(12) Remembrances—i.e. “Wise and memorable saws of garnered wisdom are proverbs of ashes, worthless as the dust, and fit for bodies of clay like your bodies.” Or, as some understand it, “Your high fabrics, or defences, are fabrics of clay,” as an independent parallelism. read more
Job 13:5 Great talkers do not at all speak from their having anything to say, as every sentence shows, but only from their inclination to be talking. Their conversation is merely an exercise of the tongue: no other human faculty has any share in it It is strange these persons can help reflecting, that unless they have in truth a superior capacity, and are in an extraordinary manner furnished for conversation; if they are entertaining it is at their own expense. Is it possible, that it should... read more
XII.BEYOND FACT AND FEAR TO GODJob 12:1-25; Job 13:1-28; Job 14:1-22Job SPEAKSZOPHAR excites in Job’s mind great irritation, which must not be set down altogether to the fact that he is the third to speak. In some respects he has made the best attack from the old position, pressing most upon the conscience of Job. He has also used a curt positive tone in setting out the method and principle of Divine government and the judgment he has formed of his friend’s state. Job is accordingly the more... read more
CHAPTERS 12-14 Job’s Answer to Zophar 1. His sarcasm (Job 12:1-6 ) 2. He describes God’s power (Job 12:7-25 ) 3. He denounces his friends (Job 13:1-13 ) 4. He appeals to God (Job 13:14-28 ) 5. The brevity and trouble of life (Job 14:1-6 ) 6. The ray of light through hope of immortality (Job 14:7-22 ) Job 12:1-6 . He answers not only Zophar but the others as well. Before this Job had expressed his disappointment in them, rebuked them for their unkindness, and assailed as worthless... read more
13:12 Your {d} remembrances [are] like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.(d) Your fame will come to nothing. read more
JOB DECLARES HIMSELF FULLY EQUAL TO HIS FRIENDS (vv.1-12) Job has spoken at length of God's wisdom and power, now he tells Zophar that his eye has seen all this, his ear has heard it and understood it. What Zophar knew Job knew also: he was not inferior to his critics (vv.1-2). In fact, what Job has said proves him more knowledgeable than they, so his words in verse 2 are an understatement. In verse 3 he infers that it was no use talking to them: he wanted to speak to the Almighty, to... read more
FIRST SERIES OF THE DEBATE The first series of the debate may be outlined as follows: 1. With Eliphaz (chaps. 4-7) a. Speech of Eliphaz (chaps. 4-5) b. Reply of (chaps. 6-7) 2. With Bildad (chaps. 8-10) a. Speech of Bildad (chap. 8) b. Reply of Job (chaps. 9-10) 3. With Zophar (chaps. 11-14) a. Speech of Zophar (chap. 11) b. Reply of Job (chaps. 12-14) It is thought the debate may have occupied several days, by which supposition some of the difficulties of the book are removed. In the... read more
Job's Reply to His Three Friends. V. Job 12-14 Now that the case in some measure of completeness is before us, we may profitably consider the history on a larger scale than its merely personal aspect. We have elements enough, in these fourteen chapters, for the construction of a world. We have the good man; the spirit of evil; the whole story of affliction and loss, pain and fear; and we have three comforters, coming from various points, with hardly various messages to be addressed to a... read more
(1) ¶ Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. (2) What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. (3) Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. (4) But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. (5) O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. (6) Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. (7) Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 13:1-28
Job’s Third Speech (continued)1-12. Job claims to understand as much about God as the friends. He rejects their opinion as to the cause of his troubles, and regards it as an attempt to curry favour with God.1. The v. is in close connexion with Job 12. Eye refers to Job 12:7-8, ear to Job 12:13.: cp. Job 12:113. Surely] rather, ’but.’ Job seeks an explanation from God, not from man. 4. Forgers] better, ’plasterers,’ i.e. they plaster their lies over God’s misgovernment and hide its evils. 7, 8.... read more