Chap. XXXVI. ver. 3.—from afar.] From God’s wonderful works in nature since the beginning of the world, ver. 26, and chap. xxxvii. Clark.

4. For truly my words shall not be false: Be assured that I will not seek to baffle thee with sophistical arguments: he that discourses with thee is none of those subtle disputers, but loves sincere and solid reason. Bp. Patrick.

5. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: Suffers them not all to go unpunished; but will, in due time, execute judgment upon them. Clark.

6. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: He neither forgets nor neglects to reward them, though never so poor and afflicted: these righteous poor are sometimes advanced by God to royal dignity, 1 Sam. ii. 8; Psal. cxiii. 7, 8; and continue in their dignity, yea, and increase in it in spite of all opposition. Clark.

— his work.] The visible creation, the heavens in particular; in which He has made manifest His eternal power and Godhead, Ps. xix. 1; cii. 25; Rom. i. 20. Scott.

— in plenty of justice:] Rather, plenteous in justice. Dr. Durell.

— he will not afflict.] Willingly, (Lam. iii. 33,) or without just cause, or beyond what is necessary. Clark.

Job 35:2

2. Hear attentively the noise of his voice.] So as to observe God’s great power manifested therein. It seems not improbable, that while Elihu was speaking, it thundered greatly: and that that tempest began, with which God ushered in His speech. Bp. Hall, Clark.

Job 35:4

4—8. I will answer thee, &c.] As if Elihu had said, I know that neither thy sins can do any hurt to God, nor can thy righteousness do Him any good; but thy sins may hurt thee, and thy righteousness advantage thyself: therefore lay aside such wicked and desperate thoughts as these. Caryl.

4. — and thy companions] For they also had erred with Job, in supposing that temporal prosperity ought to be annexed by the justice of God to piety and virtue; they differed only as to the fact, whether it really was so in Job’s case. Elihu combats the principle, that the Almighty is obliged, by any regard to his own interest or happiness, to distribute reward or punishment. Bp. Stock.

5. — with the voice of his excellency;] With His majestick voice. Dr. Durell.

— he will not stay them when his voice is heard.] He will not check the rain and storm, (chap. xxxvi. 27, &c.) which come quickly after the thunder. Clark.

Job 35:5

5. Look unto the heavens, &c.] This is a sublime sentiment in a plain dress. One view, says he, of the magnificent scenery of the lofty sky will extinguish all low conceptions of its almighty Author. It will strike the mind with a vast idea of His infinite superiority to all other beings, and of the impossibility of His gaining or suffering by the good or bad behaviour of His reasonable creatures. Scott. 6. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? If thou sinnest, what dost thou hurt Him? Is His holiness, justice, power, the less, because thou hast transgressed? Is aught diminished from His essence by this offence? Bp. Hall.

Job 35:7

7. He sealeth up the hand of every man;] He stops the labour of those whose business is in the fields; and maketh the husbandmen know that He disposeth of all things as He pleaseth. Bp. Patrick.

Job 35:8

8—10. And if they be bound in fetters, &c.] Though all afflictions are evils in themselves, yet they are good for us, because they discover to us our disease, and tend to our cure. They are a sensible argument and conviction to us of the evil and danger of sin. We are not sufficiently sensible how great an evil sin is, till we feel the dismal effects and consequences of it. And therefore to rectify our apprehensions concerning it, God makes us to suffer by it. Thus Elihu describes the happy effects of affliction in these verses. God doth but invite and intreat us by His mercies, but His judgments have a more powerful and “commanding” voice. When He “holds man in cords of affliction,

† Heb. that there are yet words for God. is just in all his ways. CHAP. XXXVI. How Job’s sins hinder God’s blessings. Before CHRIST about 1520. b Ch. 21. 15. shall pass away by the sword. soul dirth. codomites. affected. rest of thy table.

8. Then the beasts go into dens, &c.] The low grounds are covered with water; the beasts of prey flee to the caverns of the mountains for safety; they couch there, and watch impatiently for the drying of the valleys. Scott.

