THE BOOK OF JOB
Job Chapter 1
The ramblings of Job's friends:
Eliphaz: Chapters 4-5, 15, 22 (total 4 chapters)
Bildad: Chapters 8, 18, 25 (total 3 chapters)
Zophar: Chapters 11, 20 (total two chapters)
The responses by Elihu
Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite Chapter 32-37 (total six chapters)
The responses by Job:
Job: Chapters 3, 6, 9, 12-14, 16-17, 19, 23-24, 26-31
(total 19 chapters)
The Answer from the LORD
The LORD: Chapters 38-41 (total 4 chapters)
Chapter by chapter conversations:
Chapter 1-God and the enemy Chapter 2- God and the enemy Chapter 3-Job Chapter 4-Eliphaz Chapter 5-Eliphaz Chapter 6-Job Chapter 7-Job Chapter 8-Bildad Chapter 9-Job Chapter 10-Job Chapter 11-Zophar Chapter 12-Job Chapter 13-Job Chapter 14-Job Chapter 15-Eliphaz Chapter 16-Job Chapter 17-Job Chapter 18-Bildad Chapter 19-Job Chapter 20-Zophar Chapter 21-Job | Chapter 22-Eliphaz Chapter 23-Job Chapter 24-Job Chapter 25-Bildad Chapter 26-Job Chapter 27-Job Chapter 28-Job Chapter 29-Job Chapter 30-job Chapter 31-Job Chapter 32-Elihu Chapter 33-Elihu Chapter 34-Elihu Chapter 35-Elihu Chapter 36-Elihu Chapter 37-Elihu Chapter 38-The LORD to Job Chapter 39- The LORD to Job Chapter 40- The LORD to Job Chapter 41-The LORD to Job Chapter 42- The LORD to Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad, Job |
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
JOB
H340 (Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions)
- Original: איב- Transliteration: 'ayab
- Phonetic: aw-yab'
- Definition:
1. to be hostile to, to be an enemy to
a. (Qal)
1. to be hostile to
2. to treat as an enemy
- Origin: a primitive root- TWOT entry: 78
- Part(s) of speech: Verb
- Transliteration: 'Iyowb
- Phonetic: ee-yobe'
- Definition: Job = "hated"
1. a patriarch, the subject of the book of Job
- Origin: from H340- TWOT entry: 78b
- Part(s) of speech: Proper Name Masculine
- Perfect (God's eyes)
- Upright (man's eyes)
- Eschewed evil (avoided, shunned)-difference in not liking and actually staying away from
2-3 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.1 2 3
- Ten kids
- The wealth measured in livestock
- Asses for carrying heavy loads on rough terrain
- Camels provide food, transportation, shelter, meat (like veal), milk, fuel for fires
- The "household" was servants
- Rich, yet humble and entering Heaven, and therefore very rare
- In 2011 we would say he had "Lots of kids, lots of food, lots of clothing, lots of cars, lots of land, houses for each of his kids, lots of maids and butlers, lots of employees, huge company".
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 19:23
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
- Not only children, but siblings of both genders who gathered daily and even got along (sent and called)
- They even rotated houses to visit daily.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
- This probably oldest book , so no law given yet.
- Today we call it "praying for our children to get saved, bringing them to church".
- "Continually" he did this
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Sons of God (Genesis 6:2) That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
(Jude 1:6) And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
- Job is unaware of this whole conversation until after it all is done
- Shows access to the Throne to falsely accuse US
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
-Revelation 12:10
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (1 Peter 5:8)
- Like a roaring lion in search of prey.
- Kicked from the pride, dangerous (kicked out of Heaven)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
-1 Peter 5:8
8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
- The repetition of Job's characteristics
- Unique among men (none like him in the earth)
- God offers up Job for persecution
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
- Satan acknowledges Job fears God
- Thinks it is because of what God does, not who He is
- Why do WE fear God? Blessings?
- The implication here is that, without SOMETHING, we could not, would not fear God, love Him, reverence Him.
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
- Protection for Job, home (family), business, possessions
- The enemy even repeats that Job is blessed
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.9
- The enemy, having rejected God, thinks that having material blessings from God is why people love Him (self-deception, man and enemy)
- Notice how the enemy wants God to do the touching. (Sovereignty)
- "Curse".......let's wait and see
- Implication is that persecution will turn a believer away from God, not toward
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.10
- Complete sovereignty over the spiritual and physical realm. God allows and limits.
