E. Job’s Concluding Soliloquies chs. 28-31Job’s three friends had nothing more to say, but Job did. He continued to talk about God’s wisdom (ch. 28) and to defend his own innocence (chs. 29-31). read more
The Mystery of Divine WisdomIn this famous chapter Job declares that Wisdom—that is, the principle of the divine government of the world—is a mystery not to be solved by man. Man’s wisdom lies in fearing God, and in departing from evil. But this conclusion is quite at variance with the position taken by Job in the chapters before and after it. ’It might no doubt be supposed that Job has reached a calmer mood; and abandoning the attempt to discover a speculative solution of the difficulties... read more
(6) The stones of it are the place of sapphires.—So ingenious is man that he discovereth a place of which the stones are sapphires and the very dust gold, and a path that no bird of prey knoweth, and which the falcon’s eye hath not seen. read more
Job 28:1 'In the centre of the world-whirlwind,' says Carlyle in the first part of Past and Present (chap. 11.), 'verily now as in the oldest days, dwells and speaks a God. The great soul of the world is just. O brother, can it be needful now, at this late epoch of experience, after eighteen centuries of Christian preaching for one thing, to remind thee of such a fact.' Sans-culottism will burn much; but what is incombustible it will not burn. Fear not Sans-culottism; recognize it for what it... read more
XXIII.CHORAL INTERLUDEJob 28:1-28THE controversy at length closed, the poet breaks into a chant of the quest of Wisdom. It can hardly be supposed to have been uttered or sung by Job. But if we may go so far as to imagine a chorus after the manner of the Greek dramas, this ode would fitly come as a choral descant reflecting on the vain attempts made alike by Job and by his friends to penetrate the secrets of Divine providence. How poor and unsatisfying is all that has been said. To fathom the... read more
CHAPTER 28 1. The treasures of the earth (Job 28:1-6 ) 2. The better treasures (Job 28:7-22 ) 3. God knoweth the way and the true wisdom (Job 28:23-28 ) Job 28:1-6 . This part of the monologue of Job does not seem to have much relation, if any, to the controversial matter of the previous chapters. He speaks first of the treasures of the earth, the riches which man seeks after, but which do not last, and are so often man’s undoing. Job shows that he had a good knowledge of mining... read more
28:6 The stones of it [are] the place {f} of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.(f) He alludes to the mines and secrets of nature, which are under the earth, into which neither souls nor beasts can enter. read more
EARTH'S MEASURED TREASURES (vv.1-6) Job has spoken of the folly of wicked men. Now he shows that which stands in beautiful contrast to Chapter 27. The language here is magnificent, as Job considers what is altogether objective, not at all continuing any defence of himself in this chapter, but extolling the virtues of wisdom, showing that all creation bears witness to the greatness of the wisdom of God. In thinking of this chapter, we should do well to compare it to Proverbs 8:12-31, where... read more
THIRD SERIES OF THE DEBATE 1. With Eliphaz (chaps. 22-24) a. Speech of Eliphaz (chap. 22) b. Reply of Job (chaps. 23-24) 2. With Bildad (chaps. 25-26) a. Speech of Bildad (chap. 25) b. Reply of Job (chap. 26) 3. With Zophar (chaps. 27-31) a. Continuation of the reply of Job (chaps. 27-31) The last speech Eliphaz makes, chapter 22, is a grand effort to refute Job based upon the latter’s appeal to facts. There is more severity in it than he has shown before. He charges Job with cruelty,... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 28:1-28
1. Job’s discourse on God’s wisdom ch. 28Because the speech in this chapter is more soliloquy than dialogue, some scholars have concluded that someone other than Job spoke it: Zophar, Bildad, or God. One writer argued for it’s being a speech by none of the characters, but a composition by the storyteller in which he expressed his own point of view. [Note: Andersen, pp. 222-29.] The subject matter, however, is in harmony with what Job had said previously (cf. Job 9:10-11; Job 12:13; Job 17:10;... read more