Job 5

Job 5:1-27 . ELIPHAZ' CONCLUSION FROM THE VISION.

1. if there be any, &c.--Rather, "will He (God) reply to thee?" Job, after the revelation just given, cannot be so presumptuous as to think God or any of the holy ones ( Daniel 4:17 , "angels") round His throne, will vouchsafe a reply (a judicial expression) to his rebellious complaint.

2. wrath . . . envy--fretful and passionate complaints, such as Eliphaz charged Job with ( Job 4:5 ; so Proverbs 14:30 ). Not, the wrath of God killeth the foolish, and His envy, &c.

3. the foolish--the wicked. I have seen the sinner spread his "root" wide in prosperity, yet circumstances "suddenly" occurred which gave occasion for his once prosperous dwelling being "cursed" as desolate ( Psalms 37:35 Psalms 37:36 , Jeremiah 17:8 ).

4. His children . . . crushed in the gate--A judicial formula. The gate was the place of judgment and of other public proceedings ( Psalms 127:5 , Proverbs 22:22 , Genesis 23:10 , Deuteronomy 21:19 ). Such propylæa have been found in the Assyrian remains. Eliphaz obliquely alludes to the calamity which cut off Job's children.

5. even out of the thorns--Even when part of the grain remains hanging on the thorn bushes (or, "is growing among thorns," Matthew 13:7 ), the hungry gleaner does not grudge the trouble of even taking it away, so clean swept away is the harvest of the wicked.
the robber--as the Sabeans, who robbed Job. Rather, translate "the thirsty," as the antithesis in the parallelism, "the hungry," proves.

6. Although--rather, "for truly" [UMBREIT].
affliction cometh not forth of the dust--like a weed, of its own accord. Eliphaz hints that the cause of it lay with Job himself.

7. Yet--rather, "Truly," or, But affliction does not come from chance, but is the appointment of God for sin; that is, the original birth-sin of man. Eliphaz passes from the particular sin and consequent suffering of Job to the universal sin and suffering of mankind. Troubles spring from man's common sin by as necessary a law of natural consequences as sparks (Hebrew, "sons of coal") fly upward. Troubles are many and fiery, as sparks ( 1 Peter 4:12 , Isaiah 43:2 ). UMBREIT for "sparks" has "birds of prey."

8. Therefore (as affliction is ordered by God, on account of sin), "I would" have you to "seek unto God" ( Isaiah 8:19 , Amos 5:8 , Jeremiah 5:24 ).

11. Connected with Job 5:9 . His "unsearchable" dealings are with a view to raise the humble and abase the proud ( Luke 1:52 ). Therefore Job ought to turn humbly to Him.

12. enterprise--literally, "realization." The Hebrew combines in the one word the two ideas, wisdom and happiness, "enduring existence" being the etymological and philosophical root of the combined notion [UMBREIT].

13. Paul ( 1 Corinthians 3:19 ) quoted this clause with the formula establishing its inspiration, "it is written." He cites the exact Hebrew words, not as he usually does the Septuagint, Greek version ( Psalms 9:15 ). Haman was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai ( Esther 5:14 , 7:10 ).
the wise--that is, "the cunning."
is carried headlong--Their scheme is precipitated before it is ripe.

14. Judicial blindness often is sent upon keen men of the world ( Deuteronomy 28:29 , Isaiah 59:10 , John 9:39 ).

15. "From the sword" which proceedeth "from their mouth" ( Psalms 59:7 , 57:4 ).