The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 507

EX.POSITION. CHAPTER XXXIl. Blih11.. The name " Elihu " wa11 not 1Ul• common among the Israelites. It le found A m,w penionage is now introduced upon among the anoestora of Samuel (1 Be.m. I. the eoone, who epeab in a new style and 1), among the Korhite Levites of the time of David (I Chron. xxvi. 7?!_ and as a almost in a new le.ngaage. No previous VRriant for Elie.b, one of David a brothers (1 mention bas been me.de of him; no subee- Chron. uvii. 8). The meaning of the word 41uent notice is taken of his arguments; and we.s, "He is my God" (1m1•~11). The son nothing is eaid of him in the historioal of Jla.rachel. Be.re.ohel is •also a significant Bection wherewith the work oonoludee (oh. nflme. It means, " Bless, 0 God," or " God xiii. 7-17). It is therefore eoa.roel.y - blessee" (',11 7,:i). Both names imply that prising that Borne exception hBS been ta.ken the new interlocutor belonged to a. family t;o the genuineness of the entire pBSB&ge ( oh. of monotheists. The Bnzi.te, "Ruz" and ::caii.-xxxvii), or that it he.s been re- "Buz" were brothers, the sons of Ne.hor, Abraham's brother, by Milcah, the daughter garded by many exoellent oritios as an in- of Haran (Gen. xi. 29; xxii. 20, 21). Of terpolation into the Book of Job, m&de by the kindred of Bam. By " Ram" we are one who was not the original author, at a probably to understand "Are.m," who wa.s date considerably later than the rest of the the son of Kemuel, a brother of Ruz and Bnz. (On the conneotion of Huz and Buz composition. A modification of this ex- with the Arabian tribes of Khe.zu and Bazu, treme view is suggested by M. Rena.n, see the comment on eh. i. 1.) Against J'ob who thinkll that the original author may was hill wrath kindled, beoaue he justified have added the pe.sae.ge in his old age. himself rather than God, Elihu was well- This view is entitled to consideration. intentioned; and it is perhaps not snrprieillg that he had been shocked by some of Job's Tbe subject b&6 been discussed at some expressions. Job he.d hi.mselfe.pologized for length in the Introduction, so that no more them (eh. vi. 26); and certainly tlley went need be etated here. We a.re confronted perilously near taxing God with illjuetice with tbe foot that the passage b&6 come (see eh. :rl. 8). But it is to be remembered down to us as a substantive portion of the that finally God justifies Job's sayings, while condemning those of his "comforters." Book of Job, in all the Hebrew me.nuecripts "My wrath is kindled," he says to Eliphe.z, that have reaobed our time; as well as in "agaiDst thee, e.nd age.inst thy two friends : all the ancient versions-the Septuagint, for ye he.ve not spoken of me the thing that the Syriac, the Chaldee, the Arabic, the u right, a, my llef''Dant Job hath" (eh. x:.l.i.i. 7). lEthiopic, the Vnlgate, etc. To excise it, Ver. 3.-Also against his three friends wa.1 his wrath kindled, beoaue they had therefore, would be too bold a measure, found no answer. Elihu thought that Job's though some modems have not ahnmk ree.sonings and comple.intli admitted of being from doing so. satisfactorily answered, and was vexed that Vers. 1---5.-The disooll1'88 of Elihu is the three " friends" had not made the right prefaced by a short introduction in plain replies. It is the me.ill object of his speeoh prose, explaining who he was, and giving to supply them. A.nd yet had condemned Job. They had condemned him on wrong the reasons which actuated him in coming grounds e.nd of sins the.t he had not com- forward e.t this poillt of the dialogue. mitted (eh. uii. 6-9). Eiihu condemns him as much (eh. xxxiii. 9-12; xxxiv. Ver. 1.-So these three men ceased to 7-9,etc.), but for entirely different reasons. a.nswer Job. Zophe.r had been silenced Ver. 4.-Now Elihu had waited till Job earlier. Eliphe.z and Bilde.d now felt that had spoken ; rather, to 8pea1, to Job (see the tbey had no more to say. They had ex- Revised Version). He had waited impa- liau.ted the wee.pons of their armoury with- tiently until the three special "friends" out any effect, and were conscioUB that had said their say, and he might come for- 11othing would be gained by mere reiteration. ward without manifest presumption. Be- All their efforts had aimed at convincing oaue they were elder than he. (On the re- .Job of sill; and he was ctill nncomi.nced- spect paid to age at this time ill the Janel l,t rtmaioed righteou, in his own eyes. wherein Job lived, see the comment on eh. Ver. 2.-Then wu kindled the wrath of xxix. B.) 08, llnl, 1-22.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 1121