Job 22

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:19

The righteous see it, and are glad ; i.e. "the righteous see both the short-lived prosperity ( Job 22:18 ) and the ultimate destruction ( Job 22:16 ) of the wicked, and rejoice over them. especially over the latter" (comp. Psalms 58:10 ; Psalms 107:40-42 ; Proverbs 11:10 ). And the innocent laugh them to scorn (comp. Psalms 2:6 ). Scorn and derision are the just portion of the wicked, and in Old Testament times even saints did not scruple to pour them out on those who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:20

Whereas our substance is not cut down . It is best to take these as the words of the righteous in their triumph over the wicked; but they can scarcely bear the interpretation given them in the Authorized Version. The clause is not really negative but affirmative, and the word קִים . does not mean "substance," but "adversary." Translate, Surely they that rose up against us (or, our adversaries ) are cut off ; and compare the Revised Version. The "adversaries" of the righteous are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:21

Acquaint now thyself with him ( i.e. God), and be at peace ; or, make, I beseech thee ' a trial of him , and be at peace ; i.e. risk everything, throw thyself upon his mercy, and so make thy peace with him. To do so is well worth thy while, for thereby good shall come unto thee. It is a question what sort of "good" is meant. If we are to explain the "good" of this passage by Job 22:24 , Job 22:25 exclusively, Eliphaz will become a mere utilitarian, and he will be rightly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:21

Peace from the knowledge of God. Eliphaz has here stumbled on a great truth, which even his wrong-headedness cannot pervert, which is indeed a flash of Divine inspiration. Our unrest springs from our ignorance of God. If we did but know him, we should be at peace. I. HOW PEACE SPRINGS FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD . 1 . From the characteristics of knowledge. There is a restfulness about all knowledge. Vague apprehensions and surprising alarms dog the footsteps of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:21-30

At this point a transition occurs. Eliphaz turns away from reproaches, open or covert, designed to exhibit Job as an example of extreme wickedness, and falls back on those topics which were the main subjects of his first exhortation ( Job 5:8-27 ), viz. an earnest appeal to Job to return to God, to repent and amend (verses 21-23) and a lavish outpouring of promises, or prophecies, that in that case he should be delivered from all his troubles, should recover his wealth and prosperity, obtain... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:21-30

Eliphaz to Job: 3. An uncalled for exhortation. I. THE PATHWAY OF PENITENCE . 1 . Acquaintance with God . The word points to such an intimate knowledge of God as might be secured by dwelling with him on familiar terms in the same house. The meaning is that Job required, as a first step towards temporal and spiritual recovery, to disabuse his mind of the obviously false impressions of the Divine character which he entertained, and to get to know God as he really was in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:21-30

Peace with God. In clear words reconciliation with God is urged. "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace." Ignorance of God casts men off from the highest good—from the fellowship of their truest and best Friend. Deep in the heart of the wicked enmity against God reigns. This is sin's utmost folly. Men are to be judged by their relation to a pure and true standard. The utmost condetonation lies buried in a repudiation of the highest goodness, the supreme righteousness, the purest... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:22

Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth ; or, receive now instruction from his mouth. The supposition of some commentators, that the "Law of Moses" is intended, is negatived by the entire absence from the Book of any allusion to the details of the Mosaic legislation, as well as by the primitive character of the life depicted in the book, and the certainty that no one of the interlocutors is an Israelite. The Hebrew תּוֹרה , without the article prefixed, is properly "instruction,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:22

Heart-treasures. God's words are here regarded as heart-treasures, to be received with eagerness and laid up with care. The ignoring of the "Torah," the ancient Law of Israel, by the author of Job is one of the striking features of the poem. It would seem that the poet wished to set the scene of his great drama of providence in the open field of nature, free from the disturbing influences of a special system of religion. But now he does just refer to the word "law," or "instruction." There... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:23

If thou shalt return to the Almighty . Eliphaz, like Bildad in Job 8:5 , and Zophar in Job 11:13 , taxes Job with having fallen away from God, almost with having apostatized. All his prophecies of future prosperity rest upon the assumption that Job, having fallen away, is now about to turn to God, repent of his misdoings, and be again received with favour . Thou shall be built up ; i.e. "restored, re-established! Thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles (comp. Job... read more

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