Ver. 80.-That the bypoorite reign not, ahoose; and not I; rather, wt thl)U mud le1t the people be ensnared ; rather, that an choose, and not I. It is Job who tnnst deter ungodly man reign not, thaC a peopl.8 be not a mine how he will act. Elihu, a friend, can ,nare. (Bo Schultene, Profeeeor Lee, and only point ont and recommend a conrse, H others.) The paseage ie obecure from ite he had done in vers. 31, 32. It is for Job brevity: but this seems to ba the best senee. himself to determine what coarse he will God withdraws his favour from an ungodly take. Therefore apea.11 what thou lmowest ; king or from a wicked no.tion, tho.t the king i.e. '' Say what thou hast determined on." may ccnse to injure men by his rule, and Ver. 34.-Let men of nnderetanding tell the nntion cease to be o. enaro to ite neigh- me, and let a wise man hearken nnto me. bours. As Job doee not answer him, Elihn tnrns Ver. 31.-Burely it is meet to be said nnto to hie "men of undP.rstanding" (su'P"'a, vers. Ood, I have borne chastisement. (So Rosen- 2, 10). He feels sure that he will at least miiller and otbers.) If the passage be thus have carried them with him, and that they rendered, Elihu muet be considered as, like will join in the condemnation of Job's words Elipbaz (ob. v. 8), Bildad (oh. viiL 5), and as wanting in true wisdom. "Men of Zophar (eh. xi. 13-15), counselling Job to understanding," he says, "will say unto me, submit himeelf to God, acknowledging hie yea, every wise mo.n that heareth me will sin, accepting his puuisbment., and promising say, Job speaketh without knowledge," etc. a.mend.meut for the future (ver. 22). But (see the Revised Version). perhaps it ie betler to regard the passage as Ver. 35.-J'ob hath spoken without know- interrogative, and Elihu ae asking-What ledge, a.nd his words were without wisdom ; mo.u, o.mong those whom God has ea.et down literally, not in wisdom. The words intended and punished, has ever eought to deprecate are, of coorse, those in which Job has seemed · his wrath by contrition, confeesion, and to tax God with injustice (see the comment promise of amendment, implying that, bad on ver. 9). they done so, God wonld have relented and Ver. 36.-My desire is that J'ob may be forgiven them? (see the Revieed Vereion). tried nnto the end; litemlly, Would that In thie case no direct counsel is offered to Job 1DeTe tested to the utteTmost !-" tested," Job; but still an indirect hint is given him. i.e., as gold is tested by the touchstone, I will not o:ff'end any more. This is prefer- and " to the uttermost," so that there should able to the marginal rendering of the be no doubt as to the result. Elihn had his Revised Version, "though I ha.ve not wish. Job was tried as severely as possible, offended." a.nd the issue was prononnced by God him- Ver. 32.-That which I see not, teach thou self, "Ye have not spoken of me the thing me; i.e. "If in anything I fail to see thy that is right, tu my seruant Job hath" (oh. will, teach thou it me. Make thy way plain xlii. 8, Revised Version). Because of his before my face." If I have done iniquity, answers for wioked men; rather, after the I will do no more. The hypothetical form manner of wicked men (comp. above, vers. 5, seems to be preferred, a.e more acceptable to 6, 9). Thie was the view which Elihu took Job, who maintained his righteousness, than of Job's rash words. a positive confession of sin. Ver. 37.-For he addeth rebellion nnto Ver. 33.-Should it be aocording to thy his sin. Elihu holds that it is Job's "siu n mind 1 he will recompense it. The two which has brought on him his chastisement, olo.uees should be taken together, and the and regards his expostulations and complaints translation should run, "Should God re- as flagrant "rebellion" against the Most compense" (i.e. make his awards) "accord- High. He olappeth his hands a.mong us; ing to thy pleaeure," or " as thou wiliest ? " i.e. he applauds himself, approves of his own Elihu turns to Job and directly addresses conduol, and, instead ot' repenting, makes o. him, " Can he expect that God will make boast of it. And multiplieth his words his deorees-oondemn and absolve men-just against Ood. Job had continued to the last • asJobthinksright?" Whether thou refuse; (ell. xxxi.) to justify himself and protest rather, since thou re/ustst them. Job had his integrity; which, in the view of Elihu, refused to acknowledge the justice of God's wa.s to tax God with injustice. nwards and deoisions. Or whether ·Uiou
HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-87.-Elihu to the bysta11ders: the case of Job tried. I. Tm: coUR'.l' OONBTITUTED. 1. The panel. Job, a good ma.n, a great sufferer, sorely calumniated, deeply perplexed, involved in doubt and darkness, and guilty of much presumption. 2. The judges. Either the three friends ironically addressed as "wise men," or the bystanders, among whom were doubtlesa mimy possessed of sound wisdom imd 664 THE.·BOeK OF ,fOil.