32. Literally, "it (the tree to which he is compared, :-, or else his life) shall not be filled up in its time"; that is, "he shall be ended before his time." shall not be green—image from a withered tree; the childless extinction of the wicked. read more
C. The Second Cycle of Speeches between Job and His Three Friends chs. 15-21In the second cycle of speeches, Job’s companions did not change their minds about why Job was suffering and the larger issue of the basis of the divine-human relationship. They continued to hold the dogma of retribution: that God without exception blesses good people and punishes bad people in this life. Galatians 6:7 says, "Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." However, it is wrong to conclude that we will... read more
1. Eliphaz’s second speech ch. 15Job’s responses so far had evidently convinced Eliphaz that Job was a hardened sinner in defiant rebellion against God. [Note: Pope, p. 114.] "There is a great change in tone between this address of Eliphaz and the first. There is no tenderness here. The philosophy of life is stated wholly on the negative side, and it was impossible for Job to misunderstand the meaning." [Note: Morgan, p. 208.] read more
The fate of the wicked 15:17-35Perhaps Eliphaz wanted to scare Job into repenting with these words. As before, Eliphaz’s authority was his own observations (Job 15:17; cf. Job 4:8). To this he added the wisdom of their ancestors (Job 15:18-19; cf. Job 8:8). Probably Job 15:18 means wise men have not hidden their fathers’ traditions. In the ancient world, people considered it foolish to reject the traditions of the past.Several troubles come on the wicked person because of his sin (Job... read more
The Second Series of Speeches (Job 15-21)The rejection by Job of the opinions and advice of the friends, his sturdy maintenance of his innocence, and the fearlessness with which in his anguish he has arraigned the divine government of the world, have all alike deepened their conviction of his guilt. Without actually charging Job with definite sin, for which indeed they have no ground, they now administer stern rebukes, and draw terrible pictures of the certain misery which awaits the godless,... read more
The Second Speech of Eliphaz1-16. Eliphaz accuses Job of impiety and arrogance.2. And fill, etc] utter idle, empty remarks.7. It was a popular idea that there was a primeval man endowed with perfect wisdom, corresponding to the figure of the Divine Wisdom in Proverbs 8. 8. Render, ’Didst thou hearken in the council of God?’ i.e. before the creation of the world. 10. Eliphaz, perhaps, refers here to himself.11. RV ’Are the consolations of God too small for thee, and the word that dealeth gently... read more
(32) It shall be accomplished.—That is, paid in full before its time.The remainder of this chapter calls for little explanation. In it the speaker only repeats the orthodox and familiar saw that the wicked are punished in life, and therefore, by implication, the good rewarded: a maxim which fails utterly in the face of afflictions like those of Job, unless, as his friends insinuated, he was one of the wicked. After stating the doom of the ungodly, Eliphaz, in the last verse, sums up the... read more
Humbling Questions Job 15:7 I. 'Art thou the first man that was born?' There must have been a first man. He might possibly have had some measure of independence from a merely superficial view of himself, but he had no real independence, he was part of the next man that was coming, and thus we belong to posterity as well as ancestry, and we hand on the life which we have often stained and spoiled. If I am not the first man that was born, if I am not the only man, then it follows that I must... read more
XIII.THE TRADITION OF A PURE RACEJob 15:1-35ELIPHAZ SPEAKSTHE first colloquy has made clear severance between the old Theology and the facts of human life. No positive reconciliation is effected as yet between reality and faith, no new reading of Divine providence has been offered. The author allows the friends on the one hand, Job on the other, to seek the end of controversy just as men in their circumstances would in real life have sought it. Unable to penetrate behind the veil the one side... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 15:1-35
15:1-21:34 SECOND ROUND OF ARGUMENTEliphaz speaks (15:1-35)The three friends are offended that their collective wisdom has not humbled Job as they had hoped. They are angered that Job continues to argue with God. Therefore, in this the second round of argument they emphasize the terrors of God’s judgment, hoping that this might bring Job to repentance.Eliphaz, the least aggressive of the three, leads off again, though clearly even he is angered and offended at Job’s speech. Job claims to be a... read more