The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 508

Ver. 5.-When Elihu aaw that there was aomethlng of prophetio strain." " One no answer 1n the mouth of theae three men, ought to give attention," so.ya AriBtotle "to then his wrath wu kindled (oomp. var. 8 the mere unproved assertions or wis,; 11nd and the comment). o.ged men, RB much as to the actt;,al demon- strations of others" (' Eth. Nie.,' vi. 11, ad Vere. 6-22.-Tbe speech of Elibu now fin. Oomp. also eh. x. 12; xv. 10; Prov. begins. In the present chapter, after a xvi. 31). short npologetio exordinm, excusing his Ver. 8.-:But there is a spirit in man. youth (vers. 6-9), be addresses himself ex- But, after all, it is not mere age and ex- olusively to Job's friends. He has listened perience that make men wise and able to attentively to them, and weighed their teach others. "There is a spirit in man" (see Gen. ii. 7); and it is according as this words (vers. 11, 12), but hns found nothing spirit is or Is not enlightened from on high in them that confuted Job. They be.cl not that men speak words of wisdom or the con- •• found wisdom "-they had not "van- trary. The inspiration of the Almighty- quished Job"-e.t the last they bad been this it is, which-giveth them understand- •• amazed, and had not had a word more to ing. And such inspiration it is in the power of God to bestow, as he pleases, on aay" (vers. 13-16). Elihu, therefore, will the old or on the young, on the great of supply their deficiency; he has kept silence the earth, or on those of small reputation. with diffioulty, a.nd is full of thoughts, to Hence Elihu's conclusion- which he would fain give utterance (vers. Ver. 9.-Great men are not always wise: 17-20). In all that be says he will show neither do the aged (always) understand judgment. Elihu Jays down the univeraal no favouritism-he will "aocept no man's law, before applying it to the particular person," "give no flattering titles," but ex- instance. True wisdom is from God, not press sincerely what he believes (vera. 21, from observation and experience. There- 22). fore many aged men are not wise; many experienced men, great in position, versed Ver. 6.-And Elihu the son of :Bare.chel in affairs, do not possess understanding. It the :Buzi.te auwered a.nd said, I am yomig, is a trite remark, "With how little wisdom and ye are very old, We can only gness the wodd is governed I " at the exact ages of Job and his friends. Ver. 10.-Therefore I said, Hearken to From the fact that God at the last "gave me. Elibu evidently claims, not exactly Job twice as much as he bad before" (eh. what is ordinarily understood by inspira- xlii. 10), and the further fact that he lived, tion, but that his spirit is divinely en- after be had recovered his prosperity, a lightened, and that therefore he is more hundred and forty years (eh. xiii. 16), it competent to take part in the controversy has been conjectured that he was seventy that has been raised than many of the aged. years of age at the time of his conference I also will show mine opinion. " I also," or with his friends, and that he died at the "even I" -i.e. I, young as I am," will show age of two hundred and ten. But this my opinion," or " utter what I know on the clearly is quite uncertain. He may not subject." Elibu does not speak of his con- have been much more than fifty when bis victions as mere "opinions,'' but claims to calamities fell upon him. If this were so, be in possession of actual "knowledge." the age of bis friends need not have ex- Ver. 11.-:Behold, I waited for you.: words ; ceeded from sixty to seventy. Perhaps i.e. " I we.a full of expectation; I waited Elihu was himself not more th11n thirty. impatiently to hear what you would say." Wherefore I was afraid, a.nd durst not show Then, while you spoke, I gave ear to your you mine opinion j rather, 1 held back, and reasons-or, your reasonings; I did my best was afraid to utter what I knew in your pre- to apprehend your meaning-whilst ye aence. Elihu would have been thought searched out what to say. Professor Lee unduly pushing and presumptuous if he translates, "whilst ye examined Job'• con- had ventured to come forward until his clusions;" but the Authorized Version is seniors hacl ended their colloquy. probably correct. Elihu means that he Ver. 7.-1 aaid j i.e. "I kept saying to listened carefully while the friends hunted myself, when the desire to interrupt came out all the arguments they could think of upon me." Days should speak. Age should in order to confute Job. give wisdom, and the speech of the old Ver. 12.-Yea, I attended unto you-or, should be moet worthy of being attended umt you my attention-and, behold, there to. Elihu had been brought up in this was none of you that oonvinoed J'ob; rather, couviction, and therefore refrained himself. that convicted (or, confuted) Job. Or that And multitude of years should teaoh wis- answered his words. In Elihu's opinion, ~om. " Ohl experience should attain to the argumentative value of all \he long 522 THE 'BOO'lt OF JOB.