Bible Commentaries

Job 36:1-33.

1, 2. Elihu maintains that afflictions are to the godly disciplinary, in order to lead them to attain a higher moral worth, and that the reason for their continuance is not, as the friends asserted, on account of the sufferer's extraordinary guilt, but because the discipline has not yet attained its object, namely, to lend him to humble himself penitently before God

(Isa 9:13; Jer 5:3).

This is Elihu's fourth speech. He thus exceeds the ternary number of the others. Hence his formula of politeness

(Job 36:2).

Literally, "Wait yet but a little for me." Bear with me a little farther. I have yet (much,

Job 32:18-20).

There are Chaldeisms in this verse, agreeably to the view that the scene of the book is near the Euphrates and the Chaldees.

3. from afar--not trite commonplaces, but drawn from God's mighty works.

ascribe righteousness--whereas Job ascribed unrighteousness

(Job 34:10, 12).

A man, in enquiring into God's ways, should at the outset presume they are all just, be willing to find them so, and expect that the result of investigation will prove them to be so; such a one will never be disappointed [BARNES].

4. I will not "speak wickedly for God," as the friends

(Job 13:4, 7, 8)

--that is, vindicate God by unsound arguments.

he that is perfect, &c.--Rather, as the parallelism requires, "a man of integrity in sentiments is with thee" (is he with whom thou hast to do). Elihu means himself, as opposed to the dishonest reasonings of the friends

(Job 21:34).

5. Rather, "strength of understanding" (heart) the force of the repetition of "mighty"; as "mighty" as God is, none is too low to be "despised" by Him; for His "might" lies especially in "His strength of understanding," whereby He searches out the most minute things, so as to give to each his right. Elihu confirms his exhortation

(Job 35:14).

6. right . . . poor--He espouses the cause of the afflicted.

7.

(1Pe 3:12).

God does not forsake the godly, as Job implied, but "establishes," or makes them sit on the throne as kings

(1Sa 2:8; Ps 113:7, 8).

True of believers in the highest sense, already in part

(1Pe 2:9; Re 1:6);

hereafter fully

(Re 5:10; Job 22:5).

and they are--that they may be.

8-10. If they be afflicted, it is no proof that they are hypocrites, as the friends maintain, or that God disregards them, and is indifferent whether men are good or bad, as Job asserts: God is thereby "disciplining them," and "showing them their sins," and if they bow in a right spirit under God's visiting hand, the greatest blessings ensue.

9. work--transgression.

that . . . exceeded--"In that they behaved themselves mightily" (literally, "great"); that is, presumptuously, or, at least, self-confidently.