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Job Chapter
Twelve
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOB 12
In
this and the two following chapter Job makes answer to Zophar's discourse in
the former; who having represented him as an ignorant man
he resents it
and
begins his defence with a biting sarcasm on him and his friends
as being
self-conceited
and having an high opinion of their own wisdom
as if none had
any but themselves
Job 12:1; and puts
in his claim for a share with them
as being not at all inferior to them
Job 12:3; and then
refutes their notions
that it always goes well with good men
and ill with bad
men; whereas the reverse is the truth
Job 12:4; and which
they might learn from the brute creatures; or he sends them to them
to observe
to them
that the best things they had knowledge of concerning God and his
providence
and of his wisdom therein
were common notions that everyone had
and might be learned from beasts
birds
and fishes; particularly
that all
things in the whole universe are made by God
and sustained by him
and are
under his direction
and at his disposal
Job 12:7; and such
things might as easily be searched
examined
and judged of
as sounds are
tried by the ear
and food by the mouth
Job 12:11; and
seeing it is usual among men
at least it may be expected that men in years
should have a considerable share of wisdom and knowledge
it might be strongly
inferred from thence
without any difficulty
that the most perfect and
consummate wisdom was in God
Job 12:12; whence
he passes on to discourse most admirably and excellently of the wisdom and power
of God in the dispensations of his providence
in a variety of instances; which
shows his knowledge of his perfections
ways
and works
was not inferior to
that of his friends
Job 12:14.
Job 12:1 Then
Job answered and said:
YLT
1And Job answereth and
saith: --
And Job answered and said. In reply to Zophar
and
in defence of himself; what is recorded in this and the two following chapters.
Job 12:2 2 “No doubt you are
the people
And wisdom will die with you!
YLT
2Truly -- ye [are] the
people
And with you doth wisdom die.
No doubt but ye are the people
.... Which is
said not seriously
meaning that they were but of the common people
that are
generally ignorant
and have but little knowledge
at least of things sublime
especially in matters of religion; wherefore
though they took upon them to be
his teachers and dictators to him
and censors of him
they were not above the
rank
but in the class of people of low and mean understandings; see John 7:49; this
sense indeed agrees with what is after said
"who knoweth not such things
as these?" but since Job compares himself with them
and asserts he is not
inferior to them
it supposes them to have a degree of knowledge and
understanding of things somewhat above the common people; wherefore these words
are to be taken ironically
exposing their vanity and self-conceit: "ye
are the people"; the only
and all the people in the world of importance
and consequence for good sense and wisdom; the only wise and knowing folk
the
men of reason and understanding; all the rest are but fools and asses
or like
the wild ass's colt
as Zophar had said
and which Job took as pointing to him;
so the word in the Arabic languageF3Golii Lex. Ar. Col. 1743. Vid.
Lud. Capell. in loc. signifies the more excellent and better sort of people;
or
ye are the only people of God
his covenant people
his servants; that are
made acquainted with the secrets of wisdom
as none else are:
and wisdom shall die with you; you have all the wisdom
of the world
and when you die it will be all gone; there will be none left in
the world: thus he represents them as monopolizers and engrossers of wisdom and
knowledge
full of it in their conceit
allowing none to have any share with
them: and by all this he not only upbraids them with their vanity and
self-conceit
but puts them in mind
that
as wise as they were
they must die;
and that
though their wisdom with respect to them
or any use they could make
of it in the grave
where there is none
would die too; or that their wisdom
was but the wisdom of the world
which comes to nought; yet there would be wisdom
still in the world
and that which is true
which God makes known to men
even
the wisdom of God in a mystery
the wisdom hid in himself; and who has the
residue of the Spirit and his gifts to instruct men in it
and qualify them to
be teachers of others; by which means
though men
even the best of men
die
yet the word of God
the means of true wisdom and knowledge
will always abide.
Job 12:3 3 But I have understanding
as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Indeed
who does not know
such things as these?
YLT
3I also have a heart like
you
I am not fallen more than you
And with whom is there not like these?
