The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 187

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XI. amathite, 8.11d aald (see the comment on eh. ii 11). Vem. 1-20.-Zophar,the Na.a.mathite, the Ver. 2.---Shonld not the multitude of words &Lird of Job's comforters (eh. ii. 11), and be answered 1 A " multitude of words " i11 often reproved in Scripture, and taken as a probably the youngeet of them, now a.t last sign of either folly (Eccles, v. 3) or sin takes the word, and deli vBl'II a.n angry and (Prov. x. 19). Job had certainly been some- violent speech. Re begins by ll,OOlllling Job wha.t nndnly verbose, and laid himself open of having spoken a.t undue length, and at t.o the taunt here launched age.inst him; the enme time, boastfully and mockingly other but neither had brevity been studied by his friends in their previous answers (eh. (vers. 2-4). He then expresses a. wish iv., v., and viii.), nor is it greatly studied by that God wonld t.a.ke Job at hie word, a.nd Zophe.r here. And should a man fnll of talk really answer him, since he is sure that the be jUBtifted 1 literally, a man of lips, which result would be to show that Job had been may mea.n either "a great talker" or "e. punished mnch less tha.n he deserved to he man who me.kee many professions." There is a widespread prejudice against a great (vere. 5, 6). Job's complaints e.ge.inBt the ore.tor, and a widespread notion that a good jnstice of God's dealings he meets by e.n canse does not need many words. assertion of God's nnsea.rchableness and Ver. 3.-Shonld thy lies make men hold perfect wisdom, which he contrasts with their peace 1 or, tlly boastings (see the Re- tlie folly of man (vera. 7-12). Finally, he vised ·Veraion; and comp. I.ea. xvi. 5; Jer. xlviii. 30). Zophar probably refers to such enggests that e. stricken man, being guilty, pa.ssages as eh. ix. 20, 35; x. 7, 15, whero ehonld humble himself, put away his ini- Job might seem. to have justified himself quity, and tnrn to God, in which case he altogether. And when thou mockest, shall 1118.y expect 11, reatorp.t ion to fa.vonr. Other- no man make thee uhamed 1 It is not quite wise, he has only to look for wretchedness, easy to see what in Job's speeches up to this point oould be regarded as "mooking." fa.ilnre, and deBpair (ven. 13-20). But perhe.pe Zophar would he.ve thus cha- racterized the following pas1uge1 : eh. vi. 13, Ver. 1.-Tlaa 111111,r,red ZoJhar t1141 B,._ 1*, 25-27; vii, 12; ix. 22-24, OD, XI. 1-20,) Tm; BOOK OF JOB.