_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._ Elihu, proceeding, bespeaks the attention of the company, Job 34:1. Charges Job with other indecent expressions, Job 34:5. Shows God's justice, sovereignty, power, omniscience, Job 34:10. His severity against sinners, Job 34:26. His overruling providence, Job 34:29; Job 34:3... [ Continue Reading ]
_Furthermore Elihu answered and said_ Job making no reply to what Elihu had said, probably because he saw that he had touched the particular point in which he was especially defective, Elihu carries the charge a little higher, and tells him, with more sharpness than before, that there were some word... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear my words O ye wise men_ Who are here present: do you judge whether what I have said, and have still further to say, be not reasonable and true. _For the ear trieth words_ Man's mind judgeth of the truth and propriety of things spoken and heard; _as the mouth tasteth meat _ And distinguishes wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Job hath said, I am righteous_ I am so far righteous that I have not deserved, nor had any reason to expect, such hard usage from God. _God hath taken away my judgment_ So Job had said, Job 27:2; that is, he denies me that which is just and equal, namely, to give me a fair hearing. _Should I lie ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who drinketh up scorning like water_ That is, abundantly and greedily: who doth so break forth into scornful expressions, not only against his friends, but, in some sort, even against God himself. The Hebrew may be interpreted, _What man, being like Job, would drink up scorning?_ &c. That a wicked... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hearken to me, ye men of understanding_ Ye who are present, and understand these things, do you judge between Job and me. _Far be it from God that he should do wickedness_ This I must lay down as a principle, that the righteous and holy God neither does nor can deal unjustly with Job, or with any m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who hath given him a charge over the earth?_ Over the inhabitants of the earth, to rule them according to his laws, and to give an account to him thereof? Who or where is his superior, that made the world, and then delivered the government of it to God? There is no such person. God himself is the s... [ Continue Reading ]
_If he set his heart upon man_ Hebrew, אליו, _eelaiv, upon him_, meaning man, doubtless. If his eye and heart be upon man, and he diligently observe him and all his ways, and whatsoever is amiss in him, and therefore resolve to punish him: or, _if he set his heart against him_, (as the word may prop... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou hast understanding, hear this_ As thou art a man of understanding, hear and consider what I say. _Shall even he that hateth right_ That is unrighteous; _govern_ Hebrew, יחבושׁ, _jachabosh, bind_, as the word properly signifies, but is fitly rendered _govern_ by most interpreters, because go... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked?_ Hebrew, _Belial_, or a son of Belial. Though a king may be wicked, yet his subjects neither may nor dare call him so, Exodus 22:28. And therefore if any evil thought did arise in thee, thou oughtest to have been afraid to utter it, and bring forth such... [ Continue Reading ]
_In a moment shall they die_ Whensoever God doth but give the word, and send his summons for them. The rich and the prince, no less than the poor, must submit to the law of death, which God hath imposed upon all men without exception. _And the people shall be troubled _ Hebrew, יגעשׁו, _jegognashu,... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is no darkness_, &c. The workers of iniquity may flatter themselves, or deceive others, by covering their wicked actions with plausible pretences and professions, but they cannot deceive God, nor conceal their ways or hearts from his inspection. _He will not lay upon man more than right_ More... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall break in pieces mighty men_, &c. Neither their greatness nor their numbers can secure them from the stroke of God's justice; _and set others in their stead_ Give away their power and dignity to others, who shall come in their place. _Therefore he knoweth their works _ That is, it appears f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because they turned back from him_ From God, whom they or their progenitors had owned; and from his laws, which God had written on their minds, Romans 2:14; and from the practice of true religion, to sin and folly. _And would not consider any of his ways_ So as to walk in them. Hebrew, לא השׂכילו,... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he giveth quietness_ Either to the poor and oppressed persons last mentioned, or to any other persons or people, as it follows; _who then can make trouble?_ No man or creature can hinder God's design; _and when he hideth his face_ Withdraws his favour and help from them, and thereby exposes th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Surely it is meet to be said unto God_ It is certainly but fit and reasonable that man, a weak and sinful creature, should speak thus to his Maker and supreme Lord, who is so much superior to him, and so mighty and righteous in all his ways; _I have borne chastisement_ Or, _I do_, or _shall bear it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should it be according to thy mind?_ Having advised and directed Job how to conduct himself, and what to say to God in his afflicted state, he now proceeds to enforce his advice with solid arguments; _should it_ Namely, God's chastening of thee, about which the great controversy was; _be according... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let men of understanding tell me_ I am content that any wise man should judge of my words. Let any such tell us what is their opinion. _Job hath spoken without knowledge_ Job seems to me to be very much mistaken, and his discourse to be inconsiderate, and without reason. _My desire is, that Job may... [ Continue Reading ]
_He addeth rebellion unto his sin_ He sinned before by impatience under his afflictions, but now he is grown obstinate, and, instead of humbling himself for his sins, he justifies himself, and accuses the blessed God. _He clappeth his hands among us_ In token of victory, insulting and triumphing; _a... [ Continue Reading ]