---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Job 28"
description: "CHAPTER 28   :-. JOB"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/job/28"
---

CHAPTER 28

. JOB'S SPEECH
CONTINUED. In the
twenty-seventh chapter Job had tacitly admitted that the statement of
the friends was often true, that God vindicated His justice by
punishing the wicked here; but still the affliction of the godly
remained unexplained. Man has, by skill, brought the precious metals
from their concealment. But the Divine Wisdom, which governs human
affairs, he cannot similarly discover (, c.). However, the image from the same metals () implies Job has made some way towards solving the riddle
of his life namely, that affliction is to him as the refining fire is
to gold.

**1. vein**—a mine, from which it
*goes forth, Hebrew,* "is dug."
**place for gold**—a place
where gold may be found, *which* men refine. Not as *English
Version,* "A place—*where,*" (). Contrasted with gold found in the bed and sand of rivers,
which does not need refining; as the gold *dug from a mine does.*
Golden ornaments have been found in Egypt, of the times of Joseph.

**2. brass**—that is, copper; for
brass is a mixed metal of copper and zinc, of modern invention. Iron
is less easily discovered, and wrought, than copper; therefore copper
was in common use long before iron. Copper-stone is called "cadmium"
by PLINY [*Natural
History,* 34:1; 36:21]. Iron is fitly said to be taken out of the
"earth" (dust), for ore looks like mere earth.

**3.** "Man makes an end of
darkness," by exploring the darkest depths (with torches).
**all perfection**—rather,
carries out his search to the utmost perfection; most thoroughly
searches the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death (thickest
gloom); that is, the stones, whatever they be, embedded in the
darkest bowels of the earth [UMBREIT]
([Job 26:10](../../../kjv/job/26/10)).

**4.** Three hardships in mining: 1.
"A stream (flood) breaks out at the side of the stranger";
namely, *the miner, a strange newcomer* into places heretofore
unexplored; his surprise at the sudden stream breaking out *beside*
him is expressed (*English Version,* "from the
inhabitant"). 2. "Forgotten (unsupported) by the foot they
*hang,*" namely, by ropes, in descending. In the *Hebrew,*
"Lo there" precedes this clause, graphically placing it as
if before the eyes. "The waters" is inserted by *English
Version.* "Are dried up," ought to be, "hang,"
"are suspended." *English Version* perhaps understood,
waters of whose existence man was previously *unconscious,* and
near which he *never trod;* and yet man's energy is such, that
by pumps, c., he soon causes them to "dry up and go away"
[So HERDER]. 3. "Far
away from men, they move with uncertain step" they stagger; not
"they are gone" [UMBREIT].

**5.** Its fertile surface yields
food; and yet "beneath it is turned up as it were with fire."
So PLINY [*Natural
History,* 33] observes on the ingratitude of man who repays the
debt he owes the earth for food, by digging out its bowels. "Fire"
was used in mining [UMBREIT].
*English Version* is simpler, which means precious stones which
glow *like fire;* and so follows naturally ().

**6.** Sapphires are found in
alluvial soil near rocks and embedded in gneiss. The ancients
distinguished two kinds: 1. The real, of transparent blue: 2. That
improperly so called, opaque, with gold spots; that is, lapis lazuli.
To the latter, looking like gold dust, UMBREIT
refers "dust of gold." *English Version* better, "The
*stones* of the earth are, c., and the *clods* of it
(*Vulgate*) are gold" the parallel clauses are thus neater.

**7. fowl**—rather, "ravenous
bird," or "eagle," which is the most sharp-sighted of
birds ([Isaiah 46:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/11)). A vulture
will spy a carcass at an amazing distance. The miner penetrates the
earth by a way unseen by birds of keenest sight.

**8. lion's whelps**—literally,
"the sons of pride," that is, the fiercest beasts.
**passed**—The *Hebrew*
implies *the proud gait* of the lion. The miner ventures where
not even the fierce lion dares to go in pursuit of his prey.

**9. rock**—flint. He puts forth
his hand to cleave the *hardest rock.*
**by the roots**—from their
foundations, by undermining them.

**10.** *He cuts* channels to
drain off the waters, which hinder his mining; and when the waters
are gone, he he is able to *see the precious things* in the
earth.

**11. floods**—"He restrains
*the streams* from *weeping*"; a poetical expression
for the *trickling* subterranean *rills,* which impede him;
answering to the first clause of ; so also the two latter clauses in each verse correspond.

**12.** Can man discover the Divine
Wisdom by which the world is governed, as he can the treasures hidden
in the earth? Certainly not. Divine Wisdom is conceived as a person
([Job 28:12-27](../../../kjv/job/28/12-27))
distinct from God ([Job 28:23](../../../kjv/job/28/23);
also in [Proverbs 8:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/23); [Proverbs 8:27](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/27)).
The Almighty Word, Jesus Christ, *we* know now, is that Wisdom.
The order of the world was originated and is maintained by the
breathing forth (Spirit) of Wisdom, unfathomable and unpurchasable by
man. In [Job 28:28](../../../kjv/job/28/28), the only
aspect of it, which relates to, and may be understood by, *man,*
is stated.
**understanding**—insight
into the plan of the divine government.

