Now he hath not directed [his] words against me
That is, Job had not directed his speech to him, or levelled his
arguments against him; he had not set himself and his words in
battle array against him, as the word signifies; he had not
lashed and irritated him as he had them; and therefore he came
into the dispute calm and unprovoked, having nothing in view but
truth, the glory of God, and the good of Job; and therefore hoped
for better success than they had had:
neither will I answer him with your speeches;
he proposed to take a new and different method from them, as he
did; for he never charges Job with any sin or sins, or a course
of living in a sinful manner, before those afflictions came upon
him, and as the cause of them; he only takes notice of what was
amiss in him since his afflictions, and what dropped from him in
the heat of this controversy, rash and unbecoming speeches, which
reflected upon the honour and justice of God; and if he made use
of any words and arguments similar to theirs, yet to another
purpose, and in a milder and gentler manner.
