CHAPTER XXXV _Elihu accuses Job of impious speeches_, 1-4. _No man can affect God by his iniquity, nor profit him by his_ _righteousness_, 5-8. _Many are afflicted and oppressed, but few cry to God for help;_ _and, for want of faith, they continue in affliction_, 9-16. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXV... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:2. _MY RIGHTEOUSNESS_ IS _MORE THAN GOD'S?_] This would indeed be a blasphemous saying; but Job never said so, neither directly nor constructively: it would be much better to translate the words צדקי מאל _tsidki meel, I am righteous BEFORE God_. And Job's meaning most certainly was, "Wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:3. _WHAT ADVANTAGE WILL IT BE UNTO THEE?_] As if he had said to God, "My righteousness cannot profit thee, nor do I find that it is of any benefit to myself." Or perhaps Elihu makes here a general assertion, which he afterwards endeavours to exemplify: Thou hast been reasoning _how_ it... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:4. _I WILL ANSWER THEE_] I will show thee the evil of a sinful way, and the benefit of righteousness; and supply what thy friends have omitted in their discourses with thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:5. _LOOK UNTO THE HEAVENS_] These heavens, and their host, God has created: the bare sight of them is sufficient to show thee that God is infinitely beyond thee in wisdom and excellence. _BEHOLD THE CLOUDS_] שחקים _shechakim_, the _ethers_, (Vulgate, _aethera_,) from שחק _shachak_, to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:6. _IF THOU SINNEST_] God is not benefited by thy righteousness, nor injured by thy iniquity, howsoever multiplied it may be.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:8. _THY WICKEDNESS_ MAY HURT] It is better to translate this literally: To a man like thyself is thy wickedness: And to the son of man, thy righteousness: That is: - Thou mayest injure thyself and others by thy wickedness, And thou mayest benefit both by thy righteousness; But God... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:9. _BY REASON OF THE MULTITUDE_] Or rather, "From among the multitude" the oppressed clamour, יזעיקו _yaziku: they shout_, ישועו yeshavveu, because of the mighty. The wicked rich oppress the wicked poor; these cry aloud because of their oppressors; but they have no relief, because they... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:10. _WHERE_ IS _GOD MY MAKER_] They have no just apprehension of his _being_; they do not consider themselves his _creatures_, or that he who created them still _preserves_ them, and would make them _happy_ if they would pray unto him. _WHO GIVETH SONGS IN THE NIGHT_] This is variously... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:11. _WHO TEACHETH US MORE THAN THE BEASTS_] "The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know me, my people do not consider; " Isaiah 1:3. _Beasts, bards, fowls_, and in many cases _pond-fishes_, know and seem thankful to the hand that feeds them; while... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:12. _THERE THEY CRY_] They bewail their calamities, but sorrow not for the _cause_ of them; they cry against their _oppressors_, but they call not upon God. _BECAUSE OF THE PRIDE OF EVIL MEN._] Or מפני _mippeney_, from the face, presence, or influence, of the pride of wicked men. They... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:13. _SURELY GOD WILL NOT HEAR VANITY_] He will not attend to such vain cries; they cry _from_ their oppressions, but they cry not to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:14. _THOU SAYEST THOU SHALT NOT SEE HIM_] Several MSS. have "Thou shalt not see _me_," and the Septuagint, and _one_ other, "Thou shalt not see _us_," but without the points, תשורנו, the original may be read see HIM or see US, the third person singular, or the first person plural. YET... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:15. _BUT - BECAUSE_ IT IS _NOT_ SO] Rather, "But now, because he visiteth not in his anger." This is more literal than the versions generally proposed; and the sense of the place appears to be this: Because vengeance is not speedily executed on an evil work, therefore are the hearts of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 35:16. _THEREFORE DOTH JOB OPEN HIS MOUTH IN VAIN_] God will execute vengeance when it may best serve the ends of his justice, providence, and mercy. The delay of judgment is not proof that it shall not be executed; nor is the deferring of mercy any proof that God has forgotten to be graci... [ Continue Reading ]