The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 445

HOMILETICS. Vel'I!. 1-28.-Joo's first prm,b7e: 3. .A discow·se ttpon frtle wisdom. L Tnua WISDOM UNDISOOVERABLE BY HUMAN GENIUS. Among the stupendous efforts of human industry and skill with which Job was acquaint.ed, nothing was better fitted to impress tbe mind with a Bense of man's illimitable daring, resistless might, and wonderful sucoesi: in BeRrching out all perfection (ver. 3), and bringing hidden things to light (ver, 11), than the operations of the miner. These, a knowledge of whioh may have been derived from mines then being worked in Egypt, the Sinaitio peninsula, and Arabia (vuh Exposition; and cf. Delitzsch, in loco), are with much accuracy and vividness portrayed. 1. The treasures the miner seeks. These are set forth by their names and the places where they commonly are found. (1) Silver from the issuing place, i.e. from the mine• and gold, which men refine,'&-om it.s place, i.e. also from the mine. Expositors generally remark upon the accuracy of these statements, which speak of silver as being found in a vein or "issue" at some depth below the ground, and gold as obtained near the surface; of the silver as requiring t.o be dug from the earth, and of gold as needing to be washed out from the pulverized rock. The :first mention in Scripture of "gold and silver" is in connection with Abraham's retnrn out of Egypt (Gen. xiii. 2), though gold afterwards abounded in Arabia and J udies in the time of Solomon (1 Kings x. 2, 21, 2i). If "the use •Of gold and silver commonly precedes the discovery of iron• (Barnes), then it is probable that those precious metals were not unknown to Tubal- Cain and his contemporaries (Gen. iv. 22). It is impossible to say to what extent the art of metal-working had advanced in Job's time, but the mention of ear-rings and bracelets in the days of Abraham (Gen. :xxiv. 30), and of silver cups, gold rings, and-gold chains in the age of Joseph (Gen. xli. 42; xliv. 2), makes it obvious that considerable proficiency had been attained prior to the era of Moses. In the estimation. of Job the procuring and preparing of these precious metals were signal illustrations of the power and skill of man. (2) Iron from the dust, i.e. from the bowels of the earth, and copper from the stone, i.e. from the ore by smelting. Tubal-Cain is the first known worker in brass (copper) and iron (Gen. iv. 22). Iron is afterwards mentioned in the time of Og King of Bashan, B. c. 1350. The working of iron and copper mines is more difficult than those of gold or silver; hence the use of the former metals indicates a more advanced state of civilization. (3) Stones of darkness and of the shadow of death. These may be the copper and iron ores which are fetched up from the lowest depths of the earth ; the miner in pursuit of them penetrating into the remotest regions, making an end of darkness, lighting up the lightless interior of the earth, and carrying his search into every extremity, i.e. into every nook and corner (ver. 3). Or they may include all kinds of precious stones, such as the sapphire (ver. 6), lying buried in the dark recesses of the earth, which, in order to appease man's insatiable thirst of acquisition, are tnmed up as it were by fire, although out of it, i.e. from the surface of the earth, there cometh forth bread (ver. 5). 2. The path the miner followB, A solitary path. (1) Remote from human ken (ver. 4). Out a.mid the solitudes of the Sinaitic peninsula the miner sinks his shaft down beneath the surface of the ground, leaving behind him the homes and habitatiow; of men. There, forgoLten by travellers overhead, he swings himself down the piHhaft by a rope, descending t.o hie lonely toil; or, perhaps, sitting suspended at his work, he swings to and fro, far removed from human-kind. (2) Withdrawn from creatur~bservation (vers. 7, 8). Sweeping far and wide in search of prey, the eagle's or the vulture's eye cannot gaze on the hidden path by which the miner presses towards hi;; spoils; nay, in quest of earth's treasures he travels by a road inaccessible t.o, and even imperceptible by, the lion and other proud bea.ste of prey. That man e&n penetrat.;e t.o secret ,etreats in pursuit of wealth, where neither 1uick-sighted bird nor keen-scented beut can follow, is a striking testimony t.o man s superiority over the brute creation. 8. The wurkti the miner eucutu. Some of these h#.ve been men.. OR, xtvm.1-28.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 461