Behold, thou hast instructed many
This is introduced with a "behold", either as a note of
admiration, that such a man, who had instructed others, should
act the part he now does; or as a note of attention to Job
himself, and all others that should hear and read this, to
observe it, and well consider it, and make the proper use of it;
or as a note of asseveration, affirming it to be true and
certain, notorious and unquestionable, as no doubt it was: Job
was the instructor, a great man, and yet condescended to teach
and instruct men in the best things, as did also Abraham, David,
Solomon, and others; and a good man, and so fit to teach good
things, as every good man is, and who, according to his ability,
the gift and measure of grace received should instruct others;
and a man of great gift he was, both in things natural, civil,
and religious; one that could speak well, and to the purpose, and
so was apt and able to teach; and such should not disuse and hide
their talents: the persons he instructed were not only his own
family, his children and servants, as Abraham before him did; but
others who attended him, and waited for his counsel and advice,
his words and doctrine, as for the rain, and latter rain, and
which dropped and distilled as such, see ( Job 29:15 Job
29:21-23 ) ; and these were "many"; his many ignorant
neighbours about him, or many professors of religion, as there
might be, and it seems there were in this idolatrous country; and
many afflicted ones among these, which is usually the case: Job
had many scholars in his school, of different sorts, that
attended on him; and these he instructed in the knowledge of the
true God, his nature, perfections, and works; and of the living
Redeemer, his person, office, grace, and righteousness; and of
themselves, the impurity of their nature through original sin, he
was acquainted with; their impotency and inability to purge
themselves, to atone for sin, and to justify and make themselves
acceptable to God; as well as he instructed them in the worship
of God, and the manner of it, their duty to him and to one
another, and to all their fellow creatures: some render it, "thou
hast corrected", or "reproved many" F12; he had taught the
afflicted to be patient under their afflictions, and had reproved
them for their impatience; and the design of Eliphaz is to
upbraid him with it, as in ( Romans 2:21 ) ; thou
that didst correct others for their unbecoming behaviour under
afflictions, art thyself guilty of the same: "turpe est doctori,
cure culpa redarguit ipsum":
and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
either such as hung down through want of food, by giving it to
them, both corporeal and spiritual, which strengthens men's
hearts, and so their hands; or through sluggishness, by exhorting
and stirring them up to be active and diligent; or through fear
of enemies, especially spiritual ones, as sin, Satan, and the
world; by reason of whose numbers and strength good men are apt
to be dispirited, and ready to castaway their spiritual armour,
particularly the shield of faith and confidence in God, as faint
hearted soldiers in war, to which the allusion is: and these were
strengthened by telling them that all their enemies were
conquered, and they were more than conquerors over them; that the
victory was certain, and their warfare accomplished, or would
quickly be: or else, whose hands were weak through a sense of sin
and danger, and being in expectation of the wrath, and vengeance
of God; and who were strengthened by observing to them that there
was a Saviour appointed and expected, a living Redeemer, who
would stand upon the earth in the latter day, and save them from
their sins, and from wrath to come; see ( Isaiah 35:3 Isaiah 35:4 ) ; or
rather, such whose hearts and hands were, weak through sore and
heavy afflictions, whom Job strengthened by showing them that
their afflictions were of God; not by chance, but by appointment,
and according to the sovereign will of God; that they were for
their good, either temporal, spiritual, or eternal; and that they
would not continue always, but have an end; and therefore should
be patiently bore, see ( 1
Corinthians 12:11 1
Corinthians 12:12 ) .
F12 (troy) , "corripuisti", Mercerus, Michaelis; "castigasti", Codurcus, Drusius, Schmidt, Schultens.