But I have understanding as well as you
.... A natural
understanding
or an understanding of natural things
which distinguishes a man
from a brute; and a spiritual understanding
an understanding enlightened by
the spirit of God
which is naturally dark as to divine things; but he had an
understanding given him
to know himself
his state and condition by nature; to
know God
his love and grace to men
and
as his covenant God
to know Christ
his living Redeemer
who should stand on the earth in the latter day
both to
be his Redeemer and his Judge; to know his interest in him
and in the
blessings of grace and glory by him: or
"I have an heart as well as
you"F4גם לי
לבב כמוכם "etiam mihi
cor sicut vobis"
Pagninus
Montanus
Mercerus
Schmidt
Michaelis
Schultens; so Broughton. ; a wise and an understanding one; a new heart
and a
right spirit; an heart to fear and serve the Lord
a sincere and upright one
and devoid of hypocrisy and deceit; and as good an one as theirs:
I am not inferior unto you: he was indeed as to
estate and substance
being now reduced; though he had been
in that sense
the
greatest man in all the east; but in wisdom and knowledge
in gifts and grace:
thus a modest man
when oppressed and insulted by the speeches of overbearing
men
may be obliged and see it necessary to say some things of himself
in his
own vindication
which he otherwise would not; see 2 Corinthians 11:15;
or
"I am not falling before you"; or "by you"F5לא נפל אנכי
מכם "non cadens ego a vobis"
Montanus
Vatablus
Bolducius
Beza
Mercerus
Michaelis; "prae vobis"
Schmidt.
; as one intimidated
conquered
and yielding; I stand my ground
and will not
gave way or submit to you
or allow you to have the superiority of me: or
"I am falling no more than you"; they took him for an apostate
from God
and the fear of him
and the true religion he had professed
which
Job denies; he held fast his integrity; and though he was fallen into
calamities and afflictions
he was not fallen from God; from his fear of him
faith in him
and love and obedience to him; he was a holy
good man
a
persevering saint; and though he had slips and falls in common with good men
yet fell not finally and totally
or was an apostate from the faith:
yea
who knoweth not such things as these? or
"with whom are not as these"F6ואת
מי אין כמו
אלה "et cum quo non sicut haec?" Pagninus
Montanus
Bolducius
Mercerus; and to the same sense Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
Cocceius
Schultens. ? the things you have been discoursing of
which
you would fain have pass for the secrets of wisdom
deep and mysterious things
hid from vulgar eyes
which none have and know but yourselves
are common
things
what everyone is possessed of
and understands as well as you; that
there is a God that has made the world
and governs it; that he himself is
unsearchable
infinite and incomprehensible; a sovereign Being that does
according to his will and pleasure
and sees and knows all things
and does all
things well and wisely
and according to the counsel of his will: though some
think Job has reference not to what Zophar had been discoursing concerning the
infinity and wisdom of God
but to the thing or things in dispute between them
or to the assertions of his friends; that it is always well with good men
and
ill with bad men
or that wicked men only are punished and afflicted
and
particularly what Zophar concluded his speech with
Job 11:20. Now
these were vulgar notions
which the common people had taken up
and were
vulgar errors
as he proves in the following verses
by giving instances of
good men
being afflicted
and of bad men being in prosperity.
Job 12:4 4 “I am one mocked by his
friends
Who called on God
and He answered him
The just and blameless who
is ridiculed.
YLT
4A laughter to his friend I
am: `He calleth to God
and He answereth him
' A laughter [is] the perfect
righteous one.
I am as one mocked of his neighbour
.... That is
according to Sephorno
if I knew not
or denied those things you have been
speaking of concerning God
his immensity
sovereignty
and wisdom
I should be
derided by all my friends and acquaintance; but rather the sense is
Job
instances in himself as a proof that good men are afflicted by God in this
life; he was once in a very prosperous condition
when he was caressed by all
but now was fallen into such low and miserable circumstances as to be the scorn
and contempt of his friends and neighbours; and even his being mocked was no
small part of his afflictions; to endure cruel mockings has been the common lot
of good men in all ages
and is reckoned one part of their distresses and
sufferings for righteousness sake
Hebrews 11:36; and
to be mocked by a neighbour
or a "friend"F7לרעהו "amico suo"
Pagninus
Mercerus
Junius
& Tremellius
Piscator; so Broughton.
