Job 32

Chap. XXXII. Ver. 1—22. Elihu takes up the controversy, and reproves Job’s friends.—This chapter begins the fifth part of this sacred poem, in which a new character oreece of peculiar interest; and brings before us a fact of which we were hardly before apprized; namely, that beside the preceding disputants, there were also hearers, of whom one now comes forward to take up the debate, though, as he confesses, considerably younger than either of the disputants. After an apology for this circumstance, he censures both parties: Job because he justified himself before God; and his pretended friends, because though they could not answer Job, nor prove him guilty of any of the crimes they had insinuated against him, they still considered him as guilty without offering any proof.

Elihu had evidently listened to the whole of the debate; but his comparative youth, as we have just remarked, prevented his interference, till he could in fact refrain no longer, and then, as he expresses it in the true eastern style, he was as a skin bottle with new wine, ready to burst, and is obliged to speak that he may be relieved. “The lenity and moderation of Elihu,” as Bishop Lowth observes, “serves as a beautiful contrast to the intemperance and asperity of the other three. He is pious, mild, and equitable; equally free from adulation and severity; and endued with singular wisdom, which he attributes entirely to the inspiration of God: and his modesty, moderation, and wisdom, are the more entitled to commendation when we consider his unripe youth.

As the characters of his detractors were in all respects calculated to inflame the mind of Job, that of his arbitrator is admirably adapted to sooth and compose it; to this point the whole drift of the argument tends, and on this the very purport of it seems to depend.”;

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXII. Ver. 1. Because he was righteous in his own eyes.—This is well explained in the verse following, “Because he justified himself rather than God.” Ver. 2. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu.—That is, his anger was excited, but not intemperately.—Elihu the son of Barachel, &c.—“Buz was the second son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, and a city of this name, probably derived from the same family, is mentioned (Jeremiah 25:23), in conjunction with Dedan, which we know to have been in Idumea.”—Dr. Good. Ver. 8. The inspiration of the Almighty.—To the wisdom derived from age and experience, Elihu opposes a superior wisdom, derived from divine assist-. Ver. 9. Neither do the aged.—The word “always” should be supplied here from the former member of the verse. Ver. 11. Your reasons.—Instead of tevoonotheychem, nine MSS. read, techoonotheychem, “your arguments;” but the sense is nearly the same.—Whilst ye searched.—“Whilst ye were searching for words;” a fine irony, which they must have felt.—Bagster. Ver. 12. I attended unto you.—Weadeychem, is rendered “and your testimonies,” by the Syriac, Arabic, and LXX. and one of De Rossi’s MSS. is so pointed as to require this reading.—Bagster. Ver. 13. God thrusteth.—“God must bring him down.”—Boothroyd. Ver. 14. With your speeches.—That is, “with speeches such as yours.” Ver. 16. When I had waited.—Scott (the poet) reads both this verse and the preceding in the present tense, as addressed to the auditory; “I wait, and they speak not. They are at a stand: they answer no more.” Ver. 17. “I said.”—These words are properly supplied. Ver. 19. My belly.—Or, “inner part;” translated “within me” in the preceding verse. “The Arabians use this word (beten) for the mind, as we do the breast. So Solomon, (Proverbs 22:18).—Like new bottles.—As skin bottles of new wine;” the last word being properly supplied from the preceding sentence. Chap. XXXII. Ver. 4. The Spirit of God.—This seems to have an evident reference to the creation of Adam. See (Genesis 2:7). To show to man what is his duty; Ver. 17. Purpose.—Or doings; from trusting to his own good works. Ver. 18. From perishing by the sword.—The participle is more literally rendered in the margin, “the passing by;” and the noun following, (shalach) according to Pococke, means any military weapon, and is by Dr. Good rendered arrow; so that we may read, “from the passing by of the arrow.” See (Psalms 91:5). Ver. 23. An interpreter.—The word (Melits) seems to mean, one that enterposeth to remove difficulties, and produce a good understanding: as, 1. An interpreter, (Genesis 42:23). 2. An ambassador, (2 Chronicles 32:31). Both these senses will apply to a prophet, or minister of religion; (an orator, says the Targum). Ver. 5. Fresher than a child.—Or, “than childhood.” This has particular reference to the case of Job. See (2 Kings 5:14). Ver. 27. He looketh—Margin, “He shall look;” i.e. in the assembly around him, and confess before them.

But as the same word (ook) elsewhere means to ‘sing metrically;” i.e. to chant, as in the public worship, this may refer to the manner of his confession before the congregation. So Schultens, Scott, Good, &c.—It profited me not.—Good, “He hath not requited (it) unto me; literally, “He hath not been even with me;” Schultens, which Boothroyd admirably paraphrases, “He hath not dealt with me after my desert.” See of his hands. 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.