1.
Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
1. answered—proceeded.
2.
Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
2. This chapter is addressed
also to the "friends" as the thirty-third chapter to Job
alone.
3.
For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
3. palate—(See on ; Job 34:3).
4.
Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
4. judgment—Let us select
among the conflicting sentiments advanced, what will stand the test
of examination.
5.
For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6.
Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
6. Were I to renounce my right
(that is, confess myself guilty), I should die. Job virtually had
said so (Job 27:4; Job 27:5;
Job 6:28). MAURER,
not so well, "Notwithstanding my right (innocence) I am treated
as a liar," by God, by His afflicting me.
my wound—literally,
"mine arrow," namely, by which I am pierced. So "my
stroke" ("hand," Job 6:28, Margin). My sickness (Job 6:4;
Job 16:13).
without transgression—without
fault of mine to deserve it (Job 16:13).
7.
What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
7. (). Image from the camel.
scorning—against God
(Job 15:4).
8.
Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
8. Job virtually goes in company
(makes common cause) with the wicked, by taking up their sentiments
(Job 9:22; Job 9:23;
Job 9:30; Job 21:7-15),
or at least by saying, that those who act on such sentiments are
unpunished (Malachi 3:14). To deny
God's righteous government because we do not see the reasons of His
acts, is virtually to take part with the ungodly.
9.
For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
9. with God—in intimacy (, Margin).
10.
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
10. The true answer to Job,
which God follows up (). Man is to believe God's ways are right, because
they are His, not because we fully see they are so (Romans 9:14;
Deuteronomy 32:4; Genesis 18:25).
11.
For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
11. Partly here; fully,
hereafter (Jeremiah 32:19; Romans 2:6;
1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 22:12).
12.
Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
12. (). In opposition to Job, , will not—cannot.
13.
Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
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 Himself; but as it is, for God to act
unjustly would undermine the whole order of the world, and so would
injure God's own property ().
disposed—hath founded
(Isaiah 44:7), established the
circle of the globe.
14.
If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
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 (Psalms 104:29) man's
spirit, c. (which he sends forth, Psalms 104:30
Ecclesiastes 12:7), all flesh must perish
together," &c. (Genesis 3:19).
God's loving preservation of His creatures proves He cannot be
selfish, and therefore cannot be unjust.
15.
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16.
If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
16. In , Elihu had spoken to all in general, now he calls
Job's special attention.
17.
Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
17. "Can even He who (in
thy view) hateth right (justice) govern?" The government of the
world would be impossible if injustice were sanctioned. God must be
just, because He governs ().
govern—literally,
"bind," namely, by authority (so "reign," , Margin). UMBREIT
translates for "govern, repress wrath, namely, against
Job for his accusations.
most just—rather, "Him
who is at once mighty and just" (in His government of the
world).
18.
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
18. Literally, (Is it fit) to
be said to a king? It would be a gross outrage to reproach thus
an earthly monarch, much more the King of kings (). But MAURER
with the Septuagint and Vulgate reads, (It is not fit
to accuse of injustice Him) who says to a king, Thou art
wicked; to princes, Ye are ungodly; that is, who punishes impartially
the great, as the small. This accords with .
19.
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
19. (Acts 10:34;
2 Chronicles 19:7; Proverbs 22:2;
Job 31:15).
20.
In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
20. they—"the rich"
and "princes" who offend God.
the people—namely, of
the guilty princes: guilty also themselves.
at midnight—image from
a night attack of an enemy on a camp, which becomes an easy prey
(Exodus 12:29; Exodus 12:30).
without hand—without
visible agency, by the mere word of God (so Job 20:26;
Zechariah 4:6; Daniel 2:34).
21.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
21. God's omniscience and
omnipotence enable Him to execute immediate justice. He needs not to
be long on the "watch," as Job thought (Job 7:12;
2 Chronicles 16:9; Jeremiah 32:19).
22.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
22. shadow of death—thick
darkness (Amos 9:2; Amos 9:3;
Psalms 139:12).
23.
For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
23. (1 Corinthians 10:13;
Lamentations 3:32; Isaiah 27:8).
Better, as UMBREIT, "He
does not (needs not to) regard (as in Job 34:14;
Isaiah 41:20) man long (so
Hebrew, Genesis 46:29) in
order that he may go (be brought by God) into judgment."
Literally, "lest his (attention) upon men" (Job 11:10;
Job 11:11). So Job 11:11, "without number" ought to be translated,
"without [needing any] searching out," such as has to be
made in human judgments.
24.
He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
24. break in pieces— (Psalms 2:9;
Job 12:18; Daniel 2:21).
25.
Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
25. Therefore—because He knows
all things (Job 34:21). He
knows their works, without a formal investigation (Job 34:21).
in the night—suddenly,
unexpectedly (Job 34:20).
Fitly in the night, as it was in it that the godless hid
themselves (Job 34:22).
UMBREIT, less
simply, for "overturneth," translates, "walketh";
that is, God is ever on the alert, discovering all wickedness.
26.
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
26. He striketh them—chasteneth.
as—that is, 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 (Job 40:12;
Exodus 14:30; 2 Samuel 12:12).
27.
Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28.
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29.
When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
29. (Proverbs 16:7;
Isaiah 26:3).
make trouble—rather,
"condemn" (Romans 8:33;
Romans 8:34). MAURER,
from the reference being only to the godless, in the next
clause, and Job 34:20
translates, "When God keeps quiet" (leaves men to perish)
Psalms 83:1; [UMBREIT]
from the Arabic (strikes to the earth), "who shall
condemn Him as unjust?" Psalms 83:1.
hideth . . . face—
(Job 23:8; Job 23:9;
Psalms 13:1).
it be done—Whether it
be against a guilty nation (Psalms 13:1) or an individual, that God acts so.
30.
That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
30. Ensnared—into sin (1 Kings 12:28;
1 Kings 12:30). Or rather,
"enthralled by further oppression," 1 Kings 12:30.
31.
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
31. Job accordingly says so
(Job 40:3-5; Micah 7:9;
Leviticus 26:41). It was to lead him to
this that Elihu was sent. Though 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, in which the godly shares; and therefore he ought to regard 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 yet have not sinned?"
(so Job 34:6).
borne—namely, the
penalty of sin, as in Leviticus 5:1;
Leviticus 5:17.
offend—literally, "to
deal destructively or corruptly" (Leviticus 5:17).
32.
That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
32. (Job 10:2;
Psalms 32:8; Psalms 19:12;
Psalms 139:23; Psalms 139:24).
no more— (Proverbs 28:13;
Ephesians 4:22).
33.
Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
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
thou hast rejected God's way of recompensing; state therefore thy
way, for thou must choose, not I," that is, it is thy
part, not mine, to show a better way than God's.
34.
Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35.
Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36.
My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
36. Margin, not so well,
"My father," Elihu addressing God. This title does not
elsewhere occur in Job.
tried—by calamities.
answers for wicked men—(See
on Job 34:3). Trials of the
godly are not removed until they produce the effect designed.
37.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
37. clappeth . . . hands—in
scorn (Job 27:23; Ezekiel 21:17).
multiplieth . . . words—
(Job 11:2; Job 35:16).
To his original "sin" to correct which trials have been
sent, "he adds rebellion," that is, words arraigning
God's justice.