Verses 1-34

The Second Series of Speeches (Job 15-21)

The rejection by Job of the opinions and advice of the friends, his sturdy maintenance of his innocence, and the fearlessness with which in his anguish he has arraigned the divine government of the world, have all alike deepened their conviction of his guilt. Without actually charging Job with definite sin, for which indeed they have no ground, they now administer stern rebukes, and draw terrible pictures of the certain misery which awaits the godless, and this evidently with an eye to the sufferer. They no longer encourage him to repentance, or predict consequent prosperity.

Job, for his part, laments their harshness, and rejects anew their doctrine of retribution as contrary to experience, and as not applicable to his case. He feels himself to be abandoned by God and man; he cries out for pity; he reasserts his innocence, and is still troubled by the problem of evil. Yet in the very midst of his trouble he makes some advance towards the solution of the mystery. Already he has had dim visions of a mediator between himself and GVod (Job 9:32.), and of the possibility of a restoration to the divine favour (Job 14:13-15). These were only momentary glimpses of a brighter day amidst the gloom, but now they develop into a stronger conviction that God must in the end restore the light of His countenance to His servant, and vindicate his innocence to the world, though it can only be after his death: see Job 16:19; Job 19:25-27. It is, however, no longer an umpire between himself and God that he desires. The conviction has come to him that since there is no umpire who can force his decision on God, God Himself will be the umpire to vindicate the righteousness of Job against the stigma of unrighteousness which He had Himself seemed to fasten upon him by his affliction.

Verses 1-35

The Second Speech of Eliphaz

1-16. Eliphaz accuses Job of impiety and arrogance.

2. And fill, etc] utter idle, empty remarks.

7. It was a popular idea that there was a primeval man endowed with perfect wisdom, corresponding to the figure of the Divine Wisdom in Proverbs 8.

8. Render, 'Didst thou hearken in the council of God?' i.e. before the creation of the world.

10. Eliphaz, perhaps, refers here to himself.

11. RV 'Are the consolations of God too small for thee, and the word that dealeth gently with thee?' The 'consolations of God' are the comforting views about God's government and purposes which Eliphaz would have Job accept: cp. Job 5:8-27.

12. What do thy eyes wink at?] render, 'why do thy eyes flash (in anger)?'

14. Eliphaz uses Job's own words (Job 14:4) to convict him of his sinfulness.

15. He] i.e. God. Saints] RV 'holy ones': the angels, cp. Job 4:18. Heavens] i.e. probably, 'heavenly beings.'

16. Drinketh] thirsts after, is greedy for.

17-35. Eliphaz describes, doubtless as a warning to Job, the troubled conscience and inevitable doom of the wicked.

18, 19. Eliphaz refers to a time when his ancestors had not mingled with other people, who would corrupt the purity of their wise sayings. His countrymen the Edomites, who were descended from Abraham, would have the same pride of race as their Hebrew cousins.

20-23. The haunting fears of the wicked oppressor.

20. And the number, etc.] RV 'even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.'

22. He loses hope of deliverance from misfortune.

23a. He imagines he is always coming to poverty.

24. Ready] fully prepared.

25. For] RV 'Because.'

26. Render,' It (trouble) leaps at his throat, past the thickest boss of his shield.' The boss is the central knob of the buckler.

27. A picture of sensual luxury: cp. Psalms 73:7.

28. Illustrative of his daring impiety: he ventured to dwell in cities that lie under the curse: cp. Joshua 6:26.

29. Neither shall he prolong, etc.] RV 'neither shall their produce bend to the earth'; a figure of fraitfulness.

30. By the breath, etc.] God's wrath will destroy him like a withering sirocco.

31. RV 'Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself.' Accomplished] RM 'paid in full.' His time] the natural time of his death.

32, 33. The speedy end of the wicked. 'His branch prematurely withers; he puts forth grapes, and cannot ripen them; he flowers, but he fails of fruit' (Davidson).