16 Which were cut down H7059 out of time, H6256 whose foundation H3247 was overflown H3332 with a flood: H5104
It shall be accomplished H4390 before H3808 his time, H3117 and his branch H3712 shall not be green. H7488
And the flood H3999 was forty H705 days H3117 upon the earth; H776 and the waters H4325 increased, H7235 and bare up H5375 the ark, H8392 and it was lift up H7311 above the earth. H776 And the waters H4325 prevailed, H1396 and were increased H7235 greatly H3966 upon the earth; H776 and the ark H8392 went H3212 upon the face H6440 of the waters. H4325 And the waters H4325 prevailed H1396 exceedingly H3966 H3966 upon the earth; H776 and all the high H1364 hills, H2022 that were under H8478 the whole heaven, H8064 were covered. H3680 Fifteen H6240 H2568 cubits H520 upward H4605 did the waters H4325 prevail; H1396 and the mountains H2022 were covered. H3680 And all flesh H1320 died H1478 that moved H7430 upon the earth, H776 both of fowl, H5775 and of cattle, H929 and of beast, H2416 and of every creeping thing H8318 that creepeth H8317 upon the earth, H776 and every man: H120 All in whose nostrils H639 was the breath H5397 H7307 of life, H2416 of all that was in the dry H2724 land, died. H4191 And every living substance H3351 was destroyed H4229 which was upon the face H6440 of the ground, H127 both man, H120 and cattle, H929 and the creeping things, H7431 and the fowl H5775 of the heaven; H8064 and they were destroyed H4229 from the earth: H776 and Noah H5146 only H389 remained H7604 alive, and they that H834 were with him in the ark. H8392 And the waters H4325 prevailed H1396 upon the earth H776 an hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 days. H3117
But G1161 as G5618 the days G2250 of Noe G3575 were, so G3779 shall G2071 also G2532 the coming G3952 of the Son G5207 of man G444 be. G2071 For G1063 as G5618 in G1722 the days G2250 that were G2258 before G4253 the flood G2627 they were eating G5176 and G2532 drinking, G4095 marrying G1060 and G2532 giving in marriage, G1547 until G891 the day G2250 that G3739 Noe G3575 entered G1525 into G1519 the ark, G2787 And G2532 knew G1097 not G3756 until G2193 the flood G2627 came, G2064 and G2532 took G142 them all G537 away; G142 so G3779 shall G2071 also G2532 the coming G3952 of the Son G5207 of man G444 be. G2071
In H8141 the six H8337 hundredth H3967 year H8141 of Noah's H5146 life, H2416 in the second H8145 month, H2320 the seventeenth H7651 H6240 day H3117 of the month, H2320 the same H2088 day H3117 were all the fountains H4599 of the great H7227 deep H8415 broken up, H1234 and the windows H699 of heaven H8064 were opened. H6605
By G1722 which G3739 also G2532 he went G4198 and preached G2784 unto the spirits G4151 in G1722 prison; G5438 Which sometime G4218 were disobedient, G544 when G3753 once G530 the longsuffering G3115 of God G2316 waited G1551 in G1722 the days G2250 of Noah, G3575 while the ark G2787 was a preparing, G2680 wherein G1519 G3739 few, G3641 that is, G5123 eight G3638 souls G5590 were saved G1295 by G1223 water. G5204
The waters H4325 wear H7833 the stones: H68 thou washest away H7857 the things which grow H5599 out of the dust H6083 of the earth; H776 and thou destroyest H6 the hope H8615 of man. H582
Be not over much H7235 wicked, H7561 neither be thou foolish: H5530 why shouldest thou die H4191 before thy time? H6256
And G2532 every one G3956 that heareth G191 these G5128 sayings G3056 of mine, G3450 and G2532 doeth G4160 them G846 not, G3361 shall be likened G3666 unto a foolish G3474 man, G435 which G3748 built G3618 his G846 house G3614 upon G1909 the sand: G285 And G2532 the rain G1028 descended, G2597 and G2532 the floods G4215 came, G2064 and G2532 the winds G417 blew, G4154 and G2532 beat upon G4350 that G1565 house; G3614 and G2532 it fell: G4098 and G2532 great G3173 was G2258 the fall G4431 of it. G846
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 22
Commentary on Job 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
THIRD SERIES.
Job 22:1-30. As Before, Eliphaz Begins.
