Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
JOB XX.
Slate and Portion of the Wicked.
Reply of Zophar to Job, latter day—Rather, " the Last," the peculiar title of Jesus Cluist, though Job may not have known the pregnancy of his own inspired words, and may have understood mereljone that comes after (1 Corintliians 15. 45 ; Revelation to the humiliating condition of "seeking the favour of tliose very poor," whom the father had oppressed. Kut Umbreit translates as Margin, his hands—llat her, tlieir (tliechildren's)hands. tlieir goods—Tlie goods of the poor. Righteous retribution ! (Exodus 20. 5.) 11. (Psaim 2-5. 7i, so Vulgate. Gesenius has "full of youth;" viz., in the fulness of his youthful strength he shall be laid in the dusl.
1. 17). Je.sus Christ is tite last. The dajof Jesus Clirist tlie
Uutl day (Johu 6. 39). stand—Rather, arise. As God is said to ' raise up" the Messiah (Jeremiali 23. 5; Deuteronomy
18. 15). eartU— Rather, dost: often associated with the body crumbling away in it (ch. 7. 21; 17. IG) ; tlierefore appropriately here. Above that very dust wherewith was mingled man's decaying body shall man's Vindicator arise "Arise above the dust," strikingly expresses tliat
But "bones" plainly alludes to Job's disease, probably to Job's own words (ch. 19.20). Umbkeit translates "full ol ii'm secret sins," as In Psalm 90.8; his secret guilt in his time of seeming righteousness, like secret poison, at last lays him in the dust. The JSnglish Version is best. Zopliar alludes to Job's own words (ch. 17.16). witli lilm—His sin had so pervaded his nature that it accompanies him to the grave: for eternity the sinner cannot get rid of it (Revelation 22.11). 13. toe " 7\iste sweet." Sin's fascination is like poison sweet to the taste, but at last deadly to the vital organs (Proverbs 20. 17; ch. 9. 17, 18). hide . . . tongue-Seek to prolong the enjoyment by keeping the sweet morsel long in tlie mouth (so v. 13). 14. turned The Hebrew denotes a total change into a disagreeable contrary (Jeremiah 2. 21 ; cf. Revelation 10. 9, 10). 14. gall —In which the poison of the asp was thouglit to lie. It rather is contained in a sack in the mouth. Scripture uses popular language, where no moral truth is thereby endangered. 15. He is forced to disgorge his ill-gotten wealth. 16. shall suck—It shall turn out that he has sucked tlie poison, &c. 17. floods lit., stream of floods, plentilul sti-eams flowing with milk, &c. (ch. 29. 6; Exodus 3. 17), Honey and butter are more fluid in the East than with us, and are poured out from jars. These "rivers" or water, brooks are in the sultry East emblems of prosperity. 18. Image from food whicli is taken away from one before lie can swallow it. restitution—(So Proverbs 6. 31). The parallelism favours the English Version rather than the translation of Gesenius, "As a possession to be restored in which he rejoices not." he shall not rejoice—His enjoyment of his ill-gotten gains shall then be at an end (v. 5). 19. oppressed—Whereas he ought to have espoused their cause (2 Clironicles 16. 10). forsaken— Left helpless, house—Thus leaving the poor without slielter (Isaiah 5.
fact that Jesus Christ arose first Himself above the diist, and then is to rai.se His people above it (1 Corinthians 15. 20, 23). The Spirit intended in Job's words more than Job fully understood (1 Peter 1.12). Though he «ce»!.s, in forsaking me, to be as one dead, He now truly "livetli" in heaven; hereafter He shall appear also above the dust of eartli. The Goel or vindicator of blood was the nearest kin.snian of the slain. So Jesus Christ took our flesh, to be our kinsman. Man lost life by Satan the " murderer" (John
8. 44), here Job's persecutor (Hebrews 2. 14). Compare also as to redemption of the inheritance by the kinsman of the dead (Ruth 4.3-5; Ephesians 1.14). 36. Rather, " thougli after my skin (is no more) this (body) is destroyed (" body" being omitted, because it was so wasted as not to deserve the name), yet from my flesh (from my renewed body, as the starting-point of vision. Song of Solomon 2. 9; "looking out/7-o)?i the windows") "shall I see God." Next clause proves bodily vision is meant, for it specifies " mine eyes." [ROSBNMULLER, 2d ed.] The Hebrew opposes "in my flesli." The "skin" was the first destroyed by elephantiasis, then the "body." 37. for myself—For my advantage, as my friend, not another—Mine eyes shall Ijehold Him, but no longer as one estranged from me, as now. [Bengel.] tliongh—Better omitted: my reins (inward recesses of the heart) are consumed witiiin me, i. e., pine with longing desire for that day (Psalm S4. 2; 119. 81). The Gentiles had but few revealed promi.ses: how gracious that the few should have been so explicit (cf. Numbers
24. 17; Matthew 2. 2). 38. Rather, ye will then (when the Vindicator cometli) say. Why, &c. root . . . in me—The root of pious integrity, which was the matter at issue, whether it could be in one so afflicted, is found in me. Umbreit, with many MSS. and versions, reads " in him." " Or how found we in him ground of contention." 39. "Wrath (the passionate violence witli which tlie friends persecuted JoId) bringeth," &c. lit., is sin of the sword, tliat ye may know— Supply, "I say this." judgment—Inseparably connected witii the coming of the Vindicator. The "wrath" of God at His appearing for the temporal vindication of Job against the friends (cli. 42. 7), is a pledge of the eternal wrath at the final coming to glorify tlie saints and jtidge their enemies (2 Thessalonians 1.6-10; Isaiah 25. 8). CHAPTEE XX.
