Job 26

Job 26:1

“ In contrast with the shortest speech in the book (chapter 25) chapters 26-31 comprise the longest. Job replied first to Bildad (‘you’ in 26:2-4 is singular), but later (in chapters 27-31) to all three (“ you” in 27:5 is plural)” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 748). These chapters (26-31) are also Job’s final response to his critics. In this section, Job will repudiate Bildad’s wisdom (chapters 26-27), talk about God’s wisdom (28), express a desire for his past glory (29), bemoan his present misery (30), and declare his innocence (31).

Job 26:2

26:2 “What a help you are to the weak!”: Job declares that Bildad’s counsel and help have been absolutely worthless. 26:2-3 “Abundantly provided”: “Speaking of the ‘helpful insight’ Bildad had ‘abundantly provided’, Job was no doubt sarcastically blasting Bildad’s short speech, which was given without help, without insight, and without kindness” (Zuck pp. 115-116). “Job identifies his own position as powerless, weak, and without wisdom to deal with the mysterious circumstances of his suffering, Bildad, however, is commended as the one who could help him, hold him up, and counsel him (26:2-3). But rather than meeting his needs, Bildad charges him with sin, labels him as wicked, and reduces him to a worm” (McKenna pp. 186-187).

Job 26:4

26:4 “And whose spirit was expressed through you?”: Job seems to be saying that obviously God was not speaking through Bildad, so whose “spirit” was speaking through him? Was he just parroting someone else’s theology?

Job 26:5

26:5 “In contrast to his friend’s limited exaltation of God (25:3-5), Job majestically sweeps beyond. Even those in Sheol (figuratively beneath the waters, or earth, Philippians 2:10) are naked before God” (Jackson p. 61). The expression “departed spirits” seems to refer to the “elite” among dead, i.e., the once powerful. Job notes that God rules over the realm of the dead, and the departed spirits tremble, which indicates consciousness after death.

Job 26:6

26:6 The word “Abaddon” means “destruction” and is a synonym for the side of Sheol that includes the wicked. “Even the elite dead are in anguish because God knows and sees them” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 749).

Job 26:7

26:7 “He stretches out the north over empty space”: “God’s creation of the skies was likened by Job to His stretching out a tent on a pole. The ’north’ is the celestial pole around which the universe appears to revolve. The earth was viewed by Job as being supported by nothing material and therefore as being sustained only by God” (Zuck p. 117).

Job 26:8

26:8 Job is amazed at how the clouds can be full of water like waterskins, and yet remain suspended in air without releasing their water.

Job 26:9

26:9 God can even use the clouds to obscure the moon.

Job 26:10

26:10 The term “circle” here may refer to the horizon, which appears to be circular, where light and darkness begin and end when the sun arises in the east and sets in the west. Or the term “circle” may refer to the dome shaped outline of the sky. This suggests the curvature of the earth, compare with Isaiah 40:22.

Job 26:11

26:11 The “pillars of heaven” probably refer to the mountains that figuratively appear to support the sky. God can even shake the mighty mountains.

Job 26:12

26:12 God controls the oceans. We literally see this when Jesus calmed the sea. The term “Rahab” appears to refer to a pagan sea monster, and the idea could be that God is superior to all mythological representations of evil.

Job 26:13

26:13 God’s mere breath completely clears the sky after a storm. The “fleeing serpent” may be a parallel to “Rahab” in 26:12.

Job 26:14

26:14 “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways”: This is just a sample, a meager fringe of God’s power. This is just the outside edge! “How faint a word we hear of Him!” “People are so distant from God that they heard only a whisper and obviously then cannot possibly fully comprehend all God’s activities in His power” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 750). This seems to be a rebuke to Bildad who claimed to understand God’s providence. “If one can see that the Lord’s operations in nature are not to be fully fathomed by man, how much more His working among humanity? Since Zophar fails to come forward at this time, Job continues” (Jackson p. 61).