Job Expounded, Commentary on Job · Chapter 32
THE SVMME AND ORDER of the xxxii. Chapter.
WE hauehave heard in the beginning of this storie, first, with what exceeding great constancie, and invincible courage of mind, Iob did beare out, and withstand the temptations and forcible assaults of Satan, from the 13. vers. of the 1. Chap. to the 11. vers. of the second Chapter. But from that place euen to this 32. Chapter, hauing beene wonderfullie vexed by the most inconsiderate, bitter, and reprochfull taunts of them, who came to comfort him, as also by the raging paines in his whol bodie, encreasing vponupon him dailie more & more, in most pitiful & grieuous manner; he was driuen to do that, which they are wont to doe, who in a doubtfull daunger turning them selues onelie to the left side, doe leaue their other side naked and open to the enemie. For beeing whollie bent to defend him selfe against those slaunders of his aduersaries, neither marking what Satan chieflie went about, to wit, that at the length he should rise vp against God him selfe, he verie inconsiderately, as it were, before the tribunall seat of GOD, did through many vvordes blemish that constancie of his, yea, and he had almost by breaking foorth into accusations against GOD him selfe, yeelded vp the victorie vntounto Satan. But God beeing mooued with compassion towardes this his seruant, (who although he suffer his children sometimes to be pressed out of measure, as the Apostle speaketh of him selfe: yet he neuer so casteth them downe, but that in good time againe he raiseth them vp) first stirred vp Elihu, as well to rebuke the vnwise dealing of Iobs friendes, as also to blame Iob, not in respect of his life past, as they had verie vniustlie done, but by little and little to bring him as one goeing astraie, and who, vnlesse he sought an other refuge then his owne innocencie, and also put on that spirit of meekenes, which willinglie suffereth it selfe to be taught and instructed, was readie forthwith to breake forth into open impietie, by little and little, J saie, to bring him into the way, till such time as God him selfe comming betweene, should decide and take vp this whole controuersie. And albeit we must needes confesse, that Job gaue no small occasion of reprehension, but deserued verie greatlie and sharplie to be rebuked, in respect of many things, which were by him very rashlie and vnaduisedlie vttered: yet certen it is, that Elihu doth for the most parte interpret Iobs words farre otherwise, then was Iobs meaning: and moreouer that euen in finding fault with those thinges, which were iustlie to be founde fault withall, he kept not alwaies that moderation, vvhichwhich vvas meete: vvhichwhich is incident to godlie men, and especiallie such, as are of a more earnest nature and disposition: so hard a thing is it, euen when we doe well, not to offend on the one side or on the other. But if wee consider how farre Iob, beeing thereto driuen through the importunitie of his accusers, and his most intollerable calamitie, did raunge out of the right waie: and how we are all giuen, euen to the vttermost, to defend and maintaine our credit and estimation, especiallie when we are therin touched by those men, who ought least of all others to hauehave done the same: we shall confesse, that it was verie requisite and necessarie for Iob, rather to be censured in such sharpe manner as hee was, then after any milder sorte: to the end he might the better acknowledge and humble him selfe before God, as alwaies he had done, till through the slaunderous speeches of his friendes, he was drawne into these altercations. Notwithstanding he was not so farre out of the waie, but that he came into the same againe, as appeareth especiallie out of the 9. Chapter, where he acknowledgeth almost in the verie same wordes those things, which both Elihu, as also God himselfe after Elihu, doe often repeat and beat into his minde. Elihu therefore (a man of an auncient house, whome the learned interpreters suppose to hauehave descended from Na…hor Abrahams brother, Genes. Cap. 22.21.) hauing heard the former disputations, now when either parties kept silence, beganne to speake, continuing his speech throughout the sixe Chapters immediatelie following, somewhat blaming Iobs accusers, but more peculiarlie and more especiallie finding fault with Job him selfe. And first as touching Iob, he setteth downe the ground of his accusation, in the first and second verses of this Chapter, to wit, that he not content to denie himselfe to be such a one, as his three friends falslie charged him to be, to the end they might thereby conclude, that he was thus plagued for his wickednesse, not content, I saie, to denie this, went so farre, that he spared not to saie, that God was not able to finde any cause in him, why to laie vponupon him so great affliction: and therefore that GOD could not seeme herein to deale iustlie with him, vnlesse we looke vntounto the cause of all causes, which the minde of man is not able to attaine vntounto, that is to saie, vntounto the will of God, vvhichwhich goeth before all secondarie causes, as though forsooth, if God would deale according to the rigour of his iustice, he should not finde euen in the most holie and righteous men that are, sufficient cause, not onelie in this life, to laie all manner of punishments vponupon them, but also to condemne them to vtter destruction. But as touching Iobs accusers, he doth in few wordes, but yet verie wiselie rebuke them, from the third verse forward to the ende of the Chapter, for that letting passe that which was in Iob worthie of blame and reprehension, they made no end of charging him with such crimes, whereof they were not able to make any proofe at all. And first he inserteth a long preface, wherein he excuseth him selfe, for that hee, beeing in yeeres inferiour vntounto them, durst notwithstanding step forth, and differ in opinion from them all.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Vers. 1. Then those three men left off to answer Job, (concerning that) that he was iust in his owne eyes.
