Job 28:1-28

The Mystery of Divine Wisdom

In this famous chapter Job declares that Wisdom—that is, the principle of the divine government of the world—is a mystery not to be solved by man. Man's wisdom lies in fearing God, and in departing from evil. But this conclusion is quite at variance with the position taken by Job in the Chapter s before and after it. 'It might no doubt be supposed that Job has reached a calmer mood; and abandoning the attempt to discover a speculative solution of the difficulties which distress him, finds man's wisdom to consist in the practical fulfilment of life (Job 28:28). But if Job has risen to this tranquil temper, how comes it that he falls back into complainings (Job 30:20) and dissatisfaction at not having been justified by God (Job 31:35)? And, further, if he has reached by the unaided force of his own meditations this devout and submissive frame of mind, how is the ironical tone of the Divine speeches (Job 38 f.) to be accounted for? If he is already resigned to the inscrutability of the divine ways, how does it need to be again pointed out to him?' (Driver). These considerations have induced many scholars to regard the chapter as a later insertion. Some have regarded it as a part of Zophar's third speech, but its quiet beauty and detachment in temper forbid this view. The chapter constitutes an independent poem, which a reader may have inserted here to indicate that the discussion which has just closed deals with subjects too lofty for human understanding.

1-11. Man can discover precious metals by mining processes, but where can Wisdom be found?