- Title deed to earth is still in the enemy's hands: "is in thy power"
Change of scenes, and the act is related by witnesses, not described for us play-by-play as it happened.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
- Getting the information from messengers has some significance
- This is a normal work day for Job's servants
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
- The enemy uses willing raiders, Yemenis, Saudis, Ethiopians (from Sheba, who was of Canaan)
- All of his working capital, many of his most important working servants (main company and all employees)
- One person escapes-General Persching
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
- While he was yet speaking....imagine a person not finishing a bad announcement and you see someone ELSE coming to bring you news.
- "Fire of God".....
- One person escapes again, "only am escaped alone"
- The wool, mutton and lamb..and their servants who cared for them
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
- While he was yet speaking.
- Chaldeans
- The camels, like losing all of your car collection
- Not to mention those servants also who cared for them
- "I only am escaped alone to tell thee." ....again.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
- While he was yet speaking...once again
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
- I only am escaped alone to tell thee.12
- Oxen and asses-work animals, plus servants (means of support, job)
- Sheep, more servants (provisions-food, clothing)
- Camels, last of the servants (transportation )
- His kids (family)
- Today's news this would be a "great calamity, a great natural tragedy, our prayers and thoughts are with Job and his family)
Job lost it all
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
- Proof of who Job really is and what God was saying about Job (God's testimony of Job)
- Mourning combines with worship
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Eccl 5:15; 1Tim 6:7; [Jas 5:11]; [1Pet 3:15];
- Job realizes he really did not own anything,
- He includes his own clothing in this, the only thing he has left......
- The naked part used at funerals years ago
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Rest of Job
- His wife is foolish
- His three friends are foolish
- He keeps his own faith and faithfulness besides and despite all of the losses...........and them....
- LOADED with science from many fields from geology to dinosaurs (cryptozoology), biology, physics, astronomy, etc.
Why do WE fear God? Blessings?
What is WE lost EVERYTHING?
Job Chapter 2
Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
- "Again there was a day"......he hasn't finished devouring Job
- Cooperative effort with enemy and his minions, the sons of God
- Same scenario as before
- Even after all of this, God grants access to continue the persecution
Job 2:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
- God already knows this; He just wants an accounting
- Apparently there were a lot of unbelievers on earth, since he can't find someone who is not already in his grasp of power
Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
- Job kept his integrity
- God STILL calls him " a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? "
- The enemy did all he could to destroy Job's faith ("movedst me against him")
- "Without cause" means Job is innocent
Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
- This was a lie, since before that it was the hedge, the blessings, the substance, the possessions
- The indication is that personal health means everything to man for obedience to God
- "His life" meaning vitality, health and life itself
Job 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
- Again the same challenge to God, with all that is left (including wife and "friends")
Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
- He is literally allowed to injure Job up to the point of death!
- Again, sovereignty over man is in the enemy's hand at this point
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot
unto his crown.
BOIL:
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Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Boils are very common. They are generally caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, but they may be caused by other bacteria or fungi found on the skin's surface. Damage to the hair follicle allows these bacteria to enter deeper into the tissues of the follicle and the tissue underneath.
Boils may occur in the hair follicles anywhere on the body. They are most common on the face, neck, armpit, buttocks, and thighs. There can be one or many boils.
Symptoms
A boil may begin as a tender, pinkish-red, swollen, firm area in the skin. Over time, it will feel like a water-filled balloon or cyst.
Pain gets worse as it fills with pus and dead tissue, and improves as it drains. It may drain on its own. More often the patient or someone else opens the boil.
The boil:
- Is usually pea-sized, but may be as large as a golf ball
- May join with another boil or spread to other skin areas
- May grow quickly
- May weep, ooze, or crust
Other symptoms may include:
- General ill-feeling
- Itching before the boil develops
- Skin redness around the boil
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The boils could have taken Job's life!
Job 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
- Boils are itchy!
- Ashes are not medicinal!
Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
- His wife's name is never mentioned, and she remains forever "his wife"
- Perhaps a better name should be "hisssssss wife"
- The last thing Job needed was this!
- This was not the work of a suitable helpmate
- This is the last we ever hear of Job's wife
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
- If untrue, this would be an insult but, as it is, it is just an accurate statement
- Receive evil at God's Hand
Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Job 2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
- They came to mourn and to comfort.....which worked the first three days perfectly.
- An appointment: "Let's go to cheer up Job!"
Job 2:12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
- Job's boils were so bad that he was no unrecognizable.
Job 2:13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
- This was their finest hour
- It also was their only fine hour
- Three guys silent for seven days..priceless
Job Chapter 3
Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
- He did not curse God, but rather his day of birth
Job 3:2-3 And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
- Job goes further back to before then even.
- A "man child" conceived, not an "inconsequential piece of tissue"
Job 3:4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
- If God regards something, it has a light shining on it.
