Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Job's Reply to EUphaz. JOB XVI, XVII. He Mabdaineth his Innocencp.
breaches tn the walls (2 Kings 14. 13). a giant—a mighty warrior. 15. sewed—denoting the tight fit of the mourning garment; it was a sack with arm-holes closely sewed to the bculy. Uom—image from horned cattle, which when excited tear the earth with their horns. The horn was the emblem of pmrer (1 Kings 22. II). Here, it is " in the dust," which as applied to Job denotes his hmniliation from former greatness. To throw one's self in thedut was a sign of mourning; this idea is here joined with that of excited de-fpair, depicted by the Inry of a horned bea.«t. The Druses of Lebanon still wear horns as an ornament, 16. foul—Rather, "is red," i. e., finshcd and heated. [U»lBREIT and NoYF.s.] shadow of death—i. e., darkening through many tears (L:\mentations 5. 17). Job here refers not be green—Image from ,i witlierc<5 tree; the childless extinction of the wicked. 33. Images of incompleteness. The loss of tlie unripe grapes is poetically made the vine tree's own act, in order to express more pointedly that the sinner's ruin is tlie fruit of his own c<mduct (Isaiali 3. 11; Jeremiah 0. 19). 34. Rather, Tlie binding together of the hypocrites (Wicked) shall be /ruitles-i. [Umbi£EIT.] Tabernacles of Ijribery, viz., dwellings of unjust Judges, often reprobated in the Old Testament (Isaiah 1.2-5). The "fire of God ' that consumed .lolj's possessions (cli. 1. 16) Elipliaz insinuates may have been on account of Job's briberj' as an Arab slieick or emir. 35. Bitter irony, illustrating the " unfruitfulness" (v. 34) of the wicked. Their conceptions and birth-givingsconsistsolely in mischief, <Jic. (Isaiah 33. 11). prcparefU—Hatcheth.
to Zophar's implied charge (ch. 11. 14). Nearly tl same words occur as to Jesus Christ (Isaiah .>3. 9). So v. 10 above answers to the description of .Jesus Christ (Psalm 12.13; Isaiah 50. 6, and v. 4 to Psalm 22. 7). He alone realized what Job aspired after, viz., outward rightemisncss of acts and inward of devotion. Jesus Christ as the representative man is typified in some degree in everjservant of God in the Old Testament. 18. my blood i. e., my undeserved sut Tering. He compares himself to one murdered, whose blood the earth refuses to drink up until he
CHAPTER XVI. SECOND SERIES..
Ver. 1-22. Job's Reply. 3. (Ch. 13. 4.) 3. "Words of wind," Hfhrew. He retorts upon Eliphaz his reproach (ch.
15. 2). ejiiboldenetU— ^i'?.. What wearies you so that ye contradict ? i. e., What have I said to provoke you? &c. [ScHtiTTEX.s.] Or, as better accords with the first clause, " wherefore do ye weary yourselves contradicting ?" [UhBREJT.] 4. lieaji up—Rather, marslial together (an army is avenged (Genesis 4. 10, 11 ; Ezekiel '24. 1,8; Isaiah 20. 21). Tlie Arabs say that the dew of heaven will not descend on a spot watered with innocent blt Kxl (cf. 2 Samuel 1. '21>. no place—no resting-place. "May my cry never stop!" May it go abroatl ! " Earth" in this verse in antithesis to "heaven" (v. 19). May my innocence be as well known to of) words. sUaUe Iiend—in mockery ; it means noddimj, rather than shaking; nodding is not with us, as in the East, a gesture of scorn (Isaiah 37. 22; Jeremiah 18. 16; Matthew 27. 39). 5. s<reitgtlien with moiitU— Bitter irony. In allusion to Elipliaz's boasted "consolations"
as it is even now to God ! 19. Also now—even now, wlien lamsogreatly misunderstoo<l on earth, God in heaven
(eh. 15. 11). Opposed to strengthening with the heart, i. p., with real consolation. T)-anshite, "I also (like you) could strengthen with the mmith," i. c, with hcm-lless talk: "And the moving of my lips (mere lip comfort) could console" (in the same fasliion as you do). [Umuheit.] "Heart}/ counsel" (Proverbs 27. 9) is the opposite. 6. eusttl lit.. What (portion of my sutt'erings) goes from me'? 7. But noiv — Rather, "ah!" lie — God. company — Rather, "band of witnesses," viz., those who could attest his innocence, hi.s children, servants, &c. So the same Ilebrciv is translated next verse. Umhreit makes his "liand of witnesses" /imwe?/, for, alas ! he had no otlier wit ness for him. But this is too recondite. 8. lUled wltlk wrinkles —Rather (as also the same Hebrew word in ch. 22. l(i; English Version, "cutdown"), " thou hast fettered me, tliy witness" (besides cutting off my"l)and of witnesses," u, is sensible of my innocence, record Hebrew, my wit>ies.<>. Amidst all his impatience. Job still trusts in God. ao. Hebrew; more forcibly, "my mtx'kers—my friends!" A heart-cutting paradox. [Umuheit.] God alone remains to whom he can look for attestation of his innocence; plaintively with tearful eye, he supplicates for this, 'il, one Rather, He (God). "Oh that He woidd plead for a man
