Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Job Atcual of Charging God with Injustice. JOB XXXIV. God Omnipotent cannot he Unjust.
(Ch. 23. 3, 8, 9). True especially to the redeemed in Jesus hateth right (justice) govern 7''' Tlie government of the world would be impossible if injustice were sanctioned. God must be just, because He governs (2 .Samuel 23. 3). govern—irt., 6t/K/, viz., by authority (so "reign," Margin, Ciirist (.lolui 10. 25-27). He (Job) sliaU see liis face—Or God nhn/l make liimtosce His face. [Mauker.] God sliallno longer "hide Kis face" (ch. 13.24). True to the believer now, Jolin It. 21,22; eternally, Psalm 17. 15; John 17.24. his 1 Samuel 9. 17). Umbreit translates for "govern," represt wrath, viz., against Job for his accusations, mast Just Rather, "Him who is at once miglity and just" (in His government of tlie world). 18. Lit. (Is it fit) to 6e said to a king? It would be a gross outrage to repi'oach thus an earthly monarch, mucli more the King of kings (Exodus (God's) i-lgliteousuess—God will again make the restored Job no longer ("I perverted —right," t>. 27) doubt God's justice, but to justify Him in His dealings. The penitent justifies God ;Psalni 51. 4). So the believer is made to see God's righteousness in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 45. 24 ; 46.13). 37. He looketli-God. Rather, with Umbreit, "Now he
22. 28). But Maurer with LXX. and Vulgate reads (It is not fit to accuse of injustice Him) who says to a king, Tliou art wicked, to princes, Ye are ungodly, i. who punishes impartially the great, as the small. This accords with V. 19. 19. Acts 10. 34; 2 Chronicles 19. 7; Proverbs 22. 2; ch. 31. 15. 30. they—"Tlie rich" and "princes" who offend God. the people—viz., of the guilty princes: guilty also themselves, at midnight — Image from a night-attack of an enemy on a cump, which becomes an easy prey (Exodus 12. 29, 30). without hand—Without (the restored penileril) singeth joyfully (answering to "joy,"
I'. 26; Psahn 51. 12) before men, and saith," Ac. (Proverbs
25.20; Psalm 66. 16 ; 116.14). perverted—Made the straight crooked : as Job had misrepresented God's character, pvolitvd— ivas made even to me ; rather, " My punishment was not commensurate with my sin" (so Zophar, ch. 11. 6); tlie reverse of what Job heretofore said (ch. 16.
17; Psahn 103.10; Ezra 9. I.S). 88. Note r. 24; rather, as Hebrew text (English Version reads as Margin, Hebrew, Keri, "his soul, his life"), "He hath delivered my soul, visible agency, by the mere word of God (soch. 20. 26; Zechariah 4. 6; Daniel 2. 34). 31. God's omniscience and omnipotence enable Him to execute immediate justice. He needs not to be long on the " watch," as Job tliought (ch. 7. 12; 2 Chronicles 16. 9; Jeremiali 32. 19). 33. shadow of death—Thick darkness (Amos 9.2, 3; Psalm 1.S9. 12). 33. (1 Corinthians 10. 13; Lamentations 3.32; Isaiah 27. 8.) Better, as Umbreit, " He does not (needs not to) regard (as in V. 14; Isaiah 41. 20) man long (so Hebrew, Genesis
&e., 7/1.1/ life." Continuation of the penitent's testimony to the people. llgnt^{v. 30; ch. 3. 16, 20; Psalm 56. 13; Ecclesiastes 11. 7). 39. Margin, twice and thrice, alluding to V. 14; once, by visions, 1.5-17; secondly, by afflictions, 19-22; now, by the " messenger," thirdly, 2:^. 30. Referring to v.
28 (Psalm 50. 13). 33. justify—To do thee justice; and, if I can, consistently with it, to declare thee innocent. At V. S:i Elihu pauses for a reply ; then proceeds ; ch. 34.
46. 29) in order that he may go (be brought by God) into judgment." Lit., "Lest his (attention) upon men" (ch. 11. 10, 11). So V. 2^, "without number" ought to be translated, without (needing any) searching out," such as has to be made in human judgments. 34. break in pieces—(Psalm 2. 9; ch. 12. 18; Daniel 2. 21). 2.5. therefore—Because He knows all things (v. 21). He knowa their works, without a formal investigation (ii. 24). in the night— Suddenly, unexpectedly (v. 20). Fitly in ilw night, as it was in it that the godless hid themselve..-
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Ver. 1-.37. 1. answered—Proceeded. 3. This ch. is addressed also to the " friends," as ch. 33, to Job alone. 3. Palate (note ch. 12. 11; ch. 33. 2). 4. judgment— Let us select among the conflicting sentiments advanced, what will stand the test of examination. 5. judgment—My right. Job's own words (ch. 13. 18; 27. 2). G—i. e.. Were I to renounce my right (i. e., confess myself guilty) I sliould die. Ji. b virtually had said so Cch. 27.4, 5; 6. 28). Maurbr, not so well, " Notwithstanding my right(innocence) I am (t). 22). Umbkeit, less simplj% for " overtui'neth," translates, " walketh :" i. e., God is ever on tlie alert, discovering all wickedness. 36. strlketh—Chasteneth. as—i. e., because they are wicked, sight of others—Sinners hid themselves in darkness; therefore they are punished before all, in open day. Image from the place of public execution (ch. tj eatei\ as a liar," by God, by his afflicting me. my wound — Lit., mine arrow, viz., by which I am pierced. So "my stroke" (liand. Margin, ch. 23. 2). Jfly sickness (ch. 6. 4 ; 16.
