Job 37:14

ELIHU CHARGES JOB WITH IGNORANCE

"Hearken unto this, O Job:

Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Dost thou know how God layeth his charge upon them,

And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds,

The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

How thy garments are warm,

When the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

Canst thou with him spread out the sky,

Which is strong as a molten mirror?

Teach us what we shall say unto him;

For we cannot set our speech in order by reason of darkness.

Shall it be told him that I would speak?

Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?"

"The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge" (Job 37:16). Some of the writers assume that Elihu is here speaking of God; but back in the previous chapter, (Job 36:4b), Elihu speaks of himself as "one who is perfect in knowledge." One of inexcusable features of Elihu's tirade is the unqualified arrogance and egotism of it; and it appears that Elihu is here contrasting Job's ignorance not with God's wisdom, but with that of Elihu! Pope also noticed that in this chapter (Job 37:20), "Elihu intimates that he has more sense than to do what Job has (allegedly) done, challenge God to an argument."[12]