Job 22

16. cut down--rather, "fettered," as in Job 16:8 ; that is, arrested by death.
out of time--prematurely, suddenly ( Job 15:32 , Ecclesiastes 7:17 ); literally, "whose foundation was poured out (so as to become) a stream or flood." The solid earth passed from beneath their feet into a flood ( Genesis 7:11 ).

17. Eliphaz designedly uses Job's own words ( Job 21:14 Job 21:15 ).
do for them--They think they can do everything for themselves.

18. "Yet" you say that it is "He who filled their houses with good"--"their good is not in their hand," but comes from God
but the counsel . . . is--rather, "may the counsel be," &c. Eliphaz sarcastically quotes in continuation Job's words ( Job 21:16 ). Yet, after uttering this godless sentiment, thou dost hypocritically add, "May the counsel," &c.

19. Triumph of the pious at the fall of the recent followers of the antediluvian sinners. While in the act of denying that God can do them any good or harm, they are cut off by Him. Eliphaz hereby justifies himself and the friends for their conduct to Job: not derision of the wretched, but joy at the vindication of God's ways ( Psalms 107:42 , Revelation 15:3 , 16:7 , Revelation 19:1 Revelation 19:2 ).

20. The triumphant speech of the pious. If "substance" be retained, translate, rather as the Septuagint, "Has not their substance been taken away, and...?" But the Hebrew is rather, "Truly our adversary is cut down" [GESENIUS]. The same opposition exists between the godly and ungodly seed as between the unfallen and restored Adam and Satan (adversary); this forms the groundwork of the book
remnant--all that "is left" of the sinner; repeated from Job 20:26 , which makes UMBREIT'S rendering "glory" (Margin), "excellency," less probable.
fire--alluding to Job ( Job 1:16 , 15:34 , 18:15 ). First is mentioned destruction by water ( Job 22:16 ); here, by fire ( 2 Peter 3:5-7 ).

21. Eliphaz takes it for granted, Job is not yet "acquainted" with God; literally, "become a companion of God." Turn with familiar confidence to God.
and be--So thou shalt be: the second imperatively expresses the consequence of obeying the first ( Psalms 37:27 ).
peace--prosperity and restoration to Job; true spiritually also to us ( Romans 5:1 , Colossians 1:20 ).
good--( 1 Timothy 4:8 ).

22. lay up--( Psalms 119:11 ).

23. Built up--anew, as a restored house.
thou shalt put away--rather, "If thou put away" [MICHAELIS].

24. Rather, containing the protasis from the last clause of Job 22:23 , "If thou regard the glittering metal as dust"; literally, "lay it on on the dust"; to regard it of as little value as the dust on which it lies. The apodosis is at Job 22:25 , Then shall the Almighty be, &c. God will take the place of the wealth, in which thou didst formerly trust.
gold--rather, "precious" or "glittering metal," parallel to "(gold) of Ophir," in the second clause [UMBREIT and MAURER].
Ophir--derived from a Hebrew word "dust," namely, gold dust. HEEREN thinks it a general name for the rich countries of the South, on the African, Indian, and especially the Arabian coast (where was the port Aphar. El Ophir, too, a city of Oman, was formerly the center of Arabian commerce). It is curious that the natives of Malacca still call their mines Ophirs.
stones of the brooks--If thou dost let the gold of Ophir remain in its native valley among the stones of the brooks; that is, regard it as of little worth as the stones, &c. The gold was washed down by mountain torrents and lodged among the stones and sand of the valley.

25. Apodosis.
Yea--rather, Then shall the Almighty be, &c.
defence--rather, as the same Hebrew means in Job 22:24 thee in the place of riches.
plenty of silver--rather, "And shall be to thee in the place of laboriously-obtained treasures of silver" [GESENIUS]. Elegantly implying, it is less labor to find God than the hidden metals; at least to the humble seeker ( Job 28:12-28 ). But [MAURER] "the shining silver."

26. lift up . . . face, &c.--repeated from Zophar ( Job 11:15 ).

27. ( Isaiah 58:9 Isaiah 58:14 ).
pay thy vows--which thou hast promised to God in the event of thy prayers being heard: God will give thee occasion to pay the former, by hearing the latter.

28. light--success.

29. Rather, When (thy ways; from Job 22:28 ) are cast down (for a time), thou shalt (soon again have joyful cause to) say, There is lifting up (prosperity returns back to me) [MAURER].
he--God.
humble--Hebrew, "him that is of low eyes." Eliphaz implies that Job is not so now in his affliction; therefore it continues: with this he contrasts the blessed effect of being humble under it ( 4:6 , 1 Peter 5:5 probably quote this passage). Therefore it is better, I think, to take the first clause as referred to by "God resisteth the proud." When (men) are cast down, thou shalt say (behold the effects of) pride. Eliphaz hereby justifies himself for attributing Job's calamities to his pride. "Giveth grace to the humble," answers to the second clause.

30. island--that is, "dwelling." But the Hebrew expresses the negative ( 1 Samuel 4:21 ); translate "Thus He (God) shall deliver him who was not guiltless," namely, one, who like Job himself on conversion shall be saved, but not because he was, as Job so constantly affirms of himself, guiltless, but because he humbles himself ( Job 22:29 ); an oblique attack on Job, even to the last.
and it--Rather, "he (the one not heretofore guiltless) shall be delivered through the purity (acquired since conversion) of thy hands"; by thy intercession (as Genesis 18:26 , &c.). [MAURER]. The irony is strikingly exhibited in Eliphaz unconsciously uttering words which exactly answer to what happened at last: he and the other two were "delivered" by God accepting the intercession of Job for them ( Job 42:7 Job 42:8 ).