**13.** Man can fix no price upon
it, as it is nowhere to be found in man's abode (). Job implies both its valuable worth, and the
impossibility of buying it at any price.

**15.** Not the usual word for
"gold"; from a *Hebrew* root, "to shut up"
with care; that is, purest gold (, *Margin*).
**weighed**—The precious
metals were *weighed* out before coining was known ().

**16. gold of Ophir**—the most
precious (See on [Job 28:2](../../../kjv/job/28/2) and
[Job 28:2](../../../kjv/job/28/2)).
**onyx**— ([Job 28:2](../../../kjv/job/28/2)). More valued formerly than now. The term is *Greek,*
meaning "thumb nail," from some resemblance in color. The
*Arabic* denotes, of two colors, white preponderating.

**17. crystal**—Or else glass, if
then known, very costly. From a root, "to be transparent."
**jewels**—rather,
"vessels."

**18.** Red coral ().
**pearls**—literally, "what
is frozen." Probably *crystal;* and will then be *glass.*
**rubies**—UMBREIT
translates "pearls" (see [Lamentations 4:1](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/1);
[Proverbs 3:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/3/15)). The Urim and Thummim,
the means of consulting God by the twelve stones on the high priest's
breastplate, "the stones of the sanctuary" ([Proverbs 3:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/3/15)), have their counterpart in this chapter; the precious stones
symbolizing the "light" and "perfection" of the
divine wisdom.

**19. Ethiopia**—*Cush* in
the *Hebrew.* Either Ethiopia, or the south of Arabia, near the
Tigris.

**20.** repeated with great force.

**21.** None can tell *whence*
or *where, seeing* it, &c.
**fowls**—The gift of
divination was assigned by the heathen especially to birds. Their
rapid flight heavenwards and keen sight originated the superstition.
Job may allude to it. Not even the boasted divination of birds has an
insight into it ([Ecclesiastes 10:20](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/10/20)).
But it may merely mean, as in [Ecclesiastes 10:20](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/10/20), It escapes the eye of the most keen-sighted bird.

**22.** That is, the abodes of
*destruction* and of the *dead.* "Death" put for
Sheol ([Job 30:23](../../../kjv/job/30/23); [Job 26:6](../../../kjv/job/26/6);
[Psalms 9:13](../../../kjv/psalms/9/13)).
**We have** [only] **heard**—the
report of her. We have not *seen* her. In the land of the living
([Job 28:13](../../../kjv/job/28/13)) the workings of
Wisdom are seen, though not herself. In the regions of the dead she
is only *heard* of, her actings on nature not being seen ([Job 28:13](../../../kjv/job/28/13)).

**23.** God hath, and is Himself,
wisdom.

**24.** "Seeth (all that is)
under," &c.

**25.** God has adjusted the weight
of the winds, so seemingly imponderable, lest, if too weighty, or too
light, injury should be caused. He measureth out the waters, fixing
their bounds, with wisdom as His counsellor ([Proverbs 8:27-31](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/27-31);
[Isaiah 40:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/12)).

**26.** The decree regulating at
what time and place, and in what quantity, the rain should fall.
**a way**—through the
parted clouds ([Job 38:25](../../../kjv/job/38/25);
[Zechariah 10:1](../../../kjv/zechariah/10/1)).

**27. declare**—manifest her,
namely, in His works ([Psalms 19:1](../../../kjv/psalms/19/1);
[Psalms 19:2](../../../kjv/psalms/19/2)). So the approval
bestowed by the Creator on His works ([Genesis 1:10](../../../kjv/genesis/1/10);
[Genesis 1:31](../../../kjv/genesis/1/31)); compare the "rejoicing"
of wisdom at the same ([Proverbs 8:30](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/30);
which UMBREIT translates;
"I was the skilful artificer by His side").
**prepared**—not *created,*
for wisdom is from everlasting ([Proverbs 8:30](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/30)); but "established" her as Governor of the
world.
**searched . . . out**—examined
her works to see whether she was adequate to the task of governing
the world [MAURER].

**28.** Rather, "*But*
unto man," c. *My* wisdom is that whereby all things are
governed *Thy* wisdom is *in fearing God and shunning evil,*
and in feeling assured that My wisdom always acts aright, though thou
dost not understand the principle which regulates it; for example, in
afflicting the godly ([John 7:17](../../../kjv/john/7/17)).
The friends, therefore, as not comprehending the Divine Wisdom,
should not infer Job's guilt from his sufferings. Here alone in Job
the name of God, *Adonai,* occurs; "Lord" or "master,"
often applied to Messiah in Old Testament. Appropriately here, in
speaking of the Word or Wisdom, by whom the world was made ([Proverbs 8:22-31](../../../kjv/proverbs/8/22-31);
[John 1:3](../../../kjv/john/1/3); Ecclesiasticus
24:1-34).

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