Job 35:9

9. By reason of the multitude of oppressions &c.] This offended Job: the poor cry, and they have no helper, no deliverer. See chap. xxiv. 12. Elihu grants these general truths, that many are oppressed, that many cry out under their oppressions, and that many remain undelivered from, and unrelieved in their oppressions. God seems sometimes not to regard the cries of the afflicted, nor does He presently take vengeance on oppressors according to their folly; yet he acquits God of any such imputation as the words of Job seem to insinuate. “The oppressed cry,” (saith Elihu,) but not with a right frame of heart; they cry, rather as oppressed with the weight of their own sufferings, than as touched with a sense of their sins, or reverence for the sovereignty of God, who has given them up to the power of their oppressors; or as having faith in Him for their deliverance, or quiet submission to His will: these may either be said not to pray at all, or they pray not with such holy aims and designs, with such integrity and uprightness of heart, as become the people of God. They pray under the control of impatience, or moved with envy at the power of their adversaries, or with a desire of the utmost revenge; and therefore God takes no notice of their prayers, ver. 12, 13, “There they cry, but none giveth answer; surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.” Caryl. Man’s want of faith. Elihu shoveth how God

to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. 10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; 11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13 $^(b)$ Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. 15 But now, because it is not so, || he hath visited in his anger; yet || he knoweth it not in great extremity: 16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

CHAP. XXXVI.

9. Out of the south &c.] The marginal rendering is juster. The period will then be, “Out of the chamber

because of his great works. CHAP. XXXVII. His wisdom is unsearchable in them. Before CHRIST about 1320. the cloud of his light. a rod.

Job 35:10

10. But none saith, &c.] Many make formal flourishes, but none heartily acknowledge the powerful and just hand of God, who gives due and seasonable comfort to the soul, in the deepest and darkest night of our sorrows. Bp. Hall.

When God avengeth not the oppressed, it is to be attributed to their want of piety: He neglecteth them, because they neglect Him. They murmur, but they do not pray; they are clamorous, but they are not humble. Bp. Stock.

10. He openeth also their ear to discipline,] To fit them for instruction, that they may listen to God’s chastening. Caryl.

10.—and the breadth of the waters is straitened.] Those rivers, which before had no confinement or restraint, but were at liberty to enlarge and widen their surface, are now retarded in their course. Chappelow. Snow, cold, frost, and ice, were no strangers in Judea, which bordered on Arabia Petrea, supposed by some to be Job’s country, 1 Chron. xi. 22; Ps. cxlviii. 16, 17: nor yet in Arabia Petrea; see chap. vi. 16. It may be thought incredible, that there should ever be such severe cold in those warm climates as to freeze lakes and rivers. But Mr. Dawes informs us, that in the year 1766-7, at Aleppo, they had a very sharp winter, which destroyed all the fruits of the earth. The cold was so very intense, that the mercury in Fahrenheit’s thermometer, exposed a few minutes to the open air, sunk entirely into the ball of the tube. Millions of olive trees, that had withstood the severity of fifty winters, were blasted in this; and thousands of souls perished merely from cold. Was not this a frost sufficient to freeze a lake or river? and yet Aleppo is so warm a climate, that the same author tells us, they were obliged to sleep on the terraces of their houses in the summer. Scott.

Job 35:11

11. Who teacheth us more &c.] By bestowing the noble gift of reason, God hath qualified us for religion; and laid us under the highest obligation to be religious. Scott.

12. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud:] He expends all the moisture of the thick cloud in watering the earth. Bp. Hall.

Rather, “Even by serenity He wearieth the thick cloud.” Chappelow.

— he scattereth his bright cloud:] Rather, “He scattereth the cloud by His light or darkness.” Dr. Durell.

The whole verse may be thus translated, “Also the clear sky dispelleth the thick cloud, His sun scattereth the extended clouds.” We have here a picture of the sky in a clear sharp freezing day. Scott.

Job 35:12

12. There they cry, &c.] The oppressed cry for help; yet as they are wicked men, who still cherish the pride of their hearts against God, God regards them not. Clark.

