Jump to:
Job
Chapter
32
{Chapters
32-39: Decision of the Judges}
{Chapters
32-37: Decision of the Human Judge - Elihu}
{Verses
1-5: A Prose Introduction to Elihu}
{Elihu's
4 Speeches/'Legal Opinions' -
1st Speech - Chapters 32 and 33}
{Notification
of Termination of Debates}
1~~Then
these three men {Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar}
ceased
answering Job,
because
he was 'righteous in his own eyes'
{Job would not say he was being punished for some 'secret sin'}.
{Introduction
of the Human Judge and Case against Job}
2~~Then
Elihu
{'Eliyhuw - name means 'My God is He'}
the
son of Barachel
{Barak'el - name means 'blessing of God}
the
Buzite
{Buz was a nation located near the ancestral home of the
Chaldeans}
of
the family of Ram . . .
became
angry/'righteously indignant' with Job
for
vindicating himself rather than 'Elohiym/Godhead.
{Note: So Elihu is a younger man. He condemns Job for his self-justification and condemning God. So, He is rough on Job, but overall is objective and will come to the defense of Job. Basically Elihu will himself vindicate Job - but he points out that Job failed when he mistook the silence of God with punishment from God. God is honoring Job with tremendous evidence testing.}
{Elihu's
Summary Indictment of the 'Three Friends'}
3~~He
was also angry/'in a state of righteous indignation'
with
the three friends
because
they had found no way to refute Job
and
yet had condemned him {with no evidence}.
{Note: All their condemnation had done was prove how weak they are! Job was much greater than all three. Job was judged guilty until he could prove himself innocent - the reverse of honorable legal procedures.}
{Courtesy
of Elihu}
4~~Now
Elihu had waited until speaking to Job,
because
they were older than he.
{Note: This verse indicates that Elihu had self-discipline and good manners. He was courteous to the older gentlemen - thoughtful of others. He has integrity, courtesy, and was a gentleman himself. It is a sign of humility and objectivity. Courtesy is the enemy of arrogance.}
{Verses
5-6: Patience of Elihu}
5~~But
when Elihu saw that
the
three men had nothing more to say,
then
his anger/'righteous indignation' was aroused.
{Note: We will find that Elihu is not sinning here. Righteous indignation is better here. But getting emotional - sin or not - hinders your ability to learn.}
6~~And
Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said,
"I
am young in years
{but Elihu is wise beyond his years},
and
you are my elders.
That
is why I was fearful . . .
now
wanting to show you what I know.
7~~I thought, 'Age should have its say.
Advanced years should teach wisdom.
8~~But
it is the breathe/spirit {ruwach} in man . . .
and
the breathe/inspiration {n@shamah} of the Almighty
that
gives them understanding.
9~~It
is not only the old who are wise,
nor
only the aged who understand
'the
Light of bible doctrine'/judgment {mishpat}.
10~~Therefore
I {Elihu} say,
'Hear,
listen, and obey' {shama`} me.
I too will tell you what I know.
11~~I waited while you spoke.
I
listened to your reasonings,
while
you were searching for words.
12~~I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you proved Job wrong.
None of you answered his arguments.
13~~Do not say 'we have found wisdom'.
Let God/'El refute him . . . not man.
{Note: There is the biblically correct principal for individuals. God is the One Who has all the facts. He is the only judge (yes there are exceptions to this - parents with their children, bosses at work, military commanders, etc - and this is individual to individual - not referring to a Judge in a court or a nation protecting its security).}
{Elihu
Now Turns to Job}
14~~But
he {Job} has not marshaled his words against me.
And, I will answer him with your arguments."
{Note: This is a mannerly way of saying you three did not come up with anything but hot air!}
15~~(They
are dismayed . . .
and
have no more to say - words have failed them.)
{Note: RBT says that this is a parenthetical sentence inserted by Elihu as the writer of the book of Job indicating the state of the three former friends of Job. One reason he thinks Elihu is the writer of Job.}
16-17~~"Must I wait . . . now that they are silent (?) . . . 17~~
Now
that they stand there with no reply?
I
too will have my say.
'I too will tell you what I know'/'I will give you my opinion'.
18~~For I {Elihu} am full of doctrines.
And the spirit within me . . . compels me.
19~~Inside
I am like bottled up wine
in
new wine skins . . . ready to burst
{if you pour new wine into new wineskins - without preparation -
like a bomb it will blow up}.
20~~I must speak . . . and find relief.
I must open my lips and reply.
21~~I
{Elihu} will show partiality to no one
{means he will be objective}.
Nor will I flatter any man.
22~~For
if I were skilled in flattery,
my
Maker would soon take me away."
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