XI. (1) ZOPHAR, the third of Job’s friends, has a clearly defined character, distinct from that of the others; he is the ordinary and common-place moral man, who expresses the thoughts and instincts of the many. Eliphaz was the poet and spiritual man, who sees visions and dreams; Bildad was the man... [ Continue Reading ]
CLEAN IN THINE EYES is variously referred to God, to mortal men (Job 11:3), and to Job himself (Job 32:1). The first seems most to be preferred, for at all events Job had hypothetically spoken of himself as righteous before God (Job 10:15). (Comp. Job 9:30. &c.) Zophar, therefore, who professes supe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE DOUBLE TO THAT WHICH IS! — This translation conveys no sense, and is not a translation; see the last Note.... [ Continue Reading ]
CANST THOU BY SEARCHING FIND OUT GOD? Literally, _Canst thou attain to the searching out of God? _... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS AS HIGH AS HEAVEN. — Literally, _The heights of heaven; what canst thou do? it is deeper than the grave; what canst thou know? _... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HE CUT OFF. — It is the same word as “a spirit passed before me” (Job 4:15); and as Job himself used (Job 9:11): “he passeth on, but I perceive him not.” “If, then,” says Zophar, “God acteth thus, or if He delivers up a man into the hands of his enemies, or if He calls together a multitude agains... [ Continue Reading ]
HE KNOWETH VAIN MEN. — Though he regardeth it not: that is, seemeth not to see it.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR VAIN MAN WOULD BE WISE, &c., is extremely difficult, because it is hard to distinguish subject and predicate. Literally, it runs, _And hollow man is instructed, and the wild ass’s colt is born a man._ Whether it means that if God did not thus conceal His observation of human actions, the very fo... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE AGE SHALL BE CLEARER THAN THE NOONDAY. — Rather, _there shall arise for thee a lifetime brighter than the_ _noonday; thou shalt soar on high; thou shalt be like the morning,_ which is conceived of as having wings (Psalms 139:9). (Comp. Malachi 4:2, of the Sun of Righteousness.) This is how we... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT DIG ABOUT THEE. — Rather, _thou shalt look around or search about thee, and see that thou canst lie down in safety._ (Comp. Joshua 2:2, and Job 39:29.) The same word means, indeed, to _dig_ and to _blush;_ but both meanings are incongruous and inadmissible here.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE GIVING UP OF THE GHOST. — Omit the _as_ of comparison; or do so, and take the margin. Thus ends the first part of this mighty argument, the first fytte of this grand poem.... [ Continue Reading ]