Job 13

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:5

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! The friends had "held their peace" for seven days after their arrival ( Job 2:13 ). Oh that they would have held it altogether ! Their words had done nothing but exasperate and goad almost to madness. There is a mournful pathos in Job's entreates to them to be silent (comp verse 13). And it should be your wisdom . "Speech," it has been said, "is silvern, silence is golden." No doubt" there is a time for everything … a time to keep silence,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:6

Hear now my reasoning . As his friends have not kept silence, but have spoken, Job claims a right to be heard in his turn. If it be thought that he is somewhat impatient, it must be remembered that his opponents are three to one, all eager to catch him in a fault, and not very mild in their reprimands. And hearken to the pleadings of my lips . Job's "pleadings" are addressed, not to his friends, but to God, and are contained in verses 14-28 of the present, and the whole of the succeeding... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:7

Will ye speak wickedly for God? We are not to suppose that Job's friends consciously used unsound and untrue arguments in their disputations with him on God's behalf. On the contrary, they are to be regarded as convinced of the truth of their own reasonings—as brought up in the firm belief, that temporal prosperity or wretchedness was dealt out by God, immediately, by his own will, to his subjects according to their behaviour. Holding this, they naturally thought that Job, being so greatly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:7

Speaking wickedly for God. Here was the great fault and sin of the three friends. They affected to be God's advocates, yet they spoke wickedly. Thus they endeavoured to support their view of providence by uncharitable assumptions and theories that were not in accordance with the facts. Such conduct was culpable, displeasing to God, and most injurious to the true interests of religion. I. THE TEMPTATION TO SPEAK WICKEDLY FOR GOD . This comes from the notion that the end... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:8

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? Job intends to accuse his opponents of leaning unduly to God's side, and being prepared to justify him in the teeth of reason and justice. This is like the conduct of a judge who should allow his decision to be biassed by favour towards one or the other party in a suit. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:9

Is it good that he should search you out? "Are your motives in thus acting," Job asks his opponents, "so pure that they will stand the severity of God's judgment when he turns his scrutiny upon you ' and searches out the grounds of your proceedings? Is not your real motive to carry favour with him because he is so great and powerful?" Or as one man mocketh another, do ye so meek him? You may impose on a man by so acting, but you will not impose on God. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:10

He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons . Even though it is his own person which you accept, his own cause that you unduly favour, he, as the God of truth, and Maintainer of right, will assuredly reprove and condemn you. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:11

Shall not his excellency make you afraid! and his dread fall upon you? Will not the very excellency and perfection of God cause you all the more to fear, since they will be arrayed against you? God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, who is no respecter of persons, and hates those who are respecters of persons, will by his very purity and truth be offended at your conduct, and induced to punish it, read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:12

Your remembrances are like unto ashes . The "remembrances" intended are probably the wise saws, embodiments of the ancient wisdom, on which Job's adversaries have relied in their disputations with him ( Job 4:7 , Job 4:8 ; Job 8:8-11 , etc.). These Job declares to be mere dust and ashes—useless, worthless, such as the first breath of air wilt blow away. Your bodies to bodies of clay ; rather, your mounds ' or your defences (see the Revised Version). These defences, Job ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:13

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak ; literally, be silent from me that I may speak ; but our version gives the true meaning. Job repeats the entreaty with which he had bemoan (verses 5, 6 ). And let some on me what will . Job is prepared to face the worst. He feels, as he expresses it below (verse 19), that, if he holds his tongue, he must die. He must speak, and speak he will. After that, let God do as he may please—he will accept his punishment, if God thinks fit to... read more

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