Job 22

Eliphaz declareth that God hath no profit by mans goodness, v.1, etc. And doth not punish him, as afraid of him, 4. Chargeth Job of many misdeeds, for which God punished him, 5. Even of denying of the Divine Providence, 12. He sheweth unto him, that God punished the wicked at all times, 15. Exhorteth him to repentance, 21. With promise of Gods gracious blessing thereupon, 23.

1. Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite and said:

2. Shall a man also be profitable to God? [He will say, no. Psalms 16:2. and therefore thou needest not vaunt so much of thy goodness or godliness. For God hath no benefit by it, whether, being godly thou do suffer, or being wicked, thou do prosper. A wise and good unto himself, but not to God, who in himself is the full and perfect sufficiency of all Good., See Gen.17.1. on the words, God Almighty, and compare below 35.7,8.] but the understanding (man) shall be profitable for himself. [Oth. When he (man, namely) is useful, shall he (namely, God) be prosperous thereby, or thrive by it?]

3. Is it advantage for the Almighty that thou art righteous? [Oth. Is it well pleasing, or, acceptable to the Almighty, that thou justifieth thy self? Heb. Is it pleasure, or, desire, recreation, which doth here imply as much as profit, (things profitable being much desired and delighted in) which is plain by what goeth before and followeth after. Where the word, properly signifying desire, is taken for gain, or lucre.] or gain, that thou perfectest thy ways? [i.e. doest lead a godly, unblameable life. The contrary whereof is to spoil, or corrupt ones way. Gen.6.12. and to corrupt or destroy ones works Zeph.3.7.]

4. Is it for fear of thee that he doth punish thee? [i.e. doest thou think he is afraid, thou mightiest do him any hurt or damage and prejudice; according as Jobs words above 7.12. might be construed to imply, or, is it for thy fearing his, i.e. standing in a religious aw and fear of him. This quaere of Eliphaz doth strongly deny, and imply, that it was not therefore, but by reason, and for the causes related in the next verse.] that he cometh with thee to judgement? [viz. For to condemn, pass sentence upon, and punish thee, Psalms 143:2.]

5. Is not thy wickedness great? [or, much: that namely, for which thou art punished; from the greatness and multitude of Jobs afflictions Eliphaz falsely inferreth the greatness and multitude of his transgressions.] and no end of thine iniquities?

6. For [He will say, it must needs be, that thou hast defiled thy self with some of these iniquities, I shall rehearse now, if not with all, because of these fearful plagues from God upon thee.] Thou hast taken pawn from thy Brethren [i.e. of those of thy kindred and consanguinity. See Genesis 24.on verse 27.] without cause, [i.e. wrongfully, viz. Because thou tookest that away in pawn, which thou oughtest not to take, or, taking away more then to the value of the thing thou lendest, or being paid, didst keep the pawn in thy hands still, having taken it not so much to ensure what thou lendest forth, as to wrest thy neighbours goods out of his hand, and keep it for thy self. See Exod.22.26,27. Deut.24.6,10, &c.] and thou hast stripped the cloths off the naked [i.e. those which were so poor and bare, that they could hardly cover their nakedness. Thus the poor are called Isaiah chapter 58.ver.7. or which were made poor by thy robbing and plundering of them.]

7. Unto the weary thou hast given no water to drink; and from the hungry thou hast withheld the bread.

8. But was there a man of power [Heb. A man of the arm; i.e. one that had, and abused his power to violence and oppression.] the land was for him. [i.e. thy country stood open for such an one. Compare this manner of speaking with the annotation above chap.11.on v.2. Arm for power, or Violence. Thus also below 35.9. and 38.15.] and a respectful person, [Heb. Accepted by face, i.e. one that by reason of some outward port or quality, is ranked and placed before others, which are of less appearance. See of the like accepting, or respecting of persons, Lev.19.on v.15.] dwelled therein.

9. The widows thou hast sent empty away, and the arms of the Orphans are bruised. [understand all the help, strength and ability, which the Orphans had left them. See 2 Chron.32.on v.8.]

