The speeches of Elihu Ch. 32. Introduction of Elihu, a new speaker; with his reasons for taking part in the controversy The Chapter contains three parts: First, Job 32:1. The reason why Job's three friends refrained from speaking further they failed to make any impression on Job: he was right in... [ Continue Reading ]
_waited till Job had spoken_ Rather, WAITED TO SPEAK UNTO JOB, lit. _waited for Job with words_. Elihu had waited (till the friends spoke) prepared to address Job, as he now does.... [ Continue Reading ]
Elihu, being a youth, shrank from interfering in a dispute in which aged men were engaged; but he perceived that wisdom did not always accompany grey hairs; it is a gift of God, and, conscious of possessing it, he desires now to be heard.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the inspiration of the Almighty_ lit. _the breath_of the Almighty, as ch. Job 33:4. Both "spirit" and "breath" refer to God's spirit of life breathed into man when he is brought into existence (Genesis 2:7), there is no allusion to any extraordinary illumination given to Elihu at the moment when he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Great men_ Or, OLD men great in age, as the parallel in the second clause explains; cf. Genesis 25:23 (lit. the greater shall serve the less).... [ Continue Reading ]
_I gave ear to your reasons_ Or, I LISTENED FOR YOUR REASONS, UNTIL YE SHOULD SEARCH OUT WHAT TO SAY. The meaning seems to be that Elihu looked for further and different arguments from the three friends.... [ Continue Reading ]
Elihu, directly addressing the three friends, states more clearly his reasons for taking upon him to speak: he had hoped to hear them confute Job, and was disappointed in their arguments; Job may be shewn to be in the wrong, though with different arguments from those they had employed. In Elihu's op... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses mean, 13. Say not, We have found wisdom, God may thrust him down, not man; 14. For he hath not directed his words against me, &c. Elihu refuses to let the three friends excuse themselves for their failure to answer Job by the plea that they had found an unexpected wisdom in him, aga... [ Continue Reading ]
_they left off speaking_ lit. _words have removed_, or, _are gone from them_(Genesis 12:8) they are reduced to silence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Turning from the three friends Elihu seems to speak in soliloquy and present to his own mind the singular situation: the three friends are discomfited before Job and reduced to silence; this should not be; therefore he will express his convictions. His breast is filled with thoughts and emotions tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 32:16 is most naturally to be taken as a question, 16. And shall I wait because they speak not, Because they stand still and answer no more? 17. I will answer also my part, &c. The discomfiture and silence of the three friends shall not have the effect of imposing silence on him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Elihu feels a crowd of thoughts and arguments fermenting in his bosom and pressing for utterance with a force not to be resisted. The word "belly" corresponds to the English "breast" or bosom. What stirs the spirit of Elihu is not only his eagerness to express his convictions on the question, but al... [ Continue Reading ]
_be refreshed_ Rather, FIND RELIEF; lit. _get air_or _vent_. The figure is still that of fermenting wine, Job 32:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_neither let me give_ Rather, NEITHER WILL I GIVE FLATTERY. The words express the speaker's resolution to be sincere and fearless, to have regard to the question itself solely, and not to allow himself to be influenced by respect to the persons interested in it. Elihu does not refer here to impartia... [ Continue Reading ]
Elihu is conscious of sincerity; it is not in his nature to flatter. His fear of God also and sense of His rectitude would deter him from such a thing; comp. Job's language, ch. Job 13:7 _seq_. These last words and many other things which Elihu says enable us to judge rightly of the part which the... [ Continue Reading ]