13. — they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.] They shall die by some violent death for their folly, because they would not learn by God’s correction. Clark.

14. And it is turned round about by his counsels: &c.] The unsettled and irregular motions of the clouds proceed, not from any power of their own, but from His superiour direction: they, like all other created things, may be said in some sense to receive their commission from their Maker. Chappelow.

Job 35:13

13—15. But the hypocrites in heart &c.] The difference between him who makes a specious display of piety, and him who possesses it in sincerity, is manifested by the effect of afflictions on each. The hypocrite, while under chastisement, is so far from calling on God supplantly, that he provokes Him more and more to anger by an obstinate refusal to amend: hence he comes to an untimely end, and is involved in the same destruction with the most abandoned; see chap. xxvii. 8. The righteous, on the contrary, as being more open to instruction, when they have been taught by misfortunes, are delivered by God out of their troubles. Rosenzeller.

13. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, &c.] The moral use, which God makes of meteors, wind, rain, &c. can be but twofold. They are either for correction or for mercy. The situation of the words, “or for His land,” between those members of the partition, seems very uncouth, and perplexes the sense. A small transposition will render the period clear and easy:

Whether for correction or for mercy, Verily for His earth He causeth it to come. Scott.

— it] That is, the work which He commandeth the meteors to do upon the habitable parts of the earth. Scott.

It deserves our regard, that all the works of nature are prepared by God to be His instruments, either for judgment or for mercy: “The treasures of snow and hail are reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war,” chap. xxxviii. 22, 23. Bp. Sherlock.

Job 35:14

14. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, &c.] Although thou sayest, that God gives thee no assurance of His presence by any sensible demonstration; yet He will be sure to execute true, though secret judgment, in all the cases of men: and therefore acknowledge thou Him, and trust in Him. Bp. Hall.

15. Hearken unto this, O Job:] Hearken unto this discourse of God’s various proceedings: then say, whether it be fit to murmur against so great a Being; and whether it be possible for thee to comprehend His secret counsels, who canst not comprehend His ordinary works. Clark.

Job 35:15

15, 16. But now, because it is not so, &c.] But now, because it is not so, namely, that Job humbleth himself before God; and trusts in Him for deliverance, He hath visited in His anger: yet though Job is in great extremity of suffering, he is not brought thereby to the knowledge of God and himself: and hence it is manifest, that he pours forth complaints without success; thereby discovering his ignorance of God and himself. Clark.

Chap. XXXVI, XXXVII. In this last address to Job, Elihu brings forward no new assertion or saying of his to be proved against him; nor does he reprove Job for any new fault: but insists on the proof of what himself had asserted before, to show that God is righ-

ELIHU also proceeded, and said, 2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee † that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

15. He delivereth the poor in his affliction,] God delivers them in affliction, when He hath opened their ears by oppression. Caryl.

16. Dost thou know when God disposed them.] He means God’s disposing of His “wondrous works” or operations, ver. 14, in such a manner as to produce such and such effects. Scott.

— caused the light of his cloud to shine?] Caused the light to illuminate the cloud. Dr. Durell.

Or “caused his luminous clouds to shine.”] He means perhaps those bright clouds, fringed with gold, and stained with the richest tints, which often in a summer evening attend the setting sun. Some eminent commentators explain this passage of the rainbow; but the expressions may appear too vague to allow that limitation. Scott.

Job 35:16

16. Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, &c.] The clouds remain suspended, so long as their pressure is exactly balanced by the counter pressure of the air, which is underneath them. When the equipoise is destroyed, they often precipitate in rain. But the law of the equilibrium, and the causes which destroy the balance, are so mysterious in their operation, that our knowledge of these matters is extremely superficial. Scott.

Job 35:17

17. But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked:] Thou hast fully pleaded the cause of the wicked, and justified their hard and reproachful speeches, uttered in rage against God, condemning Him, and justifying themselves. The just indignation of God hath already seized upon thee. Clark.

