Job 36

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 36:30

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it - That is, upon his tabernacle or dwelling-place - the clouds. The allusion is to lightning, which flashes in a moment over the whole heavens. The image is exceedingly beautiful and graphic. The idea of “spreading out” the light in an instant over the whole of the darkened heavens, is that which Elihu had in his mind, and which impressed him so forcibly. On the difficulty in regard to the translation of the Septuagint here, see Schleusner on the word ἡδὼ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 36:31

For by them judgeth he the people - By means of the clouds, the rain, the dew, the tempest, and the thunderbolt. The idea seems to be, that he makes use of all these to execute his purposes on mankind. He can either make them the means of imparting blessings, or of inflicting the severest, judgments. He can cause the tornado to sweep over the earth; he can arm the forked lightning against the works of art; he can withhold rain and dew, and spread over a land the miseries of famine.He giveth... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 36:32

With clouds he covereth the light - The Hebrew here is, על־כפים ‛al-kaphiym - “upon his hands.” Jerome, “In manibus abscondit lucem,” “he hideth the light in his hands.” Septuagint, Ἐπὶ χειρῶν ἐκάλυψε φῶς Epi cheirōn ekalupse fōs - “he covereth the light in his hands.” The allusion is, undoubtedly, to the lightning, and the image is, that God takes the lightning in his hands, and directs it as he pleases. There has been great variety however, in the exposition of this verse and the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 36:33

The noise thereof showeth concerning it - The word “noise” here has been inserted by our translators as a version of the Hebrew word (רעו rê‛ô), and if the translators attached any idea to the language which they have used, it seems to have been that the noise attending the lightning, that is, the thunder, furnished an illustration of the power and majesty of God. But it is not possible to educe this idea from the original, and perhaps it is not possible to determine the sense of the passage.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 36

A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520. Elihu desires a further hearing, Job 36:1-4 . Describes the methods of providence, Job 36:5-15 . Warns and counsels Job , vv16-21. Shows God’s sovereignty and omnipotence, Job 36:22 , Job 36:33 . read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 36:1

Job 36:1. Elihu also proceeded Having reprehended some of the unwarrantable expressions in Job’s discourses, Elihu comes closer to the business, and speaks to the very cause itself, showing, from the nature of God, and the methods of his providence, that he will administer impartial justice to all men. That the general course of his providence is to favour the righteous; that though he may sometimes correct them in love, yet, if they submit patiently to his fatherly correction, and amend... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 36:2-4

Job 36:2-4. Suffer me a little Give me thy patient attention but a little longer, and I have done. I will show I have yet to speak on God’s behalf That I have not yet said all that can be said to justify God’s dispensations toward thee. I will fetch my knowledge from afar From remote times, and places, and things. I will not confine my discourse to any particular case, but will justify God by declaring his great and glorious works of creation and providence, both in the heaven and the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 36:5

Job 36:5. God is mighty, and despiseth not any His greatness doth not cause him (as the greatness of men causeth them) to despise or oppress such as are mean. He is mighty in strength and wisdom His strength is guided by wisdom, and therefore cannot be employed to do any thing unbecoming him, or unjust toward his creatures, either of which would be an instance of folly. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 36:6-7

Job 36:6-7. He preserveth not the life of the wicked Namely, for ever: but will in due time forsake them, and give them up to the destroyer. Ab. Ezra interprets it, The years of the wicked shall be shortened. But giveth right to the poor He upholds, and will certainly, at the proper time, deliver his poor, oppressed ones, from all their oppressors. He will avenge their quarrel upon their persecutors, and force them to make restitution of what they have unjustly robbed them of. For if men... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 36:8-10

Job 36:8-10. If they be bound in fetters If, through the vicissitude of worldly affairs, they are brought from their throne into a prison, as sometimes hath been done. Then he showeth them their work Their evil works: by these afflictions he brings them to a sight of their sins; that then have exceeded That they have greatly sinned by abusing their power and prosperity, which even good men are too prone to do. He openeth also, &c. He inclines them to hearken to what God speaks by... read more

Group of Brands