Job 32

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 32

The stage is clear, for Job and his three friends have sat down, and neither he nor they have any thing more to say; it is therefore very seasonable for a moderator to interpose, and Elihu is the man. In this chapter we have, I. Some account of him, his parentage, his presence at this dispute, and his sentiments concerning it, Job 32:1-5. II. The apology he made for his bold undertaking to speak to a question which had been so largely and learnedly argued by his seniors. He pleads, 1. That,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 32:1-5

Usually young men are the disputants and old men the moderators; but here, when old men were the disputants, as a rebuke to them for their unbecoming heat, a young man is raised up to be the moderator. Divers of Job's friends were present, that came to visit him and to receive instruction. Now here we have, I. The reason why his three friends were now silent. They ceased to answer him, and let him have his saying, because he was righteous in his own eyes. This was the reason they gave why they... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 32:6-14

Elihu here appears to have been, I. A man of great modesty and humility. Though a young man, and a man of abilities, yet not pert, and confident, and assuming: his face shone, and, like Moses, he did not know it, which made it shine so much the brighter. Let it be observed by all, especially by young people, as worthy their imitation, 1. What a diffidence he had of himself and of his own judgment (Job 32:6): ?I am young, and therefore I was afraid, and durst not show you my opinion, for fear I... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 32:15-22

Three things here apologize for Elihu's interposing as he does in this controversy which had already been canvassed by such acute and learned disputants:? 1. That the stage was clear, and he did not break in upon any of the managers on either side: They were amazed (Job 32:15); they stood still, and answered no more, Job 32:16. They not only left off speaking themselves, but they stood still, to hear if any of the company would speak their minds, so that (as we say) he had room and fair play... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 32

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 32 Job's three friends being silenced, and having no more to say in reply to him, Elihu, of whose descent some account is given, a bystander and hearer of the whole dispute between them, rises up as a moderator, and expresses some anger both against them and Job, Job 32:1 ; he makes an apology for engaging in this controversy, by reason of his youth, and they being advanced in years, Job 32:6 ; but since there is a spirit in man, that gives understanding to men of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 32:1

So these three men ceased to answer Job ,.... His three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, who came to visit and comfort him under his afflictions; but unawares were led into a controversy with him, occasioned by some rash and impatient expressions of his; which controversy had been carried on between them a considerable time, but now dropped; they grew weary of it, and now rested themselves as men do on a sabbath, as the word signifies; they set... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 32:2

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite ,.... Both against Job and his three friends, for reasons after given; who this person was is not easy to say; they debase him too much, who make him to be Balaam the soothsayer, according to the tradition of the Jews F7 T. Hieros. Sotah, fol. 20. 4. Hieron. Quaest. seu Traditiones in Gen. fol. 69. D. so Bolducius. ; for neither the time he lived in, nor his character, will agree with him; this man living before the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 32:3

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled ,.... He did not take part with either side, but blamed both, and took upon him to be a moderator between them, and deal impartially with them: what highly displeased him, and raised his spirit against the three friends of Job, was, because they had found no answer ; they were at a loss for one, for a sufficient one; they had all of them been answering him in their turns again and again, but with nothing to the purpose, not with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 32:4

Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken ,.... Made an end of speaking, until he had thus expressed himself, "the words of Job are ended", Job 31:40 , and waited likewise until his three friends had said all they had to say, and which is here supposed and implied, as appears by what follows: because they were elder than he ; it may be added, from the original text, "in", or "as two days" F12 לימים "diebus", Beza, Montanus, Mercerus; "quod ad dies", Schultens. ; they had lived... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 32:5

When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men ,.... That could be called an answer; nay, when he perceived they were quite nonplussed and silenced, though men of years and experience, and reputed wise and knowing: then his wrath was kindled ; his spirit was stirred up; his heart was hot within him; he burned with anger against those men; he was all on fire, as it were, and wanted to vent his resentment. read more

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