Job 24 Footnotes

24:1-17 Critical tendencies to date this chapter in the Babylonian exile period are unnecessary. The crimes listed here reflect the general moral and spiritual failure of mankind. Job’s questions as to why a just God fails to deal with crimes condemned in his law (e.g., cp. v. 2 with Ex 20:5; Dt 19:4; v. 3 with Ex 22:22; Dt 28:31; v. 7 with Ex 22:26-27; v. 14 with Ex 20:13,15; v. 15 with Ex 20:14) expressed only his opinion. God’s seeming inactivity does not indicate divine inability or unconcern. He controls all things (Ps 22:28). Though not always condoned by God, man’s free acts are under his jurisdiction (Jr 10:23; Php 2:13). People may not understand his purposes or “delays” (Ps 10:1; 2Pt 3:9), but God’s administration of the universe is just (Ps 75:2; 89:14; Is 45:21).