Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 32

1. SO these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes .

i. e. Was self-conceited and obstinately resolved to justifie himself both against God and men: therefore they give him over as incorrigible.

Marginal references: Heb. from answering.

2. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the Son of Barachel the Buzite of the kindred of Ram : against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God .

Of the Posterity of Buz, Nabours Son, Gen. 22. 21.

Or, of Aram; for Ram and Aram are used promiscuously; comp. 2 Kings 8. 28. with 2 Chron. 22. 5. and Ruth. 4. 19. with Mat. 1. 3. Others, of Abraham, who as he was called Abram possibly was at first called onely Ram. His Pedegree is thus particularly described, partly for his honour, because his speech declares him to be both a wise and a good Man, and principally to evidence the truth of this History, which otherwise might seem to be but a Poetical fiction.

He justified himself not without reflection upon God as dealing too severely with him, and denying him that hearing which he so passionately desired. He took more care to maintain his own innocency than God's glory.

Marginal references: Heb. his Soul.

3. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer , and yet had condemned Job .

To Iob's allegations and arguments as to the main cause.

As an Hypocrite or ungodly Man.

4. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he ▪

With Patience, as the word notes.

Add, and his three Friends,, as appears from the following words: It is a Synecdoche, whereof instances have been given before.

And therefore he expected more satisfaction from them, and gave them the precedency in the discourse. Wherein he shewed his prudence and modesty.

Marginal references: Heb. Expected Iob in words.; Heb. Eld [illegible: 1+ letters]or da[illegible: 1+ letters]s.

6. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old, wherefore I was afraid , and durst not shew you mine opinion.

To wit, of discovering my weakness and folly, and of being thought forward and presumptuous.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] of [illegible: 1 word].; Heb. [illegible: 1+ letters]ared.

7. I said, Days should speak , and multitude of years should teach wisdom .

i. e. Multitude of days; by comparing the next Clause of the Verse. Or men of days, i. e. of many days or years, old men.

To wit, wisely and pertinently, as the next words limit it.

Should instruct us that are younger in the paths of wisdom, and concerning the wise counsels and ways of God, about which the present controversie lay.

Marginal references: Ch. 12. 12.

8. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding .

Or, surely: It must be confessed.

To wit, which gives him understanding, as is easily and fitly gathered out of the last words of the Verse. And this is to be understood either 1. of the humane Spirit, or reasonable Soul, which is in every man. So the sense of the place is, Every man, as a man, whether old or young, hath a reasonable Soul, by which he is able in some measure to discern between Good and Evil, and to judge of mens Opinions and Discourses: And therefore I also may venture to deliver my Opinion. Or 2. of the Spirit of God, the latter Clause being explicatory of the former, according to the manner. So the sense is, I expected a true and full discovery of the truth in this controversie from persons of your years, Wisdom and Experience. But upon second thoughts I consider that the knowledge of these deep and divine Mysteries is not to be had or expected from any man as such, though never so aged or wise, but onely from God's Spirit, which alone knoweth the deep things of God. And this Spirit he saith is in man, not in every man, for the words are not universal, but indefinite, and man in this Branch is no larger than them who receive divine inspiration in the next Branch. And so the sense is, God is pleased to give his Spirit unto Mankind, unto men of all ages and qualities, as he pleaseth; and having given it in some measure to me, I may take the boldness to utter my thoughts.

i. e. God's Spirit, or the gracious Gifts thereof breathed or i[illegible: 1+ letters]fused into man's Soul by God.

To wit, in divine and spiritual matters, which are the matter of this Debate and Book.

Marginal references: Ch. 35. 11. & 38. 36. Prov. 2. 6. Eccles. 2. 26. Dan. 1. 17. & 2. 21. Jam. 1. 5.

9. Great men are not always wise: neither doth the aged understand judgment .

i. e. Men of eminency for age or learning, or dignity and power, such as Iob's three Friends seem to have been.

What is just and right: Or the judgment of God, and the methods and reasons of his administrations.

10. Therefore I said , Hearken to me : I also will shew mine opinion.

Within my self, and now I say it with my mouth.

Thou Iob especially, who art more nearly concerned (to whom therefore he speaketh in the Singular Number) and thy Friends with thee.

11. Behold, I waited for your words: I gave ear to your reasons , whilest ye searched out what to say .

With silence and patience, and diligent attention: which therefore I now expect from you.

Or, reasonings. Heb. understandings, or minds, the depth and strength of your Discourses, your most intelligent and forcible Arguments against Iob; I searched and examined them to the bottom.

Whilest you put your Inventions upon the rack, and studied to find out all that could be said against him, and to furnish your selves with the most convincing words and reasons.

Marginal references: Heb. understandings.; Heb. words.

12. Yea, I attended to you: and behold, there was none of you that convinced Job , or that answered his words:

By solid and satisfactory answers to his Assertions and Allegations.