as it may be rendered
greatly
aggravates the affliction
see Psalm 55:12; which
was Job's case; his friends that came to comfort him mocked at him
at least so
he understood them
and interpreted what they said unto him
see Job 16:20; and what
made it still the heavier to bear
he was mocked by such a neighbour or friend
who calleth upon God
and he answereth him; he was mocked
at not by profane men only
but by a professor of religion
ong swept away with
the flood
were cast into hell
where they have lain ever since
and will lie
unto the judgment of the great day; between the place of the damned
and of the
happy
in Abraham's bosom
is a great gulf
that there is no passing from one
to the other
which is the immutable and unalterable decree of God
which has
fixed the everlasting states of men
Luke 16:26.
F18 על איש "super virum"
Montanus
Mercerus
Bolducius;_super viro"
Schmidt
Michaelis. Job 12:15.
Behold
he withholdeth the waters
and they dry up
.... Or
"lays a restraint in" or "on the waters"F19;
either in the ocean
as he did at the creation
when he gathered the waters
that were upon the face of the earth into one place
and restrained them there
even in the decreed place he broke up for them
called the sea
and set bars
and doors to keep them within bounds
whereby the places they left became dry
and the dry land appeared called earth; and even such a man does not do good
without sinning; only the man Christ Jesus is righteous in such sense; but then
all that are made righteous
by the imputation of his righteousness to them
are perfectly justified from all things
and are become the spirits of just men
made perfect and complete in him: the character here designs such who are
really righteous
truly gracious
are upright in heart
sincere souls
who have
the truth of grace in them
and walk uprightly; these become a prey
a laughing
stock to wicked men
as Noah
Lot
and others
before the times of Job
had
been
which he may have respect unto.
Job 12:5 5 A lamp[a] is
despised in the thought of one who is at ease; It is made ready for
those whose feet slip.
YLT
5A torch -- despised in the
thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
He that is ready to slip with his feet
.... Not into
sin
though this is often the case of good men
but into calamities and
afflictions; and Job means himself
and every just upright man in the like
circumstances: or he that is "prepared" or "destined" to be
among them
that "totter" and stagger in their "feet"F9נכון למועדי רגל
"destinatus vacillantibus pede"
Schmidt; so Michaelis. ; that cannot
stand upon their feet
but fall to the ground; which may describe man in
declining and distressing circumstances; or that is appointed to be the
laughing stock of such as are unstable in the word and ways of God; double
minded men
hypocrites
and formal professors
that totter and stagger at everything
they meet with disagreeable to the flesh: with such
a poor afflicted saint is
laughed to scorn; he
is as a lamp
despised in the thought of him that is at ease; who are in affluent
circumstances
enjoy great prosperity
live in plenty
and are not in trouble
as others; their hearts are at ease: now with such
poor good men are had in
great contempt; they are despised at heart
in the thoughts of such persons
if
they do not in words express it; they are like a lamp just going out
which is
neglected
and looked upon as useless; or like a torch burnt to the end
when
it is thrown away; and thus it is with men
while the lamp of prosperity burns
clear and bright
they are valued and had in esteem
but when their lamp
becomes dim
and is almost
or quite extinguished
they are despised
see Psalm 123:3; some
apply this to Christ
who was a lamp or light
a great one
but despised of
men
and even as a light; they loved darkness rather than light; and especially
by the Pharisees
who were at ease
settled on their lees
that trusted in
themselves that they were righteous
and despised others; and this is true of
Gospel ministers
though bright and burning lights
and even of every good man
in whom the true light of grace
and of the Gospel
shines
and especially when
under afflictive circumstances. Some
instead of a "lamp despised"
read
"for" or "because of calamity despised"F11לפיד בוז "ad calamitatem
contumelia"
Cocceius; "ad infortunium vilis habetur"
Gussetius
p. 674. ; so Aben Ezra
which conveys the same sense
that an
afflicted man is despised for his affliction; and this being the case of good
men confutes the notion of Job's friends
that it always goes well with such;
and their other notion of its going ill with bad men is refuted in Job 12:6.
