Job 12

FIRST SERIES.

Job 12:1-14:22.

JOB'S

REPLY TO

ZOPHAR

2. wisdom shall die with you--Ironical, as if all the wisdom in the

world was concentrated in them and would expire when they expired.

Wisdom makes "a people:" a foolish nation is "not a people"

(Ro 10:19).

3. not inferior--not vanquished in argument and "wisdom"

(Job 13:2).

such things as these--such commonplace maxims as you so pompously

adduce.

4. The unfounded accusations of Job's friends were a "mockery" of

him. He alludes to Zophar's word, "mockest"

(Job 11:3).

neighbour, who calleth, &c.--rather, "I who call upon God

that he may answer me favorably" [UMBREIT].

5. Rather, "a torch" (lamp) is an object of contempt in the

thoughts of him who rests securely (is at ease), though it was prepared

for the falterings of the feet

[UMBREIT]

(Pr 25:19).

"Thoughts" and "feet" are in contrast; also rests "securely," and

"falterings." The wanderer, arrived at his night-quarters,

contemptuously throws aside the torch which had guided his uncertain

steps through the darkness. As the torch is to the wanderer, so Job to

his friends. Once they gladly used his aid in their need; now they in

prosperity mock him in his need.

6. Job shows that the matter of fact opposes Zophar's theory

(Job 11:14, 19, 20)

that wickedness causes insecurity in men's "tabernacles." On the

contrary, they who rob the "tabernacles" ("dwellings") of others

"prosper securely" in their own.

into whose hand, &c.--rather, "who make a god of their own hand,"

that is, who regard their might as their only ruling principle

[UMBREIT].

7, 8. Beasts, birds, fishes, and plants, reasons Job, teach that

the violent live the most securely

(Job 12:6).

The vulture lives more securely than the dove, the lion than the ox,

the shark than the dolphin, the rose than the thorn which tears it.

8. speak to the earth--rather, "the shrubs of the earth"

[UMBREIT].

9. In all these cases, says Job, the agency must be referred to

Jehovah, though they may seem to man to imply imperfection

(Job 12:6; 9:24).

This is the only undisputed passage of the poetical part in which the

name "Jehovah" occurs; in the historical parts it occurs

frequently.

10. the soul--that is, the animal life. Man, reasons Job, is subjected

to the same laws as the lower animals.

11. As the mouth by tasting meats selects what pleases it, so the

ear tries the words of others and retains what is convincing. Each

chooses according to his taste. The connection with

Job 12:12

is in reference to Bildad's appeal to the "ancients"

(Job 8:8).

You are right in appealing to them, since "with them was wisdom," &c.

But you select such proverbs of theirs as suit your views; so I may

borrow from the same such as suit mine.

12. ancient--aged

(Job 15:10).

13. In contrast to, "with the ancient is wisdom"

(Job 12:12),

Job quotes a saying of the ancients which suits his argument, "with Him

(God) is (the true) wisdom"

(Pr 8:14);

and by that "wisdom and strength" "He breaketh down," &c., as an

absolute Sovereign, not allowing man to penetrate His mysteries; man's

part is to bow to His unchangeable decrees

(Job 1:21).

The Mohammedan saying is, "if God will, and how God will."

14. shutteth up--

(Isa 22:22).

Job refers to Zophar's "shut up"

(Job 11:10).

15. Probably alluding to the flood.

16.

(Eze 14:9).

18. He looseth the bond of kings--He looseth the authority of

kings--the "bond" with which they bind their subjects

(Isa 45:1;

Ge 14:4;

Da 2:21).

a girdle--the cord, with which they are bound as captives, instead

of the royal "girdle" they once wore

(Isa 22:21),

and the bond they once bound others with. So "gird"--put on one the

bonds of a prisoner instead of the ordinary girdle

(Joh 21:18).

19. princes--rather, "priests," as the Hebrew is rendered

(Ps 99:6).

Even the sacred ministers of religion are not exempt from reverses and

captivity.

the mighty--rather, "the firm-rooted in power"; the Arabic root

expresses ever-flowing water [UMBREIT].

20. the trusty--rather, "those secure in their eloquence"; for example,

the speakers in the gate

(Isa 3:3)

[BEZA].

understanding--literally, "taste," that is, insight or spiritual

discernment, which experience gives the aged. The same Hebrew word

is applied to Daniel's wisdom in interpretation

(Da 2:14).

21.

Ps 107:40

quotes, in its first clause, this verse and, in its second,

Job 12:24.

weakeneth the strength--literally, "looseth the girdle"; Orientals

wear flowing garments; when active strength is to be put forth, they

gird up their garments with a girdle. Hence here--"He destroyeth their

power" in the eyes of the people.

22.

(Da 2:22).

23.

Isa 9:3;

Ps 107:38, 39,

which Psalm quotes this chapter elsewhere. (See on

Job 12:21).

straiteneth--literally, "leadeth in," that is, "reduces."

24. heart--intelligence.

wander in a wilderness--figurative; not referring to any actual

fact. This cannot be quoted to prove Job lived after Israel's

wanderings in the desert.

Ps 107:4, 40

quotes this passage.

25.

De 28:29;

Ps 107:27

again quote Job, but in a different connection.