1. Eliphaz shows that man's goodness does not add to, or man's badness take from, the happiness of God; therefore it cannot be that God sends prosperity to some and calamities on others for His own advantage; the cause of the goods and ills sent must lie in the men themselves (Ps 16:2; Lu 17:10; Ac 17:25; 1Ch 29:14). So Job's calamities must arise from guilt. Eliphaz, instead of meeting the facts, tries to show that it could not be so.
2. as he that is wise—rather, yea the pious man profiteth himself. So "understanding" or "wise"—pious (Da 12:3, 10; Ps 14:2) [Michaelis].
3. pleasure—accession of happiness; God has pleasure in man's righteousness (Ps 45:7), but He is not dependent on man's character for His happiness.
4. Is the punishment inflicted on thee from fear of thee, in order to disarm thee? as Job had implied (see on Job 7:12; Job 7:20; and Job 10:17).
will he enter … into judgment?—Job had desired this (Job 13:3, 21). He ought rather to have spoken as in Ps 143:2.
5. Heretofore Eliphaz had only insinuated, now he plainly asserts Job's guilt, merely on the ground of his sufferings.
6. The crimes alleged, on a harsh inference, by Eliphaz against Job are such as he would think likely to be committed by a rich man. The Mosaic law (Ex 22:26; De 24:10) subsequently embodied the feeling that existed among the godly in Job's time against oppression of debtors as to their pledges. Here the case is not quite the same; Job is charged with taking a pledge where he had no just claim to it; and in the second clause, that pledge (the outer garment which served the poor as a covering by day and a bed by night) is represented as taken from one who had not "changes of raiment" (a common constituent of wealth in the East), but was poorly clad—"naked" (Mt 25:36; Jas 2:15); a sin the more heinous in a rich man like Job.
7. Hospitality to the weary traveller is regarded in the East as a primary duty (Isa 21:14).
8. mighty—Hebrew, "man of arm" (Ps 10:15; namely, Job).
honourable—Hebrew, "eminent, or, accepted for countenance" (Isa 3:3; 2Ki 5:1); that is, possessing authority. Eliphaz repeats his charge (Job 15:28; so Zophar, Job 20:19), that it was by violence Job wrung houses and lands from the poor, to whom now he refused relief (Job 22:7, 9) [Michaelis].
9. empty—without their wants being relieved (Ge 31:42). The Mosaic law especially protected the widow and fatherless (Ex 22:22); the violation of it in their case by the great is a complaint of the prophets (Isa 1:17).
arms—supports, helps, on which one leans (Ho 7:15). Thou hast robbed them of their only stay. Job replies in Job 29:11-16.
10. snares—alluding to Job's admission (Job 19:6; compare Job 18:10; Pr 22:5).
11. that—so that thou.
abundance—floods. Danger by floods is a less frequent image in this book than in the rest of the Old Testament (Job 11:16; 27:20).
12. Eliphaz says this to prove that God can from His height behold all things; gratuitously inferring that Job denied it, because he denied that the wicked are punished here.
height—Hebrew, "head of the stars"; that is, "elevation" (Job 11:8).
13. Rather, And yet thou sayest, God does not concern Himself with ("know") human affairs (Ps 73:11).
14. in the circuit of heaven—only, not taking any part in earthly affairs. Job is alleged as holding this Epicurean sentiment (La 3:44; Isa 29:15; 40:27; Jer 23:24; Eze 8:12; Ps 139:12).
15. marked—Rather, Dost thou keep to? that is, wish to follow (so Hebrew, 2Sa 22:22). If so, beware of sharing their end.
the old way—the degenerate ways of the world before the flood (Ge 6:5).
16. cut down—rather, "fettered," as in Job 16:8; that is, arrested by death.
out of time—prematurely, suddenly (Job 15:32; Ec 7:17); literally, "whose foundation was poured out (so as to become) a stream or flood." The solid earth passed from beneath their feet into a flood (Ge 7:11).
17. Eliphaz designedly uses Job's own words (Job 21:14, 15).
do for them—They think they can do everything for themselves.
18. "Yet" you say (see on Job 21:16) that it is "He who filled their houses with good"—"their good is not in their hand," but comes from God.
but the counsel … is—rather, "may the counsel be," &c. Eliphaz sarcastically quotes in continuation Job's words (Job 21:16). Yet, after uttering this godless sentiment, thou dost hypocritically add, "May the counsel," &c.
19. Triumph of the pious at the fall of the recent followers of the antediluvian sinners. While in the act of denying that God can do them any good or harm, they are cut off by Him. Eliphaz hereby justifies himself and the friends for their conduct to Job: not derision of the wretched, but joy at the vindication of God's ways (Ps 107:42; Re 15:3; 16:7; 19:1, 2).
