Chapter XXXVIII
Ver. 1-41. 1.' Jehovah appears unexpectedly In a whirlwind (already gathering ch. 37. 1, '2), the symbol of "judgment" (Psalm 50.3,4, &c.), to which Job had challenged him. He asks him now to get himself ready for the con-
is at other times appointed to fall, ch. 38.20,27) or for mercy. " If it be destined for His land" is a parenthetical supposition. [Mauueu.] In English Version, this clause spoils the even balance of the antithesis between the " rod" {Margin) and " mercy" (Psalm 68. 9; Genesis 7). 14. (Psalm 111.2.) 1.5. when—Rather, how. disposed them —Lai/s His charge on these " wonders" (o. 14) to arise, llghi—Lightning, shine—Flash. How Is it that light arises from the dark thunder-cloud 7 10. Hebrew, "Hast thou understanding of the balancings," &c., how the (blonds are poised in the air, so tliat their watery gravity does not bring tliem to the earth? Tlie condon.sed moisture, descending Ijy gravity, meets a warmer tiiniperatnre, wlilc'li dissipates it into vapour (the tendency of wliicli is to ascend) and so counteracts the descending force, perfect In knowledge—God; not here in the sense that Elihu uses it of lilinself (ch. 30. 4). 17. dost thou know—How, &.C. thy garments— i, c, how thy body grows warm, so
test. Can he explain the phenomena of God's natural government? How can he, then, hope to understand the principles of His wfomY government? God thus confirms Klihu's sontlment, that submission to, not reasonings on, God's ways Is man's part. This and the disciplinary design of trial to the goiUy Is tlie great lesson of this book. He does not solve the difficulty by reference to future retribution: for this was not the Immediate question; glimpses of that truth were already given In chs. 14. and
19., the full revelation of it being reserved for Gospel times : Yet even now we netxl to learn the lesson taught by Kllhu an<l God In Job. 3. this—Job. C€>un8el—Impugning my Divine wisdom In the providential arrangements of the universe. Such "words" (Including tho.se of the frlonds) rather obscure, than throw light on my ways. God Is about to be Job's Vindicator, but must first bring him to a riglit
stair of mind for receiving relief. 3. a man—i/eco, ready
.IS to a licet tliy garments with heat? south wind— /,i7., region of the .south. " When Ho maketh still (and sultry) the earth (t. e., the atmosphere) by (during) the south wind (Song of Solomon 4. I(i). 18. with him—Like as He does
for battle (1 Corinthians 1(1. 13), as he had wished (ch. 9. M;
l;}. 22; 31. ?n). The robe, usually worn flowing, was girt up by a girdle when men ran, laboured, or fought (I Peter
(i;li. 4il. I')), spread out—Given expanse to. strongFinn; whence the term " firmament" (Genesis 1. (i; Margin, exixmsiiiii, Isaiah 44. 21). molten looking-glass Image of llie bright smiling sky. Mirrors were tlien formed of molten polished metal, not "glass." 19. Men
1. 13). 4. To understand the cause of things, man should have been present at their origin. The flutte creature cannot fathom tlie Infinite wisdom of the Creator (ch. 2i
12; 1.5.7, 8). hast (knowest) understanding — (Proverbs
4. 1). 5. measures—Of Its proportions. Image fl'om au architect's plans of a building. I.Inc—of measurement (Isaiah 28. 17). The earth Is formed on an all-wise %)latu O. foundations—Not sockets, a» Marj/in. fastened—Xtt.,
(!uiiif)t explain God's wonders ; we ought, therefore, to be dumb and not cotitend with God. If Job thinks we ought, "1ft him loach us, what we snull say." order— 340
Gody by Sis Mighty Works, JOB XXXIX. Convinceth Job of Ignorance, ew.
