_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._ Elihu offers himself to Job as the person he had so often wished for, Job 33:1. He charges him with reflecting upon God, Job 33:8. He aggravates this by showing him God's sovereign power over man, and the various means he uses to do him good, Job 33:12; particularly dreams,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches_ Here Elihu addresses his speech to Job alone, (for he considered what the three friends had advanced as having been sufficiently confuted by Job in his discourse with them,) and tells him that, as he had oft desired to have a man to plead with him in G... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, now I have opened my mouth_ Now I have begun to speak, and intend, with thy good leave, to proceed in my discourse with thee. _My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart_ I will not speak passionately or partially, as one resolved to defend what I have once said, whether true or false... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Spirit of God hath made me_, &c. First of all, consider that I am thy fellow-creature, made by God's Spirit, (Genesis 1:2,) and quickened by a soul of the same nature with that which God at first breathed into the body of man, and I am ready to discourse with thee upon even terms according to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I am, &c., in God's stead_ I will plead with thee in God's name and stead, and on his behalf, which thou hast often wished that some one would do. _I also am formed out of the clay_ I am God's creature, like thyself. _Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid _ Look upon me: the contest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing_ I shall not charge thee with hypocrisy, as thy friends do, which God only can discern; but with those words which I myself have heard from thee; _I am clean without transgression_, &c. Job had not affirmed this simply and absolutely, for he had often confessed... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, in this_ Hebrew, הן זאת, _hen zoth, Behold this;_ that is, attend to this; mark what I say to thee; _thou art not just_ Or justified. This thy complaining language cannot be excused. Though I do not accuse thee, as thy friends have done, of other sins, yet in this thou art blameable, and I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why dost thou strive against him?_ Upon what grounds, and for what ends? What advantage dost thou expect from it? Why dost thou presume to dispute with him, and call him to an account for his actions? _for he giveth not account of any of his matters_ He revealeth not to us the secrets of his provid... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ Or, as כי, _chi_, should be rather rendered, _nevertheless God speaketh_ Namely, unto men, by way of instruction or admonition, as appears from the following verses. Although he doth not give men an account of his matters, yet he doth that for them which is much better, and more necessary and... [ Continue Reading ]
_In a dream, in a vision_, or, _in a vision of the night_ This he mentions as one usual way of God's revealing his mind and will to men in those days, before God's word was committed to writing; (Genesis 20:6; Genesis 41:1; Genesis 41:28;) _when deep sleep falleth upon men_ When men's outward senses... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then he openeth the ears of men_ When their minds are free from the business and cares of the day, he secretly whispers instruction upon their ears, and imprints it upon their minds, and that in such a manner that they do not let it slip, (as men usually do most things which they hear, either from... [ Continue Reading ]
_He keepeth back his soul from the pit_ By these gracious admonitions, whereby God leads men to humiliation of soul before him, and to repentance, he preserves their lives from death and the grave, and their souls from eternal destruction. _From perishing by the sword_ By some dreadful judgment whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_If there be a messenger with him_ If there be a prophet or teacher with the afflicted man; _an interpreter_ One whose office and work it is to declare to him the mind and will of God, and his design in this dispensation of his providence, and what is the sick man's duty under it. _One of a thousand... [ Continue Reading ]
_His flesh shall be fresher than a child's_ Presently the sick man shall begin to recover: these joyful tidings delivered to him by God's messenger shall revive his spirit, and, by degrees, restore his former health and vigour; so that he shall become a new man in his body, as well as in his mind: h... [ Continue Reading ]
_He looketh upon men_ God diligently observes all mankind, and the conduct of every one, especially of every one in sickness and distress. _If any say, I have sinned_ If any one sincerely, humbly, and penitently confess and forsake his sins: _I have perverted that which was right_ I have judged perv... [ Continue Reading ]
_All these things worketh God_ All these ways and methods does God take to awaken, convince, and save sinners; _oftentimes with man_ One way with one man, and another with another; or, using these several methods with the same man, trying by various means, one after another, to lead him to repentanc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mark well, O Job_ Consider what I have already said, for it very much concerns thee; _hearken unto me; hold thy peace_ Attend to what I have further to say to thee with patience and silence. _If thou hast any thing to say_ For thy own justification, or in answer to the charge I have already brought... [ Continue Reading ]