20. The triumphant speech of the pious. If "substance" be retained, translate, rather as the Septuagint, "Has not their substance been taken away, and … ?" But the Hebrew is rather, "Truly our adversary is cut down" [Gesenius]. The same opposition exists between the godly and ungodly seed as between the unfallen and restored Adam and Satan (adversary); this forms the groundwork of the book (Job 1:1-2:13; Ge 3:15).
remnant—all that "is left" of the sinner; repeated from Job 20:26, which makes Umbreit's rendering "glory" (Margin), "excellency," less probable.
fire—alluding to Job (Job 1:16; 15:34; 18:15). First is mentioned destruction by water (Job 22:16); here, by fire (2Pe 3:5-7).
21. Eliphaz takes it for granted, Job is not yet "acquainted" with God; literally, "become a companion of God." Turn with familiar confidence to God.
and be—So thou shalt be: the second imperatively expresses the consequence of obeying the first (Ps 37:27).
peace—prosperity and restoration to Job; true spiritually also to us (Ro 5:1; Col 1:20).
good—(1Ti 4:8).
22. lay up—(Ps 119:11).
23. Built up—anew, as a restored house.
thou shalt put away—rather, "If thou put away" [Michaelis].
24. Rather, containing the protasis from the last clause of Job 22:23, "If thou regard the glittering metal as dust"; literally, "lay it on on the dust"; to regard it of as little value as the dust on which it lies. The apodosis is at Job 22:25, Then shall the Almighty be, &c. God will take the place of the wealth, in which thou didst formerly trust.
gold—rather, "precious" or "glittering metal," parallel to "(gold) of Ophir," in the second clause [Umbreit and Maurer].
Ophir—derived from a Hebrew word "dust," namely, gold dust. Heeren thinks it a general name for the rich countries of the South, on the African, Indian, and especially the Arabian coast (where was the port Aphar. El Ophir, too, a city of Oman, was formerly the center of Arabian commerce). It is curious that the natives of Malacca still call their mines Ophirs.
stones of the brooks—If thou dost let the gold of Ophir remain in its native valley among the stones of the brooks; that is, regard it as of little worth as the stones, &c. The gold was washed down by mountain torrents and lodged among the stones and sand of the valley.
25. Apodosis.
Yea—rather, Then shall the Almighty be, &c.
defence—rather, as the same Hebrew means in Job 22:24 (see on Job 22:24)—Thy precious metals; God will be to thee in the place of riches.
plenty of silver—rather, "And shall be to thee in the place of laboriously-obtained treasures of silver" [Gesenius]. Elegantly implying, it is less labor to find God than the hidden metals; at least to the humble seeker (Job 28:12-28). But [Maurer] "the shining silver."
26. lift up … face, &c.—repeated from Zophar (Job 11:15).
27. (Isa 58:9, 14).
pay thy vows—which thou hast promised to God in the event of thy prayers being heard: God will give thee occasion to pay the former, by hearing the latter.
28. light—success.
29. Rather, When (thy ways; from Job 22:28) are cast down (for a time), thou shalt (soon again have joyful cause to) say, There is lifting up (prosperity returns back to me) [Maurer].
he—God.
humble—Hebrew, "him that is of low eyes." Eliphaz implies that Job is not so now in his affliction; therefore it continues: with this he contrasts the blessed effect of being humble under it (Jas 4:6; 1Pe 5:5 probably quote this passage). Therefore it is better, I think, to take the first clause as referred to by "God resisteth the proud." When (men) are cast down, thou shalt say (behold the effects of) pride. Eliphaz hereby justifies himself for attributing Job's calamities to his pride. "Giveth grace to the humble," answers to the second clause.
30. island—that is, "dwelling." But the Hebrew expresses the negative (1Sa 4:21); translate "Thus He (God) shall deliver him who was not guiltless," namely, one, who like Job himself on conversion shall be saved, but not because he was, as Job so constantly affirms of himself, guiltless, but because he humbles himself (Job 22:29); an oblique attack on Job, even to the last.
and it—Rather, "he (the one not heretofore guiltless) shall be delivered through the purity (acquired since conversion) of thy hands"; by thy intercession (as Ge 18:26, &c.). [Maurer]. The irony is strikingly exhibited in Eliphaz unconsciously uttering words which exactly answer to what happened at last: he and the other two were "delivered" by God accepting the intercession of Job for them (Job 42:7, 8).