10. Therefore are snares round about thee: [viz. All those miseries and adversities, which now do compass, intangle, and inthral thee, like so many snares, compare above 18.8,9, &c. And 19.6. together with the annotation.] and fearfulness hath troubled thee on a sudden.

11. Or thou seest not the darkness [i.e. doest not comprehend as indeed thou oughtest in what extremity of misery thou art plunged; and for what cause, that is, sins of thine; whereof in the former verses. Darkness for Misery. See Genesis 15.on verse 12. For sins, Isaiah 5:20. Ephesians 5:11.] and the overflowing of the water covereth thee. [understand the same miseries; for the words waters, floods, streams, &c. Are frequently taken for all manner of adversity. See 2 Sam.22.on ver.17.]

12. Is not God in the height of the heavens? [After that Elipahz in the precedent verses had taxed godly Job of divers sins, which he should have committed against his neighbour; he chargeth him now yet further with that, whereby he should have sinned and prevaricated directly against God, in denying of his eternal providence, according to which sense, the words of this verse, should be the represented speech of Job. Otherw. They may be understood, as the words of Eliphaz, minding Job, that God sitting so high, and seeing low, is well able to discern, to whom he shall impart good, or evil; which is well said indeed, but not so well applied to the person of Job. In the height of the heavens, i.e. is not God the most high of all, and hath he not his dwelling place above all visible creatures, yea, above the stars? Behold but the uppermost of the stars, [Heb. The head] That they are exalted. [namely thereby to consider how high God is, being much higher yet then any star.]

13. Therefore sayest thou, [Job had not said so; but Eliphaz wresting his words, made this perverse construction of them.] What doth God know of it, shall be judge through the darkness? [understand hereby that vastness, which is betwixt the highest dwelling of God, and this earth here below, in which space there are the clouds, and thick mists of the air, through which men being not able to pierce with their sight, their corrupt understanding judgeth, that God himself also is not able to discern through it, what there is a doing here in the world. This absurd judgement Eliphaz wrongfully imputeth unto Job here, together with that which followeth in the next verse.]

14. The clouds are a hiding to him, that he seeth not: and he doth walk the circuit of the heavens, [i.e. he troubleth himself, in governing of the world, only with things celestial and universal, not with terrestrial and particular.]

15. Hast thou observed the path of the age (Seculi) which the unrighteous have trodden? [i.e. the former course which the wicked of old have held to run into destruction. Thus the word age, or, eternity is taken. Isa.57.11. Jer.2.20. and 28.8.]

16. Being made wrinkled. [Oth. Being destroyed, or, cut off. Hereby some do understand the plagues and judgements of God in general over the wicked, which are often compared to water, as in the verse, and to fire, as v.20. Some apply it in particular to the Deluge.] When it was not the time: [viz. The full time of their lives, whereunto, according to the course of nature, and the state of their bodily health, they might possibly have attained, if they had not been seized on by a violent death of fading and mouldering away on a sudden. Compare Psal.54.24.] A flood is powered out (over) them.

17. Which said unto God, turn from us: [these are the words which Job had formerly alledged of the wicked, that grew old in their riches and prosperity, above 21.14. Now Eliphaz turns them to his advantage, saying that the wicked did perish by such and such plagues in general, or in particular by the Deluge, because they had uttered these words.] And what had the Almighty done to them.

18. Surely he had filled their houses with goods: there the counsel of the wicked is far from me. [Or, be far, &c. These very words Job had used before chap.21.16. but Eliphaz seemeth to repeat them here, to shew they became him better, then Job when he judged wicked.]

19. The righteous saw it, [viz. Noah, and his, for these words (as some conceive) relate to the intimated judgement of the Deluge.] And were glad: [viz. Not in the destruction of the wicked, but in the demonstration of Gods righteous judgements on them, and mercy to themselves.] And the innocent [viz. Noah] mocked them.

20. Because our estate is not destroyed; [he meaneth the life and welfare of those that were good and fearing God: among whom Eliphaz doth reckon himself also, as reputing himself one of their followers and co-partners in godliness:] But the fire, [viz. Of Gods wrath and indignation. So Deut.32.22. Psal.18.9. Isa.26.11. and 66.16. Ezek.22.31. Or, the adversity which proceedeth from Gods indignation, above 15.34. Some understand here the destroying of the Cities of Sodom and Gomorra, in particular.] Hath devoured their remnant [Oth. Their excellency.]

