaches all (Psalms 19:6) and brings all under His sway, though there may be in "hislight" a reference to the light of day as symbolizing what He is. It is out of the question to limit the words "upon whom" to the "armies" of the first clause, making the query of Bildad to mean, Which of the bright heavenly hosts does not His light outshine? or, Which of them does not shine with a light which falls on it from Him and reflect not its own but His light? The reference in the words "on whom" is not limited to the heavenly host, but is universal.

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