8; Micah 2. 2). 30. Umbkeit translates, "His inward parts know no rest" from desires, hlstoelly i. e., peace inwardly. not save lit., " not esca2>e with that which," &c. Alluding to Job's having been stripped of his all. 31. look for— Rather, because his goods, i. e., prosperity shall have no endurance. 33. shall he—Rather, "he is (feeleth) straitened." Tlie next clause explains in what respect, wicked —Rather, " the whole hand of the miserable (whom he had oppressed) cometh upon him;" viz., the sense of his having oppressed the poor, now in turn conies with all its power (hand) on him. This caused his "straitened" feeling even in prosperity. 33. Rather, " God shall cast (may God send) [Umbreit] upon him the furj' of His wratli to fill his belly!" while eating—Rather, " Shall rain it upon him for his food! Fiery rain, i. e„ lightning (Psalm 11. 6; alluding to Job's misfortune, ch. 1. 16). The force of tlie image is felt by picturing to one's self the opposite nature of a refreshing rain in the desert (Exodus 16. 4; Psalm 68.
SECOND SERIES.
Ver. 1-29. Reply op Zophar. 3. Therefore—Rather, the more excited I feel by Job's speech, the more for tliat fery reason shall my reply be supplied by my calm consideration. Lit., "Notv/ithstanding; my calm thoughts (as In cli. 4.13) shall furnish my answer, because of llie excitement (haste) witliin me." [Umbreit.] 3. check of my reproach i. e., the castigation intended as a reproach
9). 34. steel—Rather, "brass." Wliilst the wicked llees from one danger, he falls into a greater one from an opposite quarter. [Umbreit.] 3.3. It is drawn—Ratlier, " Ko (God) draweth (the sword, .loshua 5. 13) and (no .sooner has He done so, than) it cometh out of (i. e., passes righ' tlirough) the (sinner's) body" (Detiterononiy 32. 41, 43 Ezekiel 21. 9, 10). The glittering swon\ is a happy image foi lightning, gall—i. e., his life (ch. 16. 13). " Inflicts a dcadi> wound." terrors—Zopiiai repeats Bildad's words (eli. li.
(Ul., shame) to me. spirit of . , . nnderstnitding—Aly rational spirit; answering to "calm thoughts" (u. 2). In spite of tliy reproach urging me to " hastiness," I will answer in calm reason. 5. hypocrtte — lit., the ungodly (Psalm 37. $i, :«). G. (Isaiah 1 1. 13 ; Oljadiah 3, 4.) 7. dung —In contrast to the haughtiness of the sinner (u. G) ; this strong term expresses disgust and the lowest degradation (Psalm 83. 10; 1 Kings 14. 10). 8. tPsiilm 73. 20.) 9. llatlier "the eye followetli him, but can discern liim no more." A $harp-looking is meant (ch. '28. 7; cli. 7. 10). 10. seek to please—"Atone to the poor" (by restoring tlie property of which they had been roblied by tlie fatlier). fl)E Whttk.] Better than English Version, "The children ' are reduced
11; Psalms 88.16; 55.4). 36. "All darkness," i.e., every calamity that befalls the wicked shall be hid (in store for him) in His (God's) secret places, or treasures (Jude l.'J; Deuteronomy 3'2. 34.) not blown—Not kindled by man's hands, but by God's (Isaiah 30.33; LXX. in AlI':xan1)RI a.nMS. read "unquenchable fire," Mattliew 3. 12i. Tact is sliown by tlie friends in not expressly mentioning, l.iat alluding 'under colour of general cases, to Job's calamities; here (ch. 1. 16) UMHitiiiT explains it, xvickedncss Is a "self-igniting fire ;" in it lie the jirinc'lijles of destnictiou. .
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