Job 40
PATThis chapter gives an account of the sense of Zophar about the business in dispute. It is uncertain whence he was descended; but probably he dwelt upon tho borders of Idumea, for thcro we find an ancient city called Naamah, (Josh. xv. 41.) and from thence came to visit Job in his affliction. But instend of joining with him in his prayer for a little respite from his pain (with which Job hadconcludcd his discourse), ho calls him an idle talker, and accuses him of irreverence towards God, Concerning whoso incomprehensible counsels, and irresistible power, &c. he discourses with great sense, nnd gives Job exceeding good advice; but still follows the opinion of the other two friends, that he would not have been so miserable if he had not been wicked. Vcr. i. J. UEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said.] Here a third friend of Job’s (Zophar of Naamah) began to speak, with no small passion; Vcr. 2. Should riot the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?] Dost thou think to stop our mouths with abundance of words; and by thy talkativeness to persuade us thou art innocent? by the thundering voice of tho captains, and the shouting of the soldiers. Job modestly declining to say one word in his own defence (though he was graciously invited by God to speak, if he had any plea remaining), is still more humbled by a plain declaration from the Divine Majesty, that Elihu had reason to reprove him for his immoderate complaints (which some might look upon as an accusation of God’s providence), and for maintaining his own righteousness so much, and God’s righteousness so little, in the dispute he had had with his friends. Shewing him withal, that he was not sensible enough of the infinite distance and inequality between him and God; when he desired so vehemently to argue his case with him, that he forgot to make those submissions to the Divine Majesty, which had better become him. This disproportion is rpost livclily represented and illustrated, by an admirable description of the strength of the behemoth,^ word of Egyptian termination; signifying, not the elephant, (which seldom lies down, and never among reeds, as this doth, ver. 21.) but a creature in that country, called liy the Greek writers hippopotamus, i. e. river-horse. For it appears by the second book of Esdras, chap. vi. 49. that the Hebrews reckon behemoth, not among the land creatures, but among those belonging to the water, which were created on the fifth day. And there is none, that Ave know, of that sort, to whom the characters here men-. tioned belong, but the creature now named. not yet humbleenough) a creature* which * Behemoth, i. e, I have made in a country not far from thee: river-horse. he lives among the fishes in the great river of Egypt, but he feeds upon the earth, and eateth grass like an ox. *
Job 40:1
-L-*- OREO VER, the Lord answered Job, and said.* After a short silence, to see what Job would reply to this long discourse, the Lord proceeded, and said; Ver. 2: Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.] Why dost thou not speak? Hath not the Almighty brought arguments enough to convince thee? Let him that will argue with God about his providence, first make an answer to these questions.
Job 40:3
Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?. Must we not confute thy false allegations, but suffer thee to be insolent, because thou art miserable? Then Job answered the Lord, and said.] Then Job, whose confusion had made him silent, answered with great humility and said; JLdET us haste before thy wife, and prepare the house.] As Tobias’s parents were uneasy at his long stay, and did not expect that a wife would accompany him in his return, it was seasonable advice of Raphael’s, that they should go before, as well to satisfy his father and mother, and to free them from their anxious solicitude about him, as to prepare the house to the best advantage, and dispose all things for.the reception of the bride, and the lodging and accommodating so many servants and cattle as came along with him, and were part of her dowry. The Vulgate makes Tobias to arrive seven days before his wife; Jngressa est etiampost septem dies Sara uxorfdii ejus, et omnis familia sana, etpecora, et cameli, etpecunia multa vxoris, sed et ilia pecunia quam receperat a Gabelo. The Greek takes no notice of this, but intimates rather her arrival on the same day. It seems as if there was no foundation for such a surmise; Tobias now bringing his wife home as a bride, would never be so uncomplaisant and unkind, as to leave her on tho road for so long a time as seven days only to servants, and with such a great charge of money with
Job 40:4
For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and J am clean in thine eyes. For thou prctendest not to have offended either in word or deed, and that God himself can find no reason to condemn thee* Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand ttpon my mouth.] Behold, I am a wretched creature, and not worthy to speak unto thy Majesty: nor do I know what to answer; and therefore I will hold ray peace.
Job 40:5
But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee. Oh that he would vouchsafe to shew thee thine error, and with his own mouth confute thee! Ver. C. And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.] That he wonld shew thee the secret reasons of his wise counsels (which far surpass thine) in this affliction; and make thee know that he would be just, if he should punish thy sin more severely. Vcr. 7. Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty tmto perfection?] Art thou able, after all thy busy inquiries, to give an account of God’s judgments, and perfectly comprehend the reasons of his providence? Once have I spoken, but Iivill not answer; yea, twice, but Iivill proceed no farther.] I have said too much already, in speaking only these two words to thee: but I have done; I will add no more. Ver. G. Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the tvhirlwind, and said.] Then the Divine Majesty spake again, after the same manner as before, saying,
Job 40:7
Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. “What, hast thou (who desiredst so much to plead with me) lost thy courage? pluck up thy spirit, man, and prepare thyself (as I said at first) to answer the questions I shall farther ask thee.'