21. Do but accustom thy self to him, [viz. To God to fear and serve him uprightly as thy Lord and thy Father.] And have peace: [or, be at peace, viz. Through patience in the present affliction, and hope of the deliverance to come. The word peace, doth signify the inward and spiritual rest & quietness of the heart, as Jud.6.23. and 19.20. Isa.57.21. Col.3.15. Or, thou shalt have peace, i.e. prosper and farewell. See Gen.37.on v.4.] thereby [Oth. Therein in these (things)] Shall the good come upon thee. [Or, is thy income good. Compare above 21.13. and the annot.]

22. Receive but the law. [Oth. Instruction] out of his mouth: [God namely: understand by the mouth of declare his word. See Isa.11.4. 2 Thes.2.8.] And lay his sayings (up) in thy heart.

23. If thou convert thy self to the Almighty, thou shalt be built; [i.e. restored into thy former estate. Or, through Gods blessing thrive and prosper. Thus the word building is taken, Psal.28.5. Jer.12.10. and 31.4. Malac.3.15. Compare Gen.16.on v.2. and above 5.44.] Put the iniquity far from thy tents. [i.e. houses, or dwelling-places, See 2 Kings 13.on ver.5.]

24. Then shalt thou lay the gold upon the dust: [i.e. thou shalt get abundance of wealth. To lay the gold upon, or by the dust, seems to imply the heaping of it up reason of the mighty abundance one hath, then of the dust one treads upon, and which needs no care nor locks to keep it. Oth. The gold shall be laid upon the dust, or, one shall lay, &c. i.e. God shall by his blessing make the gold come easily before thee.] and the (gold of) Ophir [See 1 Kings 9.on v.28.] by the rock of the brooks: [i.e. not in high and inaccessible places, where it might seem to be guarded from coming at, but in the lower parts at the foot of a rock, against which the streams do beat, and thereby one may easily discover and also carry away that which lieth there. The meaning is, he should have the gold in that abundance, that he should not value it much, and take as little care to keep it in safe custody.]

25. Ye the Almighty shall be thy overflowing gold: [The Hebrew word is in the plural, whereby given to understand the mighty abundance. Oth. Thy protection.] And thy mighty silver. [Hebrew silver, of strengths. (virium.)]

26. For then thou shalt recreate thy self in the Almighty and thou shalt lift up thy face to God] i.e. cheerfully call upon, and expect all manner of good from him.]

27. Thou shalt pray earnestly unto him, and he shall hear thee: and thou shalt pay thy vows. [i.e. because he shall be bountiful to thee, fulfilling thy desires, thou also shalt be thankful unto him, rejoicing in his beauty. Compare Psal.50.14. and 61.9.]

28. When thou determinest a matter, then it shall be constant to thee: [i.e. it shall be brought to pass and be settled for thee. So Numb.30.4. Isa.7.7. and 8.10.] And the light shall upon thy ways [i.e. thy undertakings, works and actions shall through Gods blessings thrive and prosper.]

29. When (any) one shall be humbled [or brought low viz. Through misery and adversity] and thou shalt say. Be it exalting: [i.e. fervently pray to God in his behalf, that such an one may be raised up again out of his affliction, and be delivered.] then shall (God) save the lowly of eyes. [Heb. The bowed down, or, beaten down if eyes. Unto these are opposed, the high, or haughty eyes whereof see Prov.6.17.]

30. Yea, he shall free him that is not guiltless [i.e. God shall help in regard of thy prayer and intercession, not the godly onely, but the very ungodly also, Genesis 18:32. Oth. An innocent (one) or, guiltless shall free an island, or, he shall free the Island of the innocent.] for he is freed through the pureness of thy hands. [Heb.plams. Understand the prayers which are made with lifting up pure hands to God, and come forth out of an upright and believing heart, 1 Timothy chap.2. verse 8.]