2 And the wrath of Elihu the sonne of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was kindled against Job: his wrath, J say, was kindled against Iob, because he iustified him selfe more then God.
3 Also his anger was kindled against his three friendes, because they had not found an answer, and (yet) had condemned Iob.
4 But Elihu waited till Iob had done speaking: because they were more auncient in daies then hee.
1 AND so farre trulie did those three cease to make answer vntounto Iob, who still continued most confidentlie to defend his innocencie, against their false accusations. 2 Which thing, when Elihu (a man of noble parentage, namelie, the sonne of Barachel of the stocke of Ram, which fetch their discent from the familie of the Buzites) who was one of them that stood by, perceiued, he was wonderfullie incensed against Iob, not so much for that, that Iob woulde not yeeld to those accusations which were laide against him, but because hee, beeing altogither bent to defende his owne innocencie, had spake many things of him selfe vnaduisedlie: sometime comparing the integritie of his life passed, with so great and so suddaine calamitie: sometime againe verie careleslie and without all feare, offering to appeare personallie before the iudgement seat of the almightie: so that he altogither seemed to be more carefull to defende his owne integritie, then to acknowledge and set forth the righteousnes of God. 3 Neither yet did he agree vntounto those three, who had accused Iob, nay, herein he found very great fault with their doeings, and sharpelie reprooued them, for that they hauing nothing at all to conuince Iob of, after he had once denied their accusation, did notwithstanding goe forwarde to account him still for a condemned person. 4 And albeit that he had beene grieuouslie offended at that which he had heard, notwithstanding he durst not be so bold as to interrupt either Iob him selfe, or his accusers in their speech, but gaue them leaue to speake their fill, because he vvas in yeeres the yongest man.
5 So when Elihu sawe that there was none answer in the mouth of those three men, his wrath was kindled.
6 And beginning to speake, Elihu (I say) the sonne of Barachel, the Buzite, said; I am young in yeares, and you verie old: therefore I refrained to speake, and was afraide to shew vntounto you mine opinion.
7 I said the daies shall speake, and the multitude of yeeres shall reueale wisedome.
8 Surelie there is a spirit in men, but the inspiration of the almightie maketh them wise.
9 Great men are not wise, neither doe the aged vnderstande iudgement.
10 Therefore I hauehave said, heare mee, I will also shew mine opinion.
5 & 6 And when Elihu the Busite, the sonne of Barachel, perceiued that Iob had brought those three men to that point, that they were not able to answer him one worde, he tooke the matter verie heinouslie, and at length brake forth into these speeches. It is not seemelie, I confesse, that I beeing a young man, should in the presence of you, who are very auncient, stand forth and take vponupon me to speake; but yee hauehave euen driuen mee thereunto, after I had a long time constreined my selfe to keepe silence. 7 For I was in hope trulie, that yee would hauehave brought foorth some thing worthie of these your yeares, and that I should hauehave receiued from your mouth wisedome, which you had learned of olde age it selfe. 8 But, as the verie matter it selfe teacheth, there is, doubtles, in man that power and abilitie to reason too and fro, which vnlesse it be directed by the spirit of God, can not tast of true wisdome in deed. 9 For it can not be, that authority, of its owne nature, should make a man wise, or that old age should alwaies bring with it ripenesse of iudgement. 10 Wherfore, seeing that I am enforced to set downe, what my opinion is concerning this whole matter, I would hauehave eueryevery one of you with diligence and attentiuenesse to hearken vntounto mee.