(viz., me) against God." Job quaintly says, God must support me against God ; for He makes me to sutlV r, and He alone knows me to be innocent. [Umhreit.] Ho Go'l helped Jacob in wrestling against Himself (of. 2;i. ti; Genesis 32. 25). God in Jesus Christ does plead with Uod for man (Romans 8. 20, 27). as a man lit., the Son of man. A prefiguring of the advocacy of Jesus Christ—a boon longed for by Job (ch. 0. 33), though the spiritual pregnancy of his own words, designed for all ages, was but
7), 1. e., hast di.sabled me by pains from projjerly attesting my innocence. But anotlier "witness" arises against him, viz., liis "leanness" or wretclied state of l)ody, construed by his friends into a proof of his guilt. Tlie radical meaning of the Hebretv Is to draiv together-, whence How the double meanings to bind or fetter, and in ii/riae, to wrinkle, leanness—meaning also lie; Implying it was a /a/«e " witness." 9. Image lioni a wiUl beast. So (Jod Is representeil (ch. 10. 10). who hnteth me—Rather, "and pursues me hard." Job would not ascribe "hatred" to God (Psalm .50. 22). mine enemy—Rather, " he sharpens, little understood by him (IValin 80. 17). for his neighbour—//c&rcic, Job himself (ch. 4'2. 8) lileaded as Intercessor for his "friends," though "his seoniere" (tJ.
20); so Jesus Christ the Son of man (Luke 2:1. 31); "for friends" (John 15. 13-15). 2'-4. few—/i7., "years of number," i. e., few, opposed to numberless (Genesis 31. 30).
CHAPTER XVII.
Ver. 1-10. Jon's Answer Continhep. 1. breath c>or. rupt — result of elephantiasis. But Umhukit, "my strength (spirit) is spent." extinct— Life is compared to an expiring light. "The light of my day is extinguished." graves—;)/i«j «y, to heighten the force. !4. [Umhreit.] More
as an enemy" (P.s.alm 7. 12). Dai ls wrathful glances at me, like a foe (ch. l.'t. 24). 10. {;apc«l—not in order to devour, but to mock him. To fill his cup of misery, the mockery of his friends (v. 10) is added to tlie host ile treatment from God (v. 9). smitten . . . cheek fig. for contemptuous abuse (Lamentations 3. .30; Matthew .>.
einpliatie.ally, "had I only not to en<lure mockery, in tlio midst of their contentions I (mine eye) would remain quiet." "Eye continue," or Iwry all >M'(//t< (//'''»'''"')' Is a figure taken from sleep at night, to express undisturbed
S9). gathered tlicmselves — " Conspired unanimously." [SCHUTXJCNS.] 11. turned me over—/iV,, cast me lieadlong into, the tiiifjodly— viz., his i)rofessed fi-iends, who |)ersecuted liim witli unkind s|)eclies. 1!4. I was at «a8e—in i)ast times (ch. 1). by my neck—as an animal does its jirey (so ch. 10. 10). shaken—violently ; In contrast to his former "ea.sc?" (I'salm 102. 10). Set me up (again), iiutrk—(ch.7.20; Ijamentatii)ns3. 12). (Jod lets me Always ncovcr strength, so as to torment m(! ('(N-lselessly.
rest; oiiposcd to (ch. l(i. 20), when tlit eye of Job is reprt sented as pouring out tears to God withont rest. 3. Iay down—viz., a pledge or security, t. e., he my surely; do thou attest my innwenco, since my friends only mock me (V. '2). Both litigating parties luid to lay down a sum as security before the trial, put me In surely Provide a surety for me (In the trial) with thee. A presage of the "surety" (Hebrews 7. 22), or "one Mediator between God and man" (see note 10, 21). strike iiands "who (Use (save God himself) could strike hands with me?" i.e., be my security (Psalm 11!). 1'22). The Mebre'.r strikes the hand of liliii for wliom he goes .security l.l'''*>V-
13. Ills archers—Tlie Imjigo of last verse Is eontiiiueil.
in making me His "mark," is accompaiiied by the three friends, whoso words wound like sharp arrows, gall —put for a vital part. So the liver (Lamentations 2. 11). 1*. Tlie Imago 1h from tstormlng a fortress by making
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