Job 3:5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
- Let it be the worst kind of devastating day
- Blackness of day is really bad weather
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The Shadow of Death
- 9 times in Job
- 4 times in the Psalms
- 1 times in Isaiah
- 2 times in Jeremiah
- 1 times in Amos
- 1 times in Matthew
- 1 time in Luke
Webster's: Shadow of death - terrible darkness, trouble or death.
(Job 3:5 [KJV])
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
(Job 10:21 [KJV])
Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
(Job 10:22 [KJV])
A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
(Job 12:22 [KJV])
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
(Job 16:16 [KJV])
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
(Job 24:17 [KJV])
For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
(Job 28:3 [KJV])
He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
(Job 34:22 [KJV])
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
(Job 38:17 [KJV])
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
(Ps 23:4 [KJV])
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(Ps 44:19 [KJV])
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
(Ps 107:10 [KJV])
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
(Ps 107:14 [KJV])
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
(Isa 9:2 [KJV])
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
(Jer 2:6 [KJV])
Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
(Jer 13:16 [KJV])
Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
(Amos 5:8 [KJV])
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
(Matt 4:16 [KJV])
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
(Luke 1:79 [KJV])
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
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(Job 3:5 [KJV])
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
(Job 10:21 [KJV])
Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
(Job 10:22 [KJV])
A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
(Job 12:22 [KJV])
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
(Job 16:16 [KJV])
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
(Job 24:17 [KJV])
For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
(Job 28:3 [KJV])
He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
(Job 34:22 [KJV])
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
(Job 38:17 [KJV])
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Job 3:6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
Job 3:7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
- Let it be a day like no other day
- Dark
- Separated
- Uncounted
- Joyless
Job 3:8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
- A day for those who are going to a funeral
Job 3:9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
- This is a non-existent day!
Job 3:10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
- Entering into the world is natural, as the doors have to open or mom dies-but he did not want it to be
- His life upon exiting was a sight of sorrow
Job 3:11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
- Job wishes he was never born
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(Ecclesiastes 7:1 [KJV])
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
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Job 3:12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
- He wanted to have fallen on the floor to die as a newborn
- He wanted to die of starvation also as a newborn
Job 3:13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
- He thinks it would be more peaceful that way, having never been born
- He is partly right in that this life is a struggle
Job 3:14-15 With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
- These are past tense dead people, spiritually and physically
Job 3:16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
- Like a stillborn child
Job 3:17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
- In the grave a person can no longer bother anyone and a believer in Heaven has his rest
Job 3:18 There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
- All earthly, heaven-bound believers have freedom and rest from this world
Job 3:19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
- All believers are the same spiritually here and literally in Heaven
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1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
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Job 3:20-22 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
- Job feels that the miserable is not worthy of living
- There is a misery that makes one wish a lot for death
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2 Corinthians 1:8
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
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Job 3:23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
- Job looks at this miserable life as a secret trap
- "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen"
Job 3:24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
- Early and loud he proclaims his pains
- Waters go every place and have to be contained to not affect others
Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
- Apparently this was always on his mind, which may explain his sacrifices for his kids
- He had fear and was afraid this would happen
- Maybe the enemy knew this, which was why God allowed it, to allay his fears in the end
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Job 1:5
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
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Job 3:26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
- Job thinks this only happens to impassive, idle, inert people?
Job Chapter 4
(Job 4:1 [KJV])
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
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(Gen 36:11 [KJV])
And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
(Gen 36:15 [KJV])
These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,
(Ezek 25:13 [KJV])
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
(Amos 1:12 [KJV])
But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.
(Obad 1:9 [KJV])
And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.
(Hab 3:3 [KJV])
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
God came from Teman,.... Or, "may God come from Teman" {t}; since it is part of the prayer of Habakkuk: or, as "from Teman" {u}; as he of old came from thence, a city in the land of Edom, Jer 49:7 it was five miles from Petra, in Idumea, where was Mount Seir, from whence the Lord arose, and shone forth from Mount Paran, at the giving of the law, De 33:2 to which the allusion is here. So the Targum,
"at the giving of the law to his people, God was revealed from the south;'' for so Teman signifies.
- Eliphaz is an Edomite, of Esau
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(Job 4:2 [KJV])
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
- He thinks that their presence causes grief-he is about to prove himself correct
- Withholding from speaking was their best idea
(Job 4:3-4 [KJV])
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
- Eliphaz recognizes Job's accomplishments (strength for others, encouragement
(Job 4:5 [KJV])
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
- He then completely fails to understand how bad Job has it, though.
(Job 4:6 [KJV])
Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
- It seems that this is mocking God (fear of, hope in, uprightness of)
(Job 4:7 [KJV])
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
- He is declaring Job guilty and worthy of this as judgment, rather than testing.
