Job 23:2

First division THE OBVERSE AND PERSONAL SIDE OF THE MYSTERY OF EVIL GOD CONDEMNS INNOCENT SUFFERERS.

The resource for calumniated Job would again be to refer the mystery of his lot to God for solution; but He of set purpose hides himself behind the veil of arbitrary will, lest he should be constrained to deal justly with his suffering servant, chap. 23.

First strophe Could Job have access to God, he would elaborately prepare, and earnestly present, his case, Job 23:2-5.

2. To-day Ewald thinks that the controversy was continued for several days. The sublime allusion to the stars; in the address of Eliphaz, points to the night as the time of its delivery. There may have been a considerable interval between the discourse of Eliphaz and the reply of Job. Hence the emphatic גם , “ also, or again to-day.”

Bitter Or, rebellion, for such his friends accounted his complaint. His complaint, he admits, is still rebellious.

My stroke Literally, my hand, that is, God’s hand. Job (Job 19:21) had spoken before of the hand of God as the source of his affliction. Happy he who can call God’s chastening hand “my hand.” Hitzig and Delitzsch read, My hand lieth heavy upon my groaning, thus rendering על , upon, rather than with the sense of a comparative. Job’s groaning is due to the heavy hand of God. “The hand upon me presseth forth my sighs.” Stickel.