Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
JoVs Reply to Bildad Coniinued. JOB X, XI. First Speech of Zophar, of all my sorrows (returning), for I know that thou wilt (dost) not (by removing my sufferings) liold or declare me Innocent. How then can I leave off my hedvlncss > 29. Tlie ?/is better omitted : I (am treated by God as) wicked his guilt, to wear out the accused, changes and war Rather ("thou settest in array) against me host after host" (lit., changes mid a host, i. e., a succession of hosts), viz., his afflictions, and then reproach upon reproach IVom his friends, ao. But, since I was destined from my birth to these ills, at least give me a little breathinij time during the few days left me (ch'g. 3t ; 13. 21 ; Psalm 39. 13;. The ideas of order and light, disorder and darkness, harmonize (Genesis 1. 2). Three Hebrew words are used lor darkness; in u. 21 (1,) the common word " rfa»7.-ne** .•" here (2,) " a land of gloom" (from a Hebrew root, to cover up): (;i,) "as thick darkness" or blackness (from a root, expressing why then labour I in vain (to disprove His cliarge). Job submits, not so much because he is convinced that God is
Tijhl, as because God \& poiverful and lie iveak. [Barxes.] 30. snow water— Thought to be more cleansing than common water, owing to the wliiteness of snow (Psalm
51.7; Isaiali 1.18). never so clean—Better, to answer to tlie parallelism of the fii'st clause whicli expresses the cleansing material, lye: the Arabs used alkali mixed witli set). "Where the light thereof is like blackness." Its only sunshine is thick darkness. A bold flgure of poetry. Job iu a better frame has brighter thoughts of the unseen world. But his views at best wanted the definite clearness of the Christian's. Compare with his words here (Revelation 21. 23; 22. 5; 2 Timothy 1. 10).
oil, as soap (Psalm 73. 13; Jeremiah 2. 22). 3i. (Ec'clesiastes
6.10; ^f>aiah 45. 9.) 33. daysman — Mediator or umpire; the imposition of wliose hand expresses power to adjudicate between the persons. There might be one on a level with Job, the one party; but Job knew of none on a level with the Almighty, the other party (1 Samuel 2. %')). We Christians know of such a Mediator (not, however, in the sense umpire) on a level with botii—tlie God-man,
CHAPTER XI.
Clu'ist Jesus (1 Timothy 2. .5). 34:. rod—Not here the symbol of punishment, but of power. Job cannot meet God on fair terms so long as God deals with him on the footing of His almighty power. 33. It is not so with me— As it now is, God not taking His rod away, I am not on such a footing of equality as to be able to vindicate my-
FIRST SERIES. Ver. 1-20. FIRST SPEECH OF ZoPHAR. 3. Zopliar assal Is Job for his empty words, and Indirectly, the two friends, for their weak reply. Taciturnity is highly prized among Orii'Utals (Proverbs 10. 8, 19). 3. lies—Rather, vain boasting (Isaiah 16.6; Jeremiah 48.30). The "men" is emphatic; men of sense; in antithesis to "vain boasting." mockest —Upbraidest God by complaints. 4. doctrine—PurpiKsely used of Job's speeches, which sounded like les.sons of doctrine(Deuteronomy ;i2. 2; Proverbs 4. 2). thine—Addressed to God. Job had maintained his sincci-ity against his friends' suspicions, not J'aultlessness. G. to that whicli self.
CHAPTER X.