made to sink, as a founilation-sfone let down till It settles firmly in tlie clay (cli. 20. 7). Gravitation makes and keeps the earth a spliere. 7. So at the founding of Zerubbabel's temple (Ezra 3. lU-i3). So hereafter at the completion of
(personified) spreads (scattereth) Itself," &c. The light and east wind are associated together, as both come from one quarter, and often arise together (Jonah 4. 8). 23, waters—ijaiji falls, not in a mass on one spot, but in countless separate canals in the air marked out for their way for the lightning—(Ch. 28. 26.) 26. Since rain falls also on places uninhabited by man, it cannot be that man guides its course. Such rain, though man cannot explain the reason for it, is not lost. God has some wise design in
tlie C'hureli, the temple of the Holy Gliost (Zechariah 4. 7)
as at its foundation (Luke 2. 13, 14). 7. morning stars— Kspecially beautiful. Tlie creation morn is appropriately associated with these, it being the comtnencemetU of this world's day. The stars are fig. said to sing God's praises, as in Psalm 19.1; 148.3. They are symbols of the angels, bearing the same relation to our eartii, as angels do to us. Therefore they answer to "sous of God," or angels, in the parallel. See note, 25. 5. 8. doors—Flood-gates; these when opened caused the flood (Genesis 8. 2) : or else, the ihures. woinll>—of Chaos. The bowels of the earth. Image from childbirth (v. 8, 9; Ezekiel 32. 2; Micah 4. 10). Ocean at its birth was wrapped in clouds as its swaddling bands. 10. brake np for—i. e., appointed it. Shores are generally broken and abrupt clitl's. The Greek for shore means a broken place. I broke off or measured off for it my
It. 27. As though the desolate ground thirsted for God s showers. Personification. Tlie beauty imparted to the uninhabited desert pleases God, for whom primarily all things exist,and Hehas ulterlordesigns in it. 28. C'anany visible origin of rain and dew be assigned by man ? Dew
is moisture, which was suspended in tlie air, but becomes condensed on reaching the—in the night—lower temperature of objects on the earth. 29. Ch. 37. 10. 30. The unfrozen waters arc hid under the frozen, as with a, covering of stone, frozen Lit., is taken : the particles t<ike hold of one another so as to cohere. 31. sweet influences—The joy diffused by spring, the time when the Pleiades appear. The Eastern poets, Haflz, Sadi, &c., describe them as "brilliant rosettes." Ge-seNius translates, "bands" or "knot," which answers better the parallelism. But Eng-
limii, i. e., the limit wliich 7 thought fit (ch. 26. 10). 11. stayed Hebrew, a limit, shall beset to. 1!J-15. Passing from creation to phenomena in the existing inanimate world. 13. Iiast tUoii—As God daily does, commanded tlie morning—To rise, since tliy days—Since thou hast come
lish Version agrees better with the Hebrew. The seven stars are closely "bound" together (Note 9. 0). "Canst thou bind or loose the tie?" " Canst thou loose the bonds by which the constellation Orion (represented in the East as an impious giant chained to the sky) is held fast.'' (Note 9. 9.) 32. Canst thou bring forth from their places or fwuscs (Mazzaloth, Margin, 2 Kings 23. 5; to which. Maziuroth here is equivalent) into the sky the signs of the ZotUae at their respective seasons—the twelve lodgings in whicli the sun successively stays, or appears, in the sky ? Arcturua —Ursa Major, his sons—The three stars in his tail. Canst thou make them appear in the sky? (ch. 9. 9). The great and less Bear are called by the Arabs "Daughters of the Bier," tlie quadrangle being tlie bier, the three others the mourners. 33. ordinauces—Which regulate the alternations of seasons, &c. (Genesis 8. 22). dominion Controlling influence of the heavenly bodies, the sun, *oon, &c., on the earth (on the tides, weather) (Genesis 1.16; Psalm
i!ilo l)eing. its iilace—It varies in its place of rising from day to day, and yet has its place each day according to
