Job 5:1-7
Job 5:1-7. Having laid this broad ground, Eliphaz proceeds to apply the principle to Job.... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 5:1-7. Having laid this broad ground, Eliphaz proceeds to apply the principle to Job.... [ Continue Reading ]
Turning to Job's murmurs against heaven, Eliphaz points to the unapproachable purity of God and the imperfection of all creatures, and warns Job against such complaints Having expressed his wonder that a righteous man like Job should fall into such utter despair under afflictions, forgetting that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Call now, if there be any_ Rather, CALL THEN, IS THERE ANY …? The imperative _call then_is not ironical, but merely a very animated way of putting a supposition: if thou appeal then against God is there any that will hear thee or aid thee? _which of the saints_ Better, THE HOLY ONES, that is, the a... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 5:1 asked, Will any one answer thy complaint? will complaining bring any deliverance? This verse gives the other side nay, rather, such murmuring betrays a mind "most incorrect to heaven," and such a fool will by his impatience but bring upon himself increased calamity till he altogether perish.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the foolish_ Rather perhaps, A FOOLISH MAN, the same word as in Job 5:2. Eliphaz cites an instance from his own experience confirming the truth stated in Job 5:2. He saw a man of this character taking root, and for the moment appearing to give promise of prosperity. _but suddenly I cursed_ The mea... [ Continue Reading ]
_they are crushed in the gate_ The gate of the town is the seat of the Oriental court of law, where justice is administered, ch. Job 29:7; Job 31:21; Psalms 127:5. The words _are crushed_might be reciprocal, "crush one another;" more likely the word means exactly, "must let themselves be crushed," a... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses describe the desolation that befell the home and family of the man who hardened himself against God. The speaker falls here into the present tenses because, though he is describing an instance which he saw, the instance illustrates a general truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_even out of the thorns_ i. e. from within the enclosed field, protected by the thorn-hedge. The roving, hungry Bedawin carry their thievish depredations up to the very homestead and in-fields of the ruined estate of the wicked man. _the robber_ This word occurs again ch. Job 18:9, in the certain me... [ Continue Reading ]
_Although affliction_ Rather, FOR AFFLICTION. The foregoing examples, the general evil and imperfection of man, ch. Job 4:12 _seq_., and the particular rebelliousness of the fool, ch. Job 5:2 _seq_., shew how affliction arises, and Eliphaz confirms the whole with his general maxim, _for_.… Eliphaz r... [ Continue Reading ]
Eliphaz now sums up into an aphorism the great general principle which he seeks to illustrate in this section of his speech, ch. Job 4:12 to Job 5:7. It is that affliction is not accidental, nor a spontaneous growth of the earth, but men acting after the impulses of their evil nature bring it on the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet man is born unto trouble_ Rather, BUT MAN. The true explanation of affliction is now given, as the false explanation was denied in Job 5:6. The words "man is born unto trouble" mean, it is his nature through his sin to bring trouble upon himself; evil rises up out of his heart as naturally as t... [ Continue Reading ]
_I would seek unto God_ Rather, BUT I would seek; i. e. in humility, and for help and light.... [ Continue Reading ]
Eliphaz, in Job's place, would seek unto God, all whose ways are marked by one purpose, to do good, and whose chastisements, therefore, but open the way to a richer blessing The passage attaches itself to the picture of man's evil nature just given, and suggests where man should find refuge from hi... [ Continue Reading ]
This description of God as great in power and wonderful in working supports the implied exhortation in Job 5:8. Eliphaz in Job's place would commit his cause, or exactly as we say colloquially, his _case_, unto God, for He, being great and wonderful in His ways, is capable of dealing with it, perple... [ Continue Reading ]
_upon the earth_ lit. _upon the face of the earth_; and so next clause, _upon the face of the fields_. He watereth the earth when it is thirsty, with a universal goodness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to set up_ If this construction be adopted, the watering of the earth, Job 5:10, must be regarded as the means to this which is effected in Job 5:11. He watereth the fields, giving abundant pasture and harvest, that the humble may be set on high. God's operations in the lower creation, though insta... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 5:10-11 describe how the stream of God's goodness acts when it moves directly, bearing up upon it the humble and those that mourn towards safety or salvation. These verses describe how the stream moves when it meets with obstacles, such as craft and evil. _he disappointeth_ The same word is ren... [ Continue Reading ]
_in their own craftiness_ Quoted by St Paul, 1 Corinthians 3:19. This is the only quotation from the Book of Job in the New Testament, though Romans 11:35 seems a reminiscence of Job 41:11; Philippians 1:19 contains language similar to ch. Job 13:16. _carried headlong_ lit. _hastened_, i. e. precip... [ Continue Reading ]
A picture of the perplexity and bewilderment of those crafty men whose counsels God has come athwart, Job 5:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_but He saveth_ Rather, SO HE SAVETH. The salvation of the poor is the consequence of defeating the devices of the crafty, as it is the object in view. _from the sword, from their mouth_ It is evident that this verse wants the usual balance of clauses, and probably there is some corruption in it. So... [ Continue Reading ]
The end contemplated and reached by the all-embracing sweep of God's benevolent purpose and providence.... [ Continue Reading ]
The idea of this verse occurs often in Scripture, cf. Psalms 94:12; Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
The imagination of Eliphaz himself kindles as he contemplates the universal goodness of God. And Job seems to him happy in being made the object even of God's afflictions, for He afflicts only with the purpose of more abundantly blessing.... [ Continue Reading ]
_maketh sore and bindeth up_ Maketh sore in order to bind up, smiteth in order more perfectly to heal. If this physician induce disease, it is in order to procure a sounder health.... [ Continue Reading ]
"Six" and "seven" are round numbers meaning "many" or "all," like "three" and "four" and other numbers, elsewhere, cf. Proverbs 6:16; see Amos 1:3 _seq_., Micah 5:5. Eliphaz assumes that God's afflictions will have their due effect on Job, he will turn unto the Lord, whose hands will "make him whole... [ Continue Reading ]
When man is at peace with God he is at peace with all God's creation, he has a league with all nature and every creature: "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God," Romans 8:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 5:19-23 describe the immunity which Job himself, restored to peace with God, would enjoy from every evil, the evils specified being those which God in His judgments brings upon men or a people, cf. Ezekiel 5:17; Ezekiel 14:21; this verse describes the safety and peace of his homestead, or rather... [ Continue Reading ]
Another much-desired joy he shall feel that God has given him, a numerous offspring.... [ Continue Reading ]
And finally he shall receive the crowning blessing of man on earth, to live long and die old and full of years; cf. Psalms 102:24; Isaiah 38:10; Numbers 23:10. The _Speaker's Comm_. quotes the following from Milton, So mayest thou live, till, like ripe fruits, thou drop Into thy mother's lap; or b... [ Continue Reading ]