Job 32:2 - Exposition

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu . The name "Elihu" was not uncommon among the Israelites. It is found among the ancestors of Samuel ( 1 Samuel 1:1 ), among the Korhite Levites of the time of David ( 1 Chronicles 26:7 ), and as a variant for Eliab, one of David's brothers ( 1 Chronicles 27:8 ) The meaning of the word was, "He is my God" ( אליהוא ). The son of Barachel . Barachel is also a significant name. It means, "Bless, O God," or "God blesses" ( ברך אל ). Both names imply that the new interlocutor belonged to a family of monotheists. The Buzite . "Huz" and "Buz" were brothers, the sons of Nahor, Abraham's brother, by Maleah, the daughter of Haran ( Genesis 11:29 ; Genesis 22:20 , Genesis 22:21 ). Of the kindred of Ram. By "Ram" we are probably to understand "Aram," who was the son of Kemuel, a brother of Huz and Buz. (On the connection of Huz and Buz with the Arabian tribes of Khazu and Bazu, see the comment on Job 1:1 .) Against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God . Elihu was well-intentional; and it is perhaps not surprising that he had been shocked by some of Job's expressions. Job had himself apologized for them ( Job 6:26 ); and certainly they went perilously near taxing God with injustice (see Job 40:8 ). But it is to be remembered that finally God justifies Job's sayings, while condemning those of his "comforters." "My wrath is kindled," he says to Eliphaz, "against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right , as my servant Job hath" ( Job 42:7 ).