Job 12:6 6 The tents of robbers
prosper
And those who provoke God are secure—In what God provides by His hand.
YLT
6At peace are the tents of
spoilers
And those provoking God have confidence
He into whose hand God hath
brought.
The tabernacles of robbers prosper
.... Such as the
Chaldeans and Sabeans
who had robbed Job of his substance
and filled their
houses with the spoils of others
and lived in the greatest fulness and
prosperity
and whom he might have in his view; and the like is what has been
since observed by good men
and has been a trial and temptation to them
not
knowing well how to reconcile this to the justice and wisdom of God in
providence
yet so it is
a fact that cannot be denied
see Psalm 73:2;
and they that provoke God are secure; all sin is
abominable to God
contrary to his nature
will
and law
and so provoking; yet
there are some sins that are more provoking than others
as idolatry
blasphemy
murder
theft
robbery
rapine
and oppression
and the like
as
well as attended with more aggravating circumstances; and yet many who are
guilty of such enormous crimes
and God provoking iniquities
are
"secure"
live in the greatest tranquillity and safety
free from the
incursions
invasions
and insults of others: "their houses"
as Job
elsewhere says
"are safe from fear"
Job 21:9;
into whose hand God bringeth abundantly; an abundance
of the good things of this world
who have as much or more than heart can wish;
whose belly is filled with hid treasure
whose grounds and fields bring forth
plentifully
that they have no room to bestow their fruits; this
as it is an
aggravation of their sin in provoking the God of their mercies
who is so
liberal and bountiful to them
so it is the more full and express for the point
in hand Job is confuting. Some
as Aben Ezra and Ben Gersom
understand this of
idol makers and idol worshippers
and render the words
"who makes a god
with his hand"
or "carries a god in his hand"F12הביא אלוה בידו
"quique deum portant vel portat in manu sua"
Tigurine
version
Munster; so Bolducius
De Dieu
Schultens.
and worships it; which
others interpret of his doing what he will with God
having him
as it were
in
his hand
or reckoning his hands his god
and thinks to do what he pleasesF13Schmidt
&c. .
Job 12:7 7 “But now ask the beasts
and they will teach you; And the birds of the air
and they will tell you;
YLT
7And yet
ask
I pray thee
[One of] the beasts
and it doth shew thee
And a fowl of the heavens
And it
doth declare to thee.
But ask now the beasts
and they shall teach thee
.... And so
the fowls of the air
and the fishes of the sea
in this and Job 12:8; from
those instructions may be learned
of instances taken
and examples given
which may illustrate and confirm the same things that had been treated of:
either what had been just now confuted
that it is always well with good men
and ill with bad men; the reverse of which had been affirmed and proved
that
good men are afflicted
and wicked men prosper; something like to which may be
seen in the creatures
and learned of them; thus those creatures that are the
most harmless and innocent
and most useful and beneficial
are a prey to
others
as sheep and lambs to lions
wolves
and bears
while they range about
forests
fields
and plains
fearless and unmolested; and doves and turtles to
hawks and vultures; and the lesser fish to the greater
by whom they are
devoured
see Habakkuk 1:13; and
moreover
these creatures which are most useful and profitable
or are for
pleasure and delight
fall more to the share of wicked men than good men; when
droves of cattle and flocks of sheep are observed
and the question is put
to
whom do they belong? the answer for the most part must be given
to such and
such wicked men; and if the gold and silver
and other valuable things the
earth produces
should be inquired about whose they are
it must be said
that
they are
generally speaking
the property of the men of the world
the profane
part of it; or if the fowls of the air
and fishes of the sea
could speak
when asked the question
whose food they commonly were? the answer would be
of
the carnal
sensual
and voluptuous men: or rather this may refer to what Job
first takes notice of in this answer of his
that his friends represented what
they said as uncommon things
deep mysteries
and out of the reach of the
vulgar
and which did not fall under common observation; whereas Job suggests
he was as well acquainted with them as they were
yea
they were such that
almost everybody knew; nay
they might be learnt from the creatures
to which
Job here sends them for instruction; the beasts
birds
and fishes
all
proclaim that they did not make themselves
nor did their fellow creatures
but
some first cause
who is God: that they are sustained
supported
and provided
for by him
and are governed
directed
and disposed of as he pleases
and so
furnishes out documents of his sovereignty
wisdom
power
and providence:
and the fowls of the air
and they will tell thee: the same
things; that God made them
and that they are dependent on him
and are fed and
cared for by him
see Matthew 6:26.
