Job 18:1

JOB 18

THE SECOND SPEECH OF BILDAD

"Bildad's second speech is no improvement on his first (Job 8). He has evidently been exceedingly nettled by Job's contemptuous words regarding his `comforters' (Job 16:2,11 and Job 17:10); and Bildad's aim here is simply that of venting his anger and terrifying Job with threats and denunciations. Job has become for Bildad `the wicked man' (Job 18:5,21), and one that `knoweth not God.'"[1] In fact, Bildad consigned Job to hell with the bitterest language that he could command, suggesting that no punishment could be any worse than Job deserved.

Behind the cruel, vituperative language of this chapter, one should recognize the frustration of Satan at his inability to move Job from his integrity. If God had not forbidden it, Satan would no doubt have brought about Job's murder.

Job 18:1-4

BILDAD'S COMPLAINT AT JOB'S REBUKE

"Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

How long will ye hunt for words?

Consider, and afterward we will speak.

Wherefore are we counted as beasts,

And are become unclean in your sight?

That thou tearest thyself in thine anger,

Shall the earth be forsaken for thee?

Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?"

As Kline stated it, "These later speeches of Job's friends degenerate into irrelevant harangues on the woes of the wicked."[2] Bildad's speech here, especially in Job 18:5-21, demonstrates this characteristic. "His speech has no significance."[3] It is simply a description of what Bildad supposed would be the fate of the wicked; but, in that description, "He included many allusions that applied particularly to Job."[4]

"Wherefore are we counted as beasts" (Job 18:3)? "This is an allusion to what Job had said about his comforters `gaping upon him with their mouths' (Job 16:10)."[5]

"Shall the earth be forsaken for thee" (Job 18:4)? Since Job is beating himself to death against the law of the whole creation (as Bildad viewed his law of retribution), he charged here that, "Job seemed to expect the whole universe to be redesigned just for him."[6]