Job 40:8
It is as high as heaven; wliat canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?. Thou mayest as well take a measure of the height of heaven, or of the depth of hell. - Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thoti condemn me that thou may est be righteous?] Is there any reason to suspect my care of mankind, who have shewn it so much about other creatures? Canst thou not defend thyself, but thou must also complain of me? must I be condemned that thou mayest be justified?
Job 40:9
The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. The earth and the sea, as long and as broad as they are, have their bounds; but that hath none* Hast thou an ann like God? or. canst thou thunder with a voice like him?] Who art thou, that talketh so much of thine own innocence, that thou forgetteth to maintain my righteousness? hast thou a power equal to mine; or canst thou speak with a voice like this; or imitate the thunder thou hearest in the clouds?
Job 40:10
If he ait off, and shut up, or gather together then who can hinder him?.* If he seize upon any thing, and shut it up (as a hunter doth his prey in a net), he will gather it, and who shall force him to restore it? Vcr. 11. For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?] For he knows vain men (who mind not what they say or do), he sees their most hidden wickedness, and will not he punish it? Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency, and array thyself with glory and beauty.] Lift up thyself then; and let me see thee appear in the highest majesty: put on thy robes, and shew thyself in such royal state, that all may honour and reverence thy excellent greatness. < •
Job 40:11
Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath; and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. Let all thine adversaries round about thee (as becomes a mighty prince) feel the fierceness of thy wrath; frown upon all the haughty, and make them hang down their heads, i. Ver. ]2. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the tvicked in their place.] Look, I say, upon every proud oppressor, and make himcringe and throw himself at thy feet: tread down all the wicked, wheresoever thou shalt find them.
Job 40:12
For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt. Shall man, void of understanding > take the confidence to dispute with God? man, who is naturally as rude and blockish as a wild ass’s colt? Vcr. 13. Jf thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards him.] If thou art truly wise, ccaso disputing, and fall to prayer. Vcr. 14. If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.] If thou art guilty of any sin, banish it quite away, and reform thyself and thy family.
Job 40:13
Hide them in the dust together, and bind their faces in secret. Cast them, all into one grave, that the world may be no more troubled with them: cover those faces with perpetual shame and confusion, which now bear themselves so high, and overlook all others.
Job 40:14
Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee. When I see thee do such things as these, then will I myself also magnify thy pow T er, and acknowledge that thou ncedest none of my help,, to deliver thee…
Job 40:15
Behold now behemoth, which I made tvitk thee; he eateth grass as an ox. .But consider awhile (if thou’.art
Job 40:16
Lo now’, Ms strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. Consider, I say, the greatness of his strength, and the firmness of his flesh, not only in his loins, but even ijn the navel of his belly, where other creatures are wont to be weak and tender.'
Job 40:17
He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. 1 He hath a tail as thick and as stiff as a cedar, but he bends and throws it back at his pleasure: the nerves of his thighs are so many, that they are intricate and perplexed one within another.
Job 40:18
His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. His bones (for so they are rather than gristles) are as strong as bars of brass, and as hard and firm as rods of iron.
Job 40:19
Heisthechiefofthe ways of God: he that made him can make his sivord to approach unto him. He is one of the principal works of God, a very singular instance of his power: he that made him hath fastened such crooked teeth in his jaws, exceeding sharp, that therewith he mows the grass and the corn as with a scythe.
Job 40:20
Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings towards the south?. Behold, also, how the hawk mounts up aloft. Didst thou give her those swift wings; or teach her, when the winter cbhies, to ily into the southern parts, that she may still enjoy tho warmth of the sun? Surely the mountains bring him forth food > where all the beasts of the field play.] For he goes in the night to graze upon the hills, in the company of the rest of the beasts of the field; who sport themselves in those rich pastures: *
Job 40:21
He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reeds and fens. But (in the day) he lies down in shady and close places, under the covert of the reeds, and in the fenny mud. *
Job 40:22
Tlie shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willoivs of the brook compass him about. The bushy trees, which are there very numerous, afford him a shelter; he is encompassed with the willows and the osiers, which grow in abundance on the banks of Nile.
Job 40:23
Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasieth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. Nay, behold, he dives to the very bottom of the river, and there takes his repose without fear: he will be secure, though Jordan also should break out, and be poured upon his mouth.
Job 40:24
lie taketh it with his eyes; his nose pierceth through snares. Who dare come in his sight, or attempt to take him by open force? Where is he that will undertake to fasten hooks in his nose?
Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?. But what bird soars so high as the eagle? Is she beholden to thee for that strength which carries her into the clouds? or was it by thy direction that she builds her nest quite out of all men’s reach?
She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.”. She dwells on the top of high rocks: in tho steep and craggy rock, as in an inaccessible fortress, she settles her abode.
From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. There she leaves her young ones safely, while she goes to provide them food; from thence (so sharp is her sight) she spies her prey a vast way off.
Her young ones also stick up blood: and where the slain are, there is she. Which when she h&th seized and torn she brings to her nest, that they may suck its blood: she looks down to the very earth; and where the carcasses lie, there may she be found.