The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 326

CHAPTER XX. words scarcely "imply cognizance of the record (of the creation of man) in Genesis," Vere. 1-29,-:Zophe.r's second speech is e.s Canon Cook suggests; but they do imply even moie harsh than.his first (eh. xi.). He belief in a creation of man, not an evolu- adds coarseness and rudeness to his former tion; and in the existence of a continuous tradition, extending from that time to Job's. vehement hostility (vers. 7, 15). His whole The passage is among those which make discourse•ie a cover~ denunoiation of Job as for the high antiquity of the book. a wicked' man and a hypocrite (vers. 5, 12, Ver. 5.-That the triumphing of the I~. 29), deservedly pnuished hy God for a wicked is short (comp. Ps. x.xxvii. 35, ~6; life of crime. He ends by prophesying Ii. 1-5; lxxiii 17-19, etc.). This is one of the main points of dispute between Job Job's violent death, the destrnction of his and his opponents. It has been previously house, and the rising up of heaven and maintained by Eliphaz (eh. iv. 8-11; v. earth i_n wit~ess against him (vere. 24-28). 3-5; xv. 21, 29) and by Bildad (eh. viii. 11-19), as it is now by Zopha.r, and may Vers'.· •1, 2:-Then answ:ered Zophar the be regar<led as the traditional belief of the Nae.mathite, and said, Therefore do -,ny time, which scarcely any ventured to ques- thoughts cause me to answer. Zophar "has tion. His own observation, however, has heard the check of _his reproach" (ver. 3), convinced Joh that the fact is otlic·rwise. fe. the reproach contained in the l~st words He he.s seen the wicked "live, become old. of Job in the preceding t,1hlipter. Therefore and remain mighty in power" (eh. x.xi. 7); his thoughts rise up within him, and com- he has seen them "spend their days in pel him to make a reply-. He cannot allow wealth," and die quietly, as "in a moment" Job· to shift the onus of guilt e.nd the (eh. xxi. 13). In eh. x:xiv. 2-24 he seems menace of punishment on his friends, when to argue tha.t this is the general, if not it is be, Job, that is the guilty person, over universal, lot of such persons. Later on, whom the judgments of God impend. And however, in eh. xxvii. 13-23, he retracts for this I make haste ; rather, a11d because this view, or, at any ro.te, greatly modifies of'my_ haste that ie within me (see the Re- it, admitting tha.t usually retribution does vised'Version); i.e. " because I am of a ha.sty even in this life overtake tbe wick~<l. .And and impetuous temperament." this seems to be ihe general sentiment of Ver.· 3.-I have heard the cheok of my mankind. reproach; or, the'reproof which putteth me to ihame (Revised Version). Sowa suppose an "Raro antecedentem scelestum, allusion to eh, xix. 2, S; but it is better to Deseruit pede pwua claut!o." regard Zophnr as enraged by vers. 28, 29 of (Horace,' Od.,' iii. 2, ll. 31, 32.) eh. xix, And the spirit of my under~tanding There remains, however, the question causet~ me to answer. This claim is not whether the triumphing of the wicked can quite consistent with the noknowlcdgment fairly be considered " short," and the joy of of hastiness in ver. 2. But it is no unusual the hypocrite but for a moment. When we thing for an impetuous and hasty man to consider the lives of Dionysiu~ the elder, declare that he speaks from the dictates of Sylla, Marius, Tiberius, Louis XIV., Na- pure dispassionate reason. poleon, it is difficult to answer thisquesLicn Ver. 4.-Knowest thou not this of old, in the affirmative. 1ilLoe man wae plaoed upon earth 1 These Ver. 6.-Thongh his exoellenc:r mount up 840 THE BOOK OF JOB. [on. Xlt, 1--99.