18. How thy garments are warm, &c.] How comes it to pass, that the air is so hot, as that thou canst not bear thy clothes, when in a calm season, the south sun shines upon thee, and the warm southern winds blow in thy face? Bp. Hall.

He describes an Arabian noonday in the height of summer, when the sun is in his full strength, and not a breath of wind stirring to cool the sultry air. The word “wind” is not in the original. “The south” means the south quarter of the heavens, when the sun is in the meridian.

Before CHRIST about 1320. God’s wisdom is unsearchable. in his works. Before CHRIST about 1530. the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

Job 35:19

19. — not gold, nor all the forces of strength.] These words would be more intelligible, if they were rendered, as they might be, “not gold, nor all the powers of wealth.” Dr. Durell.

20. Teach us what we shall say &c.] These concluding verses are the peroration; wherein he represents to Job the rashness and danger of disputing with God; sets forth the incomprehensibility of the schemes of Providence; insists that they are planned and executed with most perfect equity and justice; and exhorts him and all mankind, to annihilate themselves before their Maker, in profound reverence of His adorable majesty. Scott.

Job 35:20

20. Desire not the night,] Do not thou wish for the night, as thinking that that silent and quiet time might give thee ease from thy thoughts, while thou hast to do with a God, who can in an instant cut off whole nations, much more thee, who art but a weak and frail man. Bp. Hall.

21. — if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.] If a man will be opposing Him in his speech, and questioning His justice, surely he shall be confounded. Bp. Hall.

Job 35:21

21. Take heed, regard not iniquity: &c.] Thou hast rather chosen to tax the proceedings of God in thy weak impatience, than meekly to suffer His infliction. Bp. Hall.

22. And now men see not the bright light &c.] Rather, And now men see not the light, which is bright above (or within) the clouds, till the wind passeth and cleanseth them. Dr. Durell.

21, 22. — men see not] Or, men cannot look at the bright light which is in the sky, when the wind hath passed and cleansed it. That is, when the sky is in such a clear and dazzling state as he had described, ver. 18. He beautifully applies that resplendent image to the purpose of shewing the insufferable splendour of the Divine majesty. Scott.

If men be not able with their weak eyes to behold the brightness of the sun, which shineth in the light clouds when the wind passes through and disperses them, and when the air is cleared by the north winds; how shall they be able to stand before God, and to hold contention with Him, whose majesty is terrible beyond the powers of our apprehension? Bp. Hall.

Job 35:22

22, 23. Behold, God exalteth by his power: &c.] Elihu, by this commendation of the power and wisdom of God, seems to comfort Job in the hope of better things if he would hearken to his counsel: for as God had greatly afflicted and broken him, so He was as mighty to heal those breaches and deliver him: He only waited to see Him in a better frame of mind, that he might be gracious; see Isa. xxx. 18. Caryl.

22. — said God is terrible majesty.] Rather, Above is God of tremendous majesty. Dr. Durell.

Job 35:23

23. Who hath enjoined him his way?] This passage ought to be rendered, “Who can charge Him with His way, or, animadvert upon Him for His way?” Dr. Durell.

24. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out:] This great and worthy sentiment is the sum of his whole speech in justification of God. The incomprehensibility and infinite perfection of God silence all objections to His government. This is a sufficient answer even to

the north: with God is terrible majesty.

Job 35:24

24. Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.] The Creator doubtless did not bestow so much curiosity, and exquisite workmanship and skill upon His creatures, to be looked upon with a careless incurious eye; especially to have them slighted or condemned: but to be admired by the rational part of the world, to magnify His own power, wisdom, and goodness, throughout all the world, and the ages thereof. The more we search and discover of His works, the greater and more glorious we find them to be; the more worthy of, and the more expressly to proclaim, their great Creator. To make such researches then is to answer the ends, for which God hath bestowed so much art, power, and wisdom about His works, as well as given us senses to view and survey them: and an understanding and curiosity to search into them: it is to follow and trace Him, where and whither He leads us, that we may see and admire His handy work ourselves, and set it forth to others, that they may see, admire, and praise it also. Such is the recommendation of Elihu: “Remember that thou magnify His work, which men behold. Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.” Dr. Derham.