13). wit Uout transgression—Witliout fault of mine to deserve it (cli. IG. 17). 7. (Ch. 15. 16.) Image from the camel, scorning—Against God (ch. 15. 4). 8. Job virtu-
40. 12; Exodus 14. 30; 2 Samuel 12. 12). 37, 38. The grounds of their punishment in v. 26; v. 28 states in what respect they "considered not God's ways," viz., by oppression, whereby " they caused the cry," &c. 39. (Proverbs 16. 7 ; Isaiah 26. 3.) make trouble—Rather, condemn (Romans ally goeth in company (makes common cause) with the wicked, by taking up their sentiments (ch.9. 22, 23, 30; 21.
7-15j, or at least by saying, that those who act on such sentiments are unpunished (Malachi 3. 14). To deny God's rigliteous government, because we do not see the reasons of His acts, is virtually to take part with the ungodly. 9. with God—In Intimacy (Psalm 50. 18). 10. The true answer to Job, which God follows up (cli. 38). Man is to
8. 33,34). Maurer, from the reference being only to Wi« godless, in the next clause, and v. 20 translates, " When God keeps quiet (leaves men to perish) Psalm 83. 1 ; [Umbreit] from the Arabic (strikes to the earth), who shall condemn Him as unjust?" v. 17. hldeth . . . face—(ch. 23. 8, 9;. Psalm 13. 1). it toe done—Whether it be against a guilty nation (2 Kings 18. 9-12) or an individual, tliAt God acts so. believe God's ways are right, becau.se they are His, not becaus(i we fully see they are so (Romans 9. 14; Deuteronomy .32.4; Genesis 18.25). 11. Partly here; fully, hereafter (Jeremiah 32. 19 ; Romans 2. 6 ; 1 Peter 1. 17 ; Revelation 22. 12). 13. (Ch. 8. 3.) In opposition to Job, v. 5, will not—Cannot. 13. If the world were not God's property, as having been made by Him, but committed to His charge by some superior, it might be possible for Him to act unjustly, as He would not thereby be injuring Him-
30. "Ensnared" into sin (1 Kings 12.28,30). Or rather,. enthralled by further opxrression, v. 26-28. 31. Job accordingly says so (ch. 40.3-5; Micah 7.9; Leviticus 26.41). It was to lead him to this that Elihu was sent. Thougli no hypocrite, Job, like all, had sin, therefore through affliction he was to be brought to humble himself under God. All sorrow is a proof of the common heritage of sin, inwhich the godly shares ; and therefore he ought to regard self; but as it is, for God to act unjustly would undermine
It as a merciful correction. Umbreit and Maurer lose this by translating, as the Hebrew will bear, " Has any a right to say to. God, I have borne chastisement and yeti have not sinned?" (so v. 6). borne—viz., the penalty of sin, as in Leviticus 5. 1, 17. offend Lit., to deal destructhe whole order of the world, and so would injure God's own property (ch.36. 23). disposed-Hath founded (Isaiah
44. 7), established the circle of the globe. 14,15. "If He were to set His heart on man," either to injure him, or to take strict account of his sins. The connection supports rather [Umbreit], "If He had regard to himself (only), and were to gather unto Himself (Psalm 104.29) man's spirit, &c. (wliich he sends forth, Psalm 104. .30; Ecclesiastes 12. 7), all flesh must perish together," &c. (Genesis 3. tively or corr,ujniy (Nehemlali 1. 7). 33. ch. 10. 2; Psalm 82.
8; 19. 12; 139. 23, 24. no more—Proverbs 28. 13; Epheslans
4. 22. 33. Rather, "should God recompense (sinners) according to thy mind? Then It is for thee to reject and to choose, and not me," Umbreit; or as Maurer, "For thonA' hcut rected God's way of recompensing; state therefore thy way, for thou must choose, not I," i. e.. It is tliy part, not mine, to show a better way than God's. 34, 33, 337
19). God's loving preservation of his creatures proves He cannot be selfish, and therefore cannot be unjust. 16. In V. 2, Eliliu had spoken to all In general, now he calls Job's special attention 17. "Can even He who (in thy view) 22