13. Lest ye should say , We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man .

It is a defective speech, and may be thus supplied; Thus it was, or God thus left you to your own weakness and mistakes, and impertinent discourses, lest ye should say. &c. i. e. lest you should ascribe the conquering or silencing of Iob to your own wisdom, age, and experience: Or lest you should [illegible: 1+ letters]astingly [illegible: 1 word] ▪ We have discovered and said all that can or n[illegible: 1+ letters]d [illegible: 1+ letters]e said in the Cause, the sum and substance of the thing, that which may fully and finally end the Controversie, which is contained in the f[illegible: 1+ letters] lowing words.

These are alledged by E[illegible: 1+ letters]ihu in the person of [illegible: 1 word] three Friends, or as their words. The sense is, The [illegible: 1 word] judgments which are upon Iob, have not been brought upon him by man solely and originally, for then there might have been some ground for Iob's complaints, there might have been injustice or cruelty in them, but immediately by the hand of God, of that God, who being Omniscient, and just, and true, and mercifull, would never have dealt thus hardly with Iob, if he were not an Hypocrite and guilty of some very gr[illegible: 1+ letters]ss, though secret [illegible: 1 word]: which is the ground-work of our discourses. But, [illegible: 1+ letters]aith El[illegible: 1+ letters], this Argument doth not satisfie me, and therefore bear with me if I seek for better.

14. Now he hath not directed his words against me : neither will I answer him with your words .

I am not engaged in this discourse by any provoking words of Iob as you have been, which hath drawn forth your passions, and byassed your judgments, but meerly from zeal for the vindcation of God's honour and love to truth and justice, and a [illegible: 1+ letters] cere desire to administer to Iob matter both of conviction and of comfort.

i. e. with such words or arguments as yours, either weak and impertinent, or fierce and opprobricus.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] ▪

15. They were amazed , they answered no more , they left off speaking.

i. e. Iob's three Friends, of whom he speaks sometimes in the second, and here in the third person, directing his speech to Iob, and the Auditors of this disputation.

They stood mute like persons amazed, not knowing what to reply to Iob's arguments, and wondring at his bold and confident assertions of his [illegible: 1+ letters]ntegrity, and of his interest in God, under such sad and manifest tokens of God's just displeasure against him.

Although Iob gave them just occasion to reprove and confute him for his intemperate speeches, and presumptuous and irreverent expressions concerning God.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].

16. When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still; and answered no more ;)

Which he repeats as a strange and unreasonable thing that they should be silent when they had such obligations to speak for the vindication both of God's justice, and of their own truth and reputation.

17. I said, I will answer also my part , I also will shew mine opinion.

I will take my turn and speak what they have omitted.

18. For I am full of matter , the spirit within me constraineth me .

i. e. I have many things to say in this cause.

Either my own Spirit or Soul, which is wholly dissatisfied with what hath been hitherto spoken, and clearly apprehends what may silence Iob and end the dispute. Or, God's Spirit which he hath put in me, the Spirit of Understanding, which hath discovered the truth of the matter to me, and the Spirit of Zeal, which urgeth me to plead God's Cause against Iob.

Forceth me to speak: It is a Metaphor from a man or woman whose Belly is full with Wind or with a Child, and is never at rest till it be emptied and eased of its burden.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word].; Heb. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].

19. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burst like new bottles :

i. e. My mind or heart, which is oft called a man's belly, as Iob 15. 35. Psalm 40. 8. Hab. 3. 16. Io[illegible: 1+ letters]. 7. 38.

As new Wine pent up close in a Bottle, as the following words explain and determine it. The Wine is here put for the Bottle in which it is, by a common Metonymy.

i. e. Bottles of new Wine, by the same general Figure; for otherwise old Bottles are most apt to burst; Matthew 9. 17.

Marginal references: Heb. is [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word].

20. I will speak, that I may be refreshed , I will open my lips, and answer .

That I may ease my mind of those thoughts which now oppress it.

I will not utter impertinent words, but solid answers to Iob's arguments.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] I [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] ▪

21. Let me not, I pray you, accept any mans person : neither let me give flattering titles unto man z.

Do not expect that I should out of fear or respect to any of you speak partially, but bear with my free and plain dealing with you all.

x As I shall not censure and reproach Iob as an Hypocrite or profane person, which you have done, so neither shall I flatter him, but faithfully reprove him for his exorbi[illegible: 1+ letters]ant speeches of God.

22. For I know not to give flattering titles : in so doing , my maker would soon take me away.

i. e. I have neither skill nor will to flatter Iob or any man so as to debauch my Conscience, or corrupt the Truth, or speak falsly for his sake.

i. e. If I should be guilty of that sin, God would quickly and [illegible: 1+ letters]orely punish me [illegible: 1+ letters]or it. Or, without this supplement, My Maker will quickly take me away; to wit, out of this world. I dare not [illegible: 1+ letters]atter any man, because I consider I must shortly die and go to judgment, to give an account of all my words and actions.