Ver. 1-22. Join's Reply to Bildad Continued. 1. leave my complaint to myself—Rather, "I will give loose to my complaint" (ch. 7.11). "-4. sliow me, Ac.—Do not, i)y virtue of thy mere sovereignty, treat me as guilty without .showing me the reasons. 3. Job is unwilling to think God can have "pleasure" in using his power to "oppress" the weak, and to "treat" man, " tlie work of His own hands, as of no value" (u. 8; Psalm 13S. Ki. sliine apon—Favour with prosperity (Psalm 50.2). 4-6. Dost thou see as feebly as man? i.e., with the same uncharitable eye, as, for instance. Job's friends. Is thy time as short? Inipossilde ! Yetone might think, from the rapid succession of thy strokes, that thou hadst no time to spare in ovin-wlielminjf me. 7. " Altliough thou (the Omniscient) knowest," Ac. (connected with i'. (ii, " thou searchis !—Rather, "they are double to (man's) tvisdoin." [MicilAELi.s.J HolheHebrcw is rendered (Proverbs2. 7). God's ways, which you arraign, if you were shown their secret wisdom, would be seen vastly to exceed that of men, including yours (1 Corinthians 1.'25). cxa«'tcth — Rather, "God consigns to oblivion in thy favour muc of thy guilt." 7. Rather, "Penetrate to the perfections of l/ie Almighty' (ch. !). 10; Psalm 139. (i). 8. It—The " wisdom" oi Goii (v.'ti). The abruptness of the Hebreiv is forcible: "The heights of heaven ! What canst thou do" (as to attaining to llieiu with thy gaze, Ps.alin 139. 8)? know— n'z., of His perfections. 10. cut off— Rather, as in ch. 9. l\, pass over as a storm ; viz., rush upon In anger, shut —In prison, with a view to trial, gather toj;ethCr—The parties for Judgment : hold a judicial assembly, to pass -sentence on the prisoiu'is. 11. (P.salm 91. 11.) consider—.So as to punish es! alter my sin." and . . . (that) none can deliver ont of tliine liand—Therefore thou hast no need to deal with me with the rajiid violence which " man" would use (Note v.(i/. "Made" with pains; implying « ii-ork of di(lirully anil art: applying to God language applical)lc only to man. together roiiitd abont— Implying that the human body is a (.-Dmplnlc unity, the parts of wliich on all .tides will bear the closest scrutiny. 9. clay—Next verse proves that the reference here is, not so much to the pcri.ih<d>le nature of tlie materials, as to llicir wondrr/ul /<i.s/iionin</ liy the Divine potter. 10. In the organization of tlie l)ody from it. Rather, from the connection, i'. 6, "He seeth wickedness also, which man does wol perceive;" lit "But no (other, save He) percelvelh it." [U.mbri'.it.J God's " wisdom" (u. 6), detects sin where Job's human eye cannot reach (v. 8), so as to see any. I'Z. vain—Hollow, iroiild be — Wants to consider himself " wise;" oppos«\i to God's "wisdom" (note, v. 11); refusi-s to see sin, wheie God sees
Its rude commencements the liquid original gradvially assumes a tnore solid consistency, like milk curdling into cheese (Psalm 13i). 15, 16). Science reveals that the chyle circulattd by the lacteal vessels Is the supply to every organ. 11. fenced—Or " Inlaid" (Psalm l !!(. 15>; curiously wrought." [ll MliitlCIT.] In the I'cetus the sljin appears
It ( Romans 1. 22). wild ass's colt—A proverb for untamed wlldncss (ch. 39. 5, 8; Jeremiah 2.21; Genesis Hi. 12; Jftbrrie, "a wlld-ass man"). Man wishes to appear wisely obedient Ui his Lord, whereas he ls,/rom liis birth, iin.icdf diied in spirit. 13. The apodosls to the " If" Is at t\ 15. The "preparation of the heart" Is to be obtained (Proverbs first, th(^n tlu> flesh, then the harder parts. 1:4. vi Mitallon —Thy watchful Providence, spirit— I'reatli. lit. is with thee-Was thy jnirpose. All God'sdealings wit h Job In his crcat Ion, preservat Ion, and presenta llt i<'t ions wer(: part of His secret counsel (Psalm 139. 16; Acts 15. IS; Kccleslasles
16. 1) by "stretching out the hamls" in prayer lor U (Psalm 10. 17; 1 Chronicles '29.18). 14. Rather, "if thou wilt put far away the lni<iulty In thine hand" (as /aecheus did, Luke 19.8). The apodosis or conclusion Is at
8.11). 14, I'i. Job Is perplexed, Ix'causi God "marks" every sin of his with diich ceaseless riour. Whether "wicked" {r/odlcix and a hypocrite) or " righleous" (comparallv<'ly: sincere), God condemns and punishes alike, r. 15, " then shalt thou," Ac. l.'i. Zophar refers to Job's own words (ch. 10. 15), "yet will I not li,ft up my head," even though righleous. Zophar declares. If Job will follow his advice, he may "lift up his lace." spot—(Deuteniiiomy lift up my hcnd— In conscious Innocence (Ps. 3. 3). we tliou -Rat her, "and seeing I see— (I loo well see) mine al-
3'i5). Hi eiulfast— rtin.fa.Ht together, like metals which become llrin and hard by fusion. The sinner on the contrary Is wavering. 10. Just as when the stream rnr.a dry fllcl 1(111," ( whieli seems to prove me guilty). [I'Miimoi r.) 10. increaset!« — Rather, (If) I lift up (my head) thou woulilest hunt me, &R. [Umhreit. | and nRain—As If a Hon should not kill his prey nt once, bul come back and torture it again. 17. witnesseHIlls nccmiiiil;iled trials were like a succession of witnesses l)r()nglit up In proof of
(ch. fl. 17), the danger threal<>ned by Us wild wave.s Is torgotten (Isaiah 65. 16). IUmhrkit.I 17. am'.—Days c liji' file noonday — tii2., of thy former prosperity; which. In the iKiet'H Image, ha<l gone on Increasing, until It reached