This verse ought to have begun a new chapter: for it begins a new head of discourse, which is continued to the end of the ensuing chapter. The subject is the incomprehensible wisdom and power of God, in forming the meteors of rain, thunder, &c. and using them to

God’s works are to be magnified. God is to be feared, Before CHRIST about 1520. roots. that which goeth up.

24. Men do therefore fear him: &c.] The best wisdom of man is but foolishness to Him: He makes no reckoning therefore of that vain wisdom, with the conceit of which men are wont to please themselves. Bp. Hall.

These words of Elihu engage us most seriously to reflect upon the wonders of nature, and particularly upon the thunder, snow, rain, clouds, the winds, and the various seasons of the year. In all these things we discover, first, the infinite power of God; and next, His wisdom, justice, and goodness: since God makes use of all these things, and of their different effects, as means to promote the good and happiness of mankind; and sometimes He makes them serve as instruments of correction. We are here therefore called upon to consider attentively the wonderful manner in which the world is governed: and to make use of the mercies which God vouchsafes us, and of His chastening dispensations, which are all designed to teach us to know and fear Him. Here ends the dispute between Job and his friends. Ostervald.

“Let men therefore fear Him who beholdeth all the wise in heart as nothing.” This great instruction is the point of aim throughout Elihu’s speech: this is the sublime moral of the whole poem. To establish this primary duty of all religion by His own authority, the Deity Himself at last appears; the design of whose speech to Job is to reduce him to this reverent submission, and by his example to enforce it upon all others. Scott.

Chap. XXXVIII—XLII. Jehovah Himself is introduced with an answer to Job, which shall bring his mind to a better temper, and fit him for his restoration. The manner in which this latter part of the poem is conducted, has been well delineated by Scott.

“The design of this appearance of the Almighty is not to vindicate the injured character of Job. That is done by a second appearance, which was afterwards made to Eliphas singly, chap. xlii. 7, 9; and which comes not within the limits of the poem.

Before CHRIST about 1530.

Job 35:27

27. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain, according to the vapour thereof:.] This passage may be rendered, “For He maketh small the drops of water, which poureth down rain through His vapour.” Dr. Durell.

Job 35:29

29—31. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, &c.] “The spreadings of the clouds;” that is, the covering of the sky with clouds, the prelude to a thunder storm. By “His tabernacle” are meant, the clouds; see Psal. xviii. 11. Scott.

It is wonderful to observe with what a variety of natural and sublime expressions the thunder is described to us in this book, and all of them with reference to the Deity; as “the noise of His tabernacle;” the “murmurs of His mouth;” that “by which He judgeth His people;” and the like. Peters.

Job 35:30

30. Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it.] Behold, when the heaven is overcast with clouds, He sendeth forth His bright beams, and enlighteneth and cheereth the face thereof; and again He sendeth such gloomy and dark clouds, that the blackness and obscurity thereof shade even to the bottom of the sea. Bp. Hall.

Or, “Behold, He spreads upon it,” that is, the cloud, “His light,” or lightning; “and overspreads,” namely, with the lustre of it, “the bottom of the sea.” Parkhurst.

Job 35:31

31. For by them judgeth he the people;] He makes use of the clouds for quite contrary ends; both to

A T this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Job 35:32

32. With clouds he covereth the light:] By clouds also He sometimes hideth the sun from us, so that it cannot ripen the fruits; and sometimes only intercepts its beams awhile, that it may not burn them up with immoderate heat. Bp. Patrick.

Job 35:33

33. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it.] The noise of thunder, which is in the clouds, sheweth and presageth the rain, which will pour down from it; and the very cattle have a kind of notice, and give a certain intimation, by signs and tokens, of the falling of that moist vapour. Bp. Hall.

Chap. XXXVII. ver. 1. At this] At the consideration of the thunder. Bp. Hall, Clark.