lixJed laws. 13. take hold of tJic ends, &c.—Spread itself over the earth to its utmost bounds in a moment, wicked W'lio hate the light, and do their evil works in the dark
(cli. 21. 13). sliaken out of it—The corners (Hebrew, winc/s or skirts) of it, as of a garment, are taken hold of by the day spring, so as to shake off the wicked. 14. Explaining
tlie first clause of v. 13, as v. 15 does the second clause. As the plastic clay presents the various figures impressed on
It by a seal, so the earth, which in the dark was void of
all form, when illuminated by the day spring, presents a variety of forms, hills, valleys, &c. "Turned" ("turns
itself," Hebrew) alludes to the rolling cylinder seal, such as is found in Babylon, which leaves its impressions on the clay, as it is turned about: so the morning light rolling tn over the earth, they stand Tlie forms of beauty, unfolded by the dawn, stand forth as a garment, in which the earth is clad. Ij. their light—by whicli th^y work,
136. 7-9). 34. Jeremiali 14. 22; above ch. 22. 11, metaphori-
cally. 35. Here we are—At thy disposal (Isaiah 6. 8). 36. Inward parts . . . heart—But [Umbreit] "dark clouds" ("shining phenomena") [Maurer]—"meteor," referring to the consultation of these as signs of weather by the husbandman (Ecclesiastes 11. 4). But Hebrew supports English Version. The connection is, " Who hath given thee the intelligence to comprehend in any degree the phenomena just specified?" heart—Not the usual Hebrew M'ord, but one from a root to view ; perception. 37. Who appoints by his wisdom the due measure of the clouds? stay—Rather, empty; lit., lay doumov incline so as xopour
viz., darkness, which is their day (ch. 24. 17), is extinguished by daylight, high—Rather, The arm uplifted for murder or other crime is broken; it falls down suddenly, power-
less, through their fear of light. 16. springs—Fountains benoatli the sea (Psalm 95. 4,5). search—Rather, The inmost recesses, lit., that which is only found by searching, tlie deep caverns of ocean. 17. seen—The second clause heightens tlie thought in the first. Man during life does not even " see" the gates of the realm of the dead ("deatli," ch. 10. 21), much less are they " opened" to liim. i3ut those are " naked before God" (ch. 26. 6). 18. Hast thou—As God doth (ch. 28. 24). 19-38. Tlie marvels in heaven. 19. "What is the way (to the place wherein) light dwelleth?" The origin of light and darkness. In Genesis 1., "light" is created distinct from, and previous
out. "Bottles of heaven," rain-filled clouds. 38. growcth, &c. llAther, pour itself into a mass by the rain, like molten metal ; then translate 38, " Who is it that empties,''
&c., "when," &c.t English Version, however, is tenalile:
"Is caked into a mass" hy heat, like molten metal, before the rain falls ; " Who is it tliaX can empty the rain vessels, and bring down rain at such a time'? " [v. 'AS). 39. From this I', to ch. 39. 30, the instincts of animals. Is it thou that givest it the instinct to hunt its prey? (P.salm 104. 21.) appetite— Z/j'<., life: which depends on the c/^^peij^e (ch. 33.
to, light-emitting bodies, tlie luminaries of heaven. 30. Dost tliou know its place so well as to be able to guide ("take" as in Isaiah 36. 17), it to (but Umbkeit, "reach it in") its own Iwundary, i. e., the limit between light and Jarkness (ch. 26. 10)? 21. Or without the interrogation, in
20). 40. lie in wait—for their prey (Psalm 10. 9). 41. Luke 12. 24. Transition from the noble lioness to the croaking raven. Though man dislikes it, a« of ill-omen, God cares for it, as for all His creatures.
ill ironical sense. [Umbukit.] then—When I created light and darkness (cli. 15. 7). 'i'Z. treasures Store-houses, from wliich God draws forth snow and hail. Snow is vapour congealed in the air, before it is collected in drops large diougli to form hail. Its shape is that of a crystal in endloss variety of beautiful figures. Hail is formed by rain falling llirough dry cold air. 23. against the time of trouble—Tlie time when I design to chastise men (Exodus