11 Behold, I hauehave waited vponupon your wordes, and hauehave giuen good eare, that I might knowe your meaning, whiles you were deuising speeches, (that is, while yee were considering with your selues how yee might fitly answer Iob.)
12 Finallie, I hauehave considered you, and beholde, there is none that reprooueth Job, that answeareth his wordes.
11 Surelie yee cannot rightly any charge me with misbehauiour, for dealing with you in this sorte, forasmuch as I neuer wente aboute to interrupt you in your talke: Nay, I did not onelie listen to your vvordes, but I also most diligentlie considered vvhat they might importe, still looking vvhen some thing should come into your minde, vvherevvith Iobs vvordes might soundlie hauehave beene ansvveared. 12 But vvhen I had waighed all things vvhichwhich yee brought, I founde nothing to be spoken of you, vvhichwhich might seeme iustlie to conuince Iob.
13 Neither trulie say yee, wee hauehave found wisedome: God casteth him downe, not man.
14 For (he truelie) hath not directed his speech against mee: (yet) vvill I ansvveare him, albeit not by yovvr wordes.
13 Neither trulie is there any cause, vvhy you should contrarivvise thinke, that yee hauehave founde out the verie trueth of the matter, and the onelie thing vvhichwhich of it selfe alone may manifestlie prooue Iob to be guiltie, because forsooth, seeing this his so great and suddaine affliction, came not through the working and the malice of man, but was, without question, sent downe from heauen, it seemeth that euen God him selfe beeing iudge, hee is condemned of these crimes, which ye charge him withal. 14. For he was able in most ample maner, as ye heard, to refell and ouerthrowe these your accusations: yet notwithstanding I hauehave somewhat to say vntounto him, but I meane so to answere him, as that I will not follow your steppes.
15 They were afraide, they answered no more, they left of their talke.
16 For I waited, but they speake not but stand still, neither doe they answer anie more:
17 Therefore will J also vtter my part: I also will shew my opinion.
18 For I am full of speech: the spirit of my bellie compelleth mee.
19 Behold my bellie breaketh, as it were wine not opened, and like vntounto newe bottells.
20 I will therefore speake, and J shall be enlarged, I will open my lippes and will answer.
21 (But) J pray you let me not accept the countenance of any man, (that is, God forbid, that for anie mans sake, I should vse dissimulation) and before man vse surnames, (that is, words of flatterie.)
22 For I know not how to giuegive a surname (that is, to flatter) (for) presently my maker would burne me.
15. 16. & 17. Neither is there anie one of all this companie, which standeth here, that can iustlie reprooue mee, for that I also, so farre as I am able, doe set downe and declare what I thinke of this matter: seing that these men, some of them being so daunted, that they dare not once mutter or open their mouth: some also hauing a long respite graunted vntounto them to frame their answere, are altogether become dumb. 18. & 19. But I hauehave here so manie things to speake, that though I woulde neuer so faine containe my selfe, this spirit of mine will not suffer me: this spirite, I say, within me, which swelling out like vntounto a vvine vessell euen full of new vvine, will shortlie breake, vnlesse it hauehave a vent. Therefore will I speake, that I may take breath, and that I may at length freelie poure out that, which I hauehave so long time conceiued in my breast. 21. But I desire you not to bee offended, if without that regard had of any man, which might preiudice the truth, I shall in moste free manner speake my minde; yea, and I pray you, thinke not much of it, if I shall let pleasing and flattering proemes goe, and vse none of them. 22 For I am altogether ignorant of this cunning kinde of flattering: yea, if I should endeuour to practize the same, there is prepared readie for me by my maker a moste seuere and sharp vengeance.