In answering Eliphaz, Job follows his friend's logic. Eliphaz spoke of reward for the righteous and punishment for sinners, and Job asks: where, then, is any of it? Where is all that the traditional writings of the sages say so much about...
In answering Eliphaz, Job follows his friend's logic. Eliphaz spoke of reward for the righteous and punishment for sinners, and Job asks: where, then, is any of it? Where is all that the traditional writings of the sages say so much about? He understands that Eliphaz and his other two friends find their own support in precisely these writings, and that it is these they offer him, Job, as a kind of cure-all for his troubles and suffering. Job would be willing to accept it if it really were what his friends want him to believe it is. But that is just the point: the cure-all turns out to be no cure-all at all. The logic of the traditional writings of the sages does not work, and only someone who prefers texts to reality could fail to notice this.
This is characteristic of the religious mind, but the point is that Job's religiosity, if not yet destroyed, is already coming apart at the seams. Texts, however sound and authoritative, can no longer convince him. Following Eliphaz, he too assesses the tradition to which his friend appeals. But Job does not reject it. On the contrary, he regards reality's conformity to authoritative religious texts as a kind of test for God. If God really is the One described in the writings of the sages, then Job must receive his reward, because he is righteous.
No other arguments work for him any longer: Job has already heard far too many perfectly correct and utterly useless words that have changed absolutely nothing for him. Now he needs only one thing: to meet God face to face. Job understands perfectly well the distance separating a human being from God. But the issue is not that distance; it is to make sure that everything wise people have said about God really does mean something. Otherwise, it is the end: complete spiritual collapse.
Otherwise, the whole Tradition to which Job's friends appeal, and which Job himself has always regarded as the foundation of his life, is worth nothing. And that means human life is worth nothing too. In this, Job agrees with his friends. The only difference is that Job absolutely must establish through his own experience that Tradition is genuine, and therefore that the God to whom it bears witness is real, while his friends are prepared to take authoritative texts at their word. But this “only” changes everything, though neither Job's friends nor even Job himself yet fully understand it.
23 Here seems to be a struggle throughout this chapter between nature and grace, Job complains of his condition, yet with an assurance of God's clemency, Job 23:1-7.
He cannot understand God's dealings, nor hope for relief, yet holds fast his integrity, Job 23:8-14.
He is in deep trouble, Job 23:15-17.
23:2 To - day - Even at this time, notwithstanding all your pretended consolations. Stroke - The hand or stroke of God upon me.Groaning - Doth exceed my complaints.
23:3 O - I desire nothing more than his acquaintance and presence; but alas, he hides his face from me. Seat - To his throne or judgment - seat to plead my cause before him.
23:5 Know - If he should discover to me any secret sins, for which he contendeth with me, I would humble myself before him, and accept of the punishment of mine iniquity.
23:6 No - He would not use his power against me, but for me; by enabling me to plead my cause, and giving sentence according to that clemency, which he uses towards his children.
23:7 There - At that throne of grace, where God lays aside his majesty, and judges according to his wonted clemency. Dispute - Humbly propounding the grounds of their confidence. So - Upon such a fair and equal hearing.Delivered - From the damnatory sentence of God. This and some such expressions of Job cannot be excused from irreverence towards God, for which God afterwards reproves him, and Job abhorreth himself.
23:8 Is not - As a judge to hear and determine my causes, otherwise he knew God was essentially present in all places.
23:10 Gold - Which comes out of the furnace pure from all dross.
23:11 Steps - The steps or paths which God hath appointed men to walk in.
23:14 Performeth - Those calamities which he hath allotted to me.And - There are many such examples of God's proceeding with men.
23:16 Soft - He hath bruised, and broken, or melted it, so that I have no spirit in me.
23:17 Because - God did not cut me off by death. Before - These miseries came upon me. Covered - By hiding me in the grave.
24 Job shews that open sinners are often prosperous, Job 24:1-12.
That secret sinners often pass undiscovered, Job 24:13-18.
That God punishes such by secret judgments, and reserves them for future judgment, Job 24:19-25.
24:1 Why - Why (how comes it to pass) seeing times, (the fittest seasons for every, action, and particularly for the punishment of wicked men,) are not hidden from, or unknown to the Almighty God, (seeing all times, and men that live, and things that are done, orto be done in their times and seasons, are exactly known to God) do they that know him, (who love and obey him) not see (whence is it that they cannot discern) his (that is, God's) days? His times and seasons which he takes for the punishment of ungodly men; which if they were constant and fixed in this life, they would not be unknown to good men, to whom God uses to reveal his secrets.
24:3 Pledge - Contrary to God's law, first written in mens hearts, and afterwards in holy scripture, Exo 22:26-27.
24:4 Way - Out of the path or place in which these oppressors walk and range. They labour to keep out of their way for fear of their farther injuries. Hide - For fear of these tyrants.
24:5 Wild asses - Which are lawless, and fierce, and greedy of prey.Desert - Which is the proper habitation of wild asses. They - The oppressors. Go - To spoil and rob.
24:6 They - The oppressors. Wicked - Of such as themselves: so they promiscuously robbed all, even their brethren in iniquity.
24:7 Naked - Those whom they stripped of their garments and coverings.
24:8 Wet - With the rain - water, which runs down the rocks or mountains into the caves, to which they fled for shelter. Rock - Are glad when they can find a cleft of a rock in which they may have some protection against the weather.
24:9 They - The oppressors. Pluck - Out of covetousness; they will not allow the mother time for the suckling of her infant.
24:10 The sheaf - That single sheaf which the poor man had got with the sweat of his brow to satisfy his hunger.
24:11 Walls - Within the walls of the oppressors for their use.Suffer - Because they are not permitted to quench their thirst out of the wine which they make.
24:12 Groan - Under grievous oppressions. Soul - The life or blood of those who are wounded to death, as this word properly signifies, crieth aloud to God for vengeance. Yet - Yet God doth not punish them.
24:13 Light - As well the light of reason and conscience, as the light of Divine revelation, which was then in good measure imparted to the people of God, and shortly after committed to writing. Know not - They do not approve, nor love, or chuse them.
24:14 Poor - Where he finds nothing to satisfy his covetousness, he exercises his cruelty.
24:16 They - The robber: having on that occasion inserted the mention of the adulterer as one who acted his sin in the same manner as the night - thief did, he now returns to him again.
24:17 Is - Terrible and hateful.
24:18 Swift - That is, he quickly passeth away with all his glory, as the waters which never stay in one place, but are always hasting away. Portion - His habitation and estate which he left behind him.He - He shall never more see or enjoy his vineyards, or other pleasant places and things, which seem to be comprehended under this particular.
24:20 Womb - His mother that bare him in her womb. Wickedness - The wicked man. Broken - Broken to pieces, or violently broken down, as the word signifies. Tree - Which being once broken down never grows again.
24:21 He - He here returns to the declaration of his farther wickednesses, the cause of these judgments. Barren - Barrenness was esteemed a curse and reproach; and so he added affliction to the afflicted.
24:22 Draweth - Into his net.
24:23 Yet - Yet his eyes are upon their ways: although God gives them such strange successes, yet he sees and observes them all, and will in due time punish them.
24:24 The way - Out of this world. Other - They can no more prevent or delay their death, than the meanest men in the world. Corn - In its greatest height and maturity.