The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 536

Ver. 6.-Bhould I lie against my right 1 to it ia to be found in oh. Ix, 22, where thia This Wl!.B a.n ellllentil'1 portion of Job's o.rgu- pMSO.ge occurs: "It is all one; therefore I m<'nl (see eh. xxvii. 4). Againet the theory say, He destroyeth the pertect and the nf his 11eoret heinous wickedness pnt forward wicked" (Revi~l':d Version). Elsewhere Job bv hie .. oomforters," he maintained oon- speaks, not generall1, hut of bis o\V1l indi- F!lstently hie freedom from conscious de- vidual case, remarking that his righteous- libere.te opposition to the will of God, 11.mi ness has not saved him from ca.latnity (oh. refus,-'d t-0 mo.ke the confessions which they ix. 17, 18; :i::. 15; xvii. 9-17, eto.). Aud sugi:<'stro or reqnired, on the ground that the fact is one that causes him the deepest they would have been untrue-in making perplexity. , them he would have "lied against his Ver. 10.-Therefore hearken unto me, ye right." In this ct>rtainly Job" sinned not." men of understanding (comp. ver, 2). Ellhu But it W&S essential to the theoey of Elihu, no repeats himself, wishing to oall special at- less than t.o thnt of F.liphaz and bis friends, tention to hie justification of God (vers. that Job was suffering on nccount of pa~t 10-30). Far be it from God, that he should iniquity, whether he were being pnnisherl do wickedness. Elihu probably means that for it in anger or ohnstised for it in love to do wickedness is contrary to the very (eee eh. x:a:iii. 17, 27). My wound (literally, nature and idea of God ; btit he does not "'!I arrow; comp. eh. vi. 4) is incurable express himself very clearly. And from the without transgression; <i.e. without my Almighty, that he should oommit iniquity. having committed any transgression t.o An evil God, a God who co.n do wrong, ie a account for it. controo.iction in terms-an impossible, ·in- Ver. 7.-What ma.n is like Job, who conceivable idea. JJevil - worshippers, .if drinketh up aooming like water! This there are or ever have been such persons, oomment is not only unnecessary, but unfair. do not conceive of the object of their wor- It wae not for Elihu, who professed a desire ship as really God, but as a powerful malig- to" justify'' (or oomplctely exonerate) Job, 110.ut spirit. Once rise to the height of the to n.ggrnvate his guilt by means of rhetorical conception of a Power absolutely supreme, comment: 11.11d the comment itself was nn- omniscient, omnipresent, the Author of all fair, for Job he.d not indnlged in scorn to things, and it is impossible to imagine him any e:i::tent, mnch less "drunk it up like as lees than perfectly good.· water" (comp. eh. xv. 16). He he.d in no Ver. 11.-For the work of a man: shall he respect scorned God; and if he had oooa- render unto him. God ".rewo.rdeth every 11ionally poured some sooru upon his "com- man according to. his work" .(Ps. lxii. 13), forters" (eh. vi. 21; rii. 2; xiii ~13; renders to each one good or evil, accor~ing xvi. 2; xxi. 2-5 ; xxvi. 2---4), must it not as hie own deeds have been the dne or the be admitted that they had deserved it? It other. But this must be understood ·of tlie was the duty of Elihu to act as moderator man's wlwle conduct, and God's entire treat- between Job und the "comforters," whereRS ment of him. Such 11n absolute rectitude of he here seeks .to exasperate them, and lash God's moral governmei;it, considered_ as a them up to fury against their afflicted friend. whole, is implied and involved in his abso- Perhaps Job's impassive attitude baa em- lute and perfect justice. And cause every bittered him. ma.n to 11.n.d aocording to hie· ways. We Ver. 8.-Which goeth in oompa.ny with " find =rding to our ways" when, having the workers af iniquity. It ill impossible to "ploughed iniquity, and sown wickedness, supply any other antecedent to "which" we reap the same" (eh. iv. 8), or when, on the tl.iau Job hi1I111elf. Elihu therefore accuses other hand, having "sown in righteousness, Job of having turned aside from righteous- we reap in mercy" (Hos. x. 12). 'Exao~ ness, and bet.a.ken him11elf to the " counsel retribution ie the law of God's rule; but the of the ungodly, the way of sinners, and the exactness cannot be seen, or tested, or de-, 11oot of the eooruful" (Ps. i. 1). This is monstrated in this life. It will 11ppear,, gr01111ly tD exaggerete Job's faults of temper, however, and be recognized by all, ot the and puts Elihu very nearly on a level with consummation of all thiugs. . Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar in respect of Ver. 12.-Yea., surely God will not do mieoonception and rudeness. An.d walketh wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert with wiBi:ed men. U no more is meant jndgment. Eliha is fond of rhetorical am- tl.ian that Job hBli e.dopted principles and plification, like most young speakers, Vers._ a?!,'lllllenli! commonly wied by wicked men 11, 12 contain not4ing that is really addi- (Cu.non Cook), the language employed ia tiollll,l tD the stateI11elit in ver. 10, unfortunate. Ver. 13.-Wlio llath given him a charge Ver. 9.-For he hath said, It proflteth a over the earth 1 Tbe argument seems t.o be man nothing that he 11hould delight himself that if God had '' received a charge," and with God. Again it mUBt be remarked that were in possessio11 of i. mere delegated Job had not -.id this. The nearest approach authority, like the subordinate gods of. OH, llXIV, 1-87.] 1'llE BOOK OF JOB. 551