Job 28:1

JOB 28

WISDOM - THE GREATEST TREASURE AND HARDEST TO FIND

After a review of the reasons and speculations why some scholars would refer this chapter to Zophar, Hesser wrote that, "There is therefore no good reason for assigning this chapter to Zophar."[1] This chapter is a remarkably well-planned and eloquent discussion of the wisdom that comes from God alone. The very beauty of the chapter has led some to label it, "A Choral Interlude,"[2] that somehow got incorporated into the Book of Job. Hesser also exploded that inaccuracy as follows. "The theory that this is a choral ode not closely related to Job is unacceptable, because what has disturbed Job throughout the book is the incomprehensible nature of God's wisdom. Job trusts God and believes that He is powerful and wise. Job's problem is that God's wisdom is hidden from him."[3] Thus it is seen that this chapter is most relevant and pertinent to all that Job has been saying throughout the dialogues.

What is the lesson of this chapter? Barnes answered the question thus, "The design is to show that we must acquiesce in the inscrutable dispensations of Divine Providence, without being able fully to understand them."[4] "The chapter also teaches that wisdom is completely beyond the reach of men, unless the quest for it is carried on in the setting of the fear of the Lord."[5]

The chapter divisions regard: (1) "Man's phenomenal technological triumphs in the discovery and mining of precious stones and metals (Job 28:1-11),"[6] and (2), "That in spite of amazing achievements in scientific enterprise, men are unable either by the techniques or treasures of science to attain wisdom (Job 28:12-28)."[7]

Job 28:1-11

MAN'S REMARKABLE SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

"Surely there is a mine for silver,

And a place for gold which they refine.

Iron is taken out of the earth,

And copper is molten out of the stone.

Man setteth an end to darkness,

And searchest out to the farthest bound,

The stones of obscurity and thick darkness.

He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn;

They are forgotten of the foot;

They hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread;

And underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.

The stones thereof are the place of sapphires,

And it hath dust of gold.

That path no bird of prey knoweth,

Neither hath the falcon's eye seen it.

The proud beasts have not trodden it,

Nor hath the fierce lion passed thereby.

He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock;

He overturneth the mountains by the roots.

He cutteth out channels among the rocks;

And his eye seeth every precious thing.

He bindeth the streams that they trickle not;

And the thing that is hid he bringeth forth to light."

The marvelous achievements of the mining industry dominate this paragraph.

"Silver .... gold ... iron ... and copper" (Job 28:1-2). These four metals constituted the great bulk of ancient riches; and the point here regards the source of these things. "They all come from God. They were created by Him and deposited in the earth."[8] Such hidden things as these man is able to seek out and procure.

"Man setteth an end to darkness" (Job 28:3). "This seems to be a reference to the use of lamps in the underground darkness of mines."[9]

"He breaketh open a shaft ... they swing to and fro." (Job 28:4). This is a reference to the shaft by which men enter mines, and their swinging to and fro resulted from the primitive method of letting men down into such mines in baskets.

"The stones thereof are the place of sapphires" (Job 28:6). "It is doubtful if the gem called by the Hebrews `sapphire' was the gem that bears that name today. It may have been lapiz lazuli."[10]

"No bird of prey knoweth ... neither hath the falcon's eye seen it ... the proud beasts have not trodden it" (Job 28:7-8). Birds and beasts alike are unable to travel the ways of the miner who searches out the treasures of the earth.

"He overturneth the mountains ... cutteth out channels among the rocks ... bindeth the streams that they trickle not" (Job 28:9-11). These are references to necessary mining operations, "Given as illustrations of man's persistence through difficulties, however great, to his end - the acquisition of treasure."[11] The mention of this here appears to have the purpose of showing that if true wisdom could be found by exploring the earth, or any other part of man's physical environment, then he might be expected at last to find it. This thought serves to establish the principle developed in the final section of the chapter, namely, that man cannot find wisdom.