XII. (1) AND JOB ANSWERED AND SAID. — Each of the friends has now supplied his quota, and Job proceeds to reply to the third, showing that he is far more conversant with the wisdom and majesty of God than they are themselves, though in their own esteem they alone are wise.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM AS ONE MOCKED OF HIS NEIGHBOUR. — The laughing-stock of his companion — he who called on God, and He answered him. This is either the character Job claims for himself, or it is the supposed taunt of his friends — the righteous and the perfect a laughing-stock, or, the righteous and the perfect... [ Continue Reading ]
IS AS A LAMP DESPISED IN THE THOUGHT OF HIM THAT IS AT EASE. — This rendering conveys no sense. The meaning is either that the lamp or torch prepared for feet tottering and uncertain in the darkness is disregarded and rejected by those who are at ease, and need no such aid; in which case one does no... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO WHOSE HAND GOD BRINGETH ABUNDANTLY. — Some understand these words, _to him that bringeth his god in his hand_ (comp. Habakkuk 1:11; Habakkuk 1:16); but the other seems more in accordance with the usage. (Comp., _e.g.,_ Proverbs 3:27, &c.)... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO KNOWETH NOT IN ALL THESE THAT THE HAND OF THE LORD HATH WROUGHT THIS? — This is the only place in the dialogue parts of Job in which the sacred name of Jehovah is found, and Job’s very use of the word in such a context is the clearest evidence of the superior knowledge that he claims. No one of... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH NOT THE EAR TRY WORDS? — Bildad had appealed to the wisdom of authority and tradition, but Job reminds him that it is given to the wise man not to accept everything he has received, but to discriminate. He allows that wisdom is the prerogative of age, but reminds him that the Ancient of Days mu... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE BREAKETH DOWN... — God has equal power over the moral and physical world.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LOOSETH THE BOND OF KINGS. — He looseth the confederacy of kings, by which they bind themselves together, and girdeth them to fight against each other. Some understand it of the girdle of servitude in contrast to the girdle of state.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LEADETH PRINCES. — Some understand _priests_ rather than _princes._ The word appears to be used in both senses; here the parallelism seems to suit _princes_ better. The latter part of this chapter seems to re-echo the sentiments of Eliphaz in Job 5:11; but, instead of giving them the optimist dir... [ Continue Reading ]
HE INCREASETH THE NATIONS, AND DESTROYETH THEM. — The latter part of this chapter teaches us a truth that is apt to be forgotten in the present day, which is, nevertheless, the key to much of the history of the world Why is it that nations are marked with such characteristic differences? as, for ins... [ Continue Reading ]