- Eliphaz is an Independent, Fundamental Baptist, hypocritical, loud preacher
(Job 4:9 [KJV])
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
This is both a true statement and a lie
The Truth
- The wicked do perish in this way
- This is also an inappropriate and untimely statement
- This is also an inapplicable statement (in regards to Job)
- This statement, however, could apply to Eliphaz himself!
The Lie
(Eccl 9:2 [KJV])
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
- Bad things happen to good people
- Bad things happen to bad people
- Good things happen to good people
- Good things happen to bad people
(Job 4:10 [KJV])
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
- Eliphaz proclaims that the proud are humbled
- Again, a truth, but not applicable to Job
(Job 4:11 [KJV])
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
- Eliphaz is a Darwinist, since he thinks that the proud lions do not survive, just the strong champions.
(Job 4:12 [KJV])
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
- Some things never change.....Eliphaz is a Charismatic New Ager
- Eliphaz has "itching ears"
(2 Timothy 4:3 [KJV])
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(Job 4:13 [KJV])
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
- Trusting in the interpretation of dreams is risky business...
- It starts with a vision, but he does not say what the vision was
(Job 4:14-16 [KJV])
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
- A vision then leads to "a spirit" which causes fear, trembling, shaking, hair on end.
- This should be a clue to Eliphaz that this is not from God
- This is also a clue that he should never have brought it up.
- Had Eliphaz been a godly man, then this could have turned out to be an angel
- He does not fall down in worship
- He can't tell what it is yet another clue
(Job 4:17 [KJV])
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
- Again, truth that is irrelevant to the situation.
- Yes, man deserves punishment for sin
- Yes, man does not deserve anything but hell
- Yes, man should expect trouble in this life, since rebelling against God gave the angels their just reward
- But no, this has nothing to do with Job's situation!
- Eliphaz is like a toothache or a dislocated foot.
(Proverbs 25:19 [KJV])
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
(Job 4:18-21 [KJV])
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
This is pure babbling from someone who does not know God or his angelic creatures, not to mention the fall and the curse
Job Chapter 5
(Job 5:1 [KJV])
Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?
- Which saints will Job turn to?
- The "if" implies that no one will answer
- Apparently not to Eliphaz!
- What a horrible thing to say!
(Job 5:2 [KJV])
For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
- Wrath also kills the wise man, and the serious one, as well as the foolish and silly one
- Again, truth that is untimely
- Eliphaz needs Proverbs 25:11
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(Proverbs 25:11 [KJV])
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
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(Job 5:3-6 [KJV])
I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
- Now he moves on to "explain" the loss of Job's children-it is because Job is foolish
- He further tries to "explain" the loss of all of Job's food
- These troubles, Eliphaz "explains" do not just spring up out of the ground, but are natural nonetheless
(Job 5:7 [KJV])
Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
- Again, a little truth mixed in with a ton of irrelevance!
- Man IS born unto trouble, but that does not explain Job's situation.
- One wonders if Eliphaz would accept his own "explanation" if the situation were his.
(Job 5:8 [KJV])
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
- I wonder if he really would seek God, since he hasn't yet
- He does not appear to even know God, nor does God know him
- For what reason would he seek God? Answers? A fix? I suspect he thinks Job needs to repent of something
(Job 5:9-12 [KJV])
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
- Eliphaz gets a few things correct:
- God does marvelous things
- God does provide the rains
- He helps the mourner and lifts the humble
- He humbles the exalted
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(1 Peter 5:5 [KJV])
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
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(Job 5:13-16 [KJV])
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
- A few more correct things:
- God does allow people's own folly to take them down
- He throws their counsel away forthwith, swiftly and immediately once He decides to move
- They are then in the dark as to what exactly happened to their "perfect plan"
- He is a rescuer of the poor from the wicked rich
- He gives hope to the poor
- He shuts up the sinful man
(Job 5:17 [KJV])
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
CHASTEN, v.t.
1. To correct by punishment; to punish; to inflict pain for the purpose of reclaiming an offender; as, to chasten a son with a rod.
I will chasten him with the rod of men. 2 Sam 7.
2. To afflict by other means.
As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Rev 3.
3. To purify from errors or faults.
- Then Eliphaz returns to his own folly again, supposing that Job needed "correcting"
- He assumes incorrectly that Job was being chastened
- Job was not being punished by God
- Job was not an offender
- Job did not need purification for his errors or faults
- His children were taken-what about their errors and faults?
(Job 5:18-26 [KJV])
For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
- More irrelevant truth from Eliphaz
(Job 5:24 [KJV])
And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
- Again, he assumes that this is because Job sinned that this happened to Job.
(Job 5:27 [KJV])
Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
Who is this "we" who has searched this out?