Job 12:8 8 Or speak to the earth
and
it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
YLT
8Or talk to the earth
and
it sheweth thee
And fishes of the sea recount to thee:
Or speak to the earth
and it shall teach thee
.... Or ask
"a sprig of the earth"F14שיח לארץ "virgultum terrae"
Pagninus
Schmidt; so
Drusius and Michaelis.
any shrub
or tree
or whatsoever grows out of it
and
they will all unite in this doctrine
that they are raised and preserved by the
power of God
and are so many instances of his wisdom
power
and goodness:
and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee; as mute as
they are
they will proclaim this truth
that God is the mighty Maker and wise
Disposer of them.
Job 12:9 9 Who among all these does
not know That the hand of the Lord has done this
YLT
9`Who hath not known in all
these
That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?
Who knoweth not in all these
.... Or "by" or
"from all these"F15בכל אלה "ex omnibus istis"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
Schmidt
Schultens
Michaelis; "per omnia haec"
Cocceius;
so Broughton. creatures; what man is there so stupid and senseless
that does
not discern
or cannot learn
even from irrational creatures
the above things
even what Zophar had discoursed concerning God and his perfections
his power
wisdom and providence? for
by the things that are made
the invisible things
of God are clearly seen and understood
even his eternal power and Godhead
Romans 1:20;
particularly it may be known by these
and who is it that does not know
thereby
that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? made this
visible world
and all things in it
to which Job then pointed as it were with
his finger
meaning the heavens
earth
and sea
and all that in them are
which were all created by him: hence he is called the Former and Maker of all
things; and which are all the works of his hand
that is
of his power
which
is meant by his hand
that being the instrument of action. This is the only
place where the word "Jehovah" is used in this book by the
disputants.
Job 12:10 10 In whose hand is
the life of every living thing
And the breath of all mankind?
YLT
10In whose hand [is] the
breath of every living thing
And the spirit of all flesh of man.'
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing
.... Of every
animal
of every brute creature
as distinct from man
in the next clause: the
life of everyone of them is from him
and it is continued by him as long as he
pleases
nor can it be taken away without his leave; two sparrows
which are
not worth more than a farthing
not one of them falls to the ground
or dies
without the knowledge and will of God
Matthew 10:29; of
the soul or spirit of beasts
see Ecclesiastes 3:21;
and the breath of all mankind; the breath of man is
originally from God
he at first breathed into man the breath of life; and
though this is in his nostrils
which makes him of little account
yet it would
not continue there long
was it not in the hand
and under the care and
providence of God; the breath of a king
as well as the heart of a king
is in
the hand of the Lord: the breath of that great monarch Belshazzar
king of
Babylon
was in the hand of God
Daniel 5:23; and so
is the breath of every peasant; and as when he takes away the breath of other
creatures
they die and return to the dust; such is the case of man when God
takes away his breath; all our times are in his hand
to be born
to live and
die
all is at his dispose: or "the spirit of all the flesh of men"F16רוח כל בשר
איש "spiritus omnis carnis viri?" Pagninus
Montanus
Schmidt
Schultens
Michaelis.
or of all men's flesh; his rational
soul
as distinguished from his flesh or body
this is from God
supported in
its being by him
and ever will be
being immortal
and will never die.
Job 12:11 11 Does not the ear test
words And the mouth taste its food?
YLT
11Doth not the ear try words?
And the palate taste food for itself?
Doth not the ear try words?.... Articulate sounds;
and the mind by them judges whether what is expressed and designed by them is
right or wrong
true or false
to be received or rejected; so such that have
spiritual ears to hear
try the words of God and men
the wholesome words of
Christ
and those of false teachers
which eat as a canker; and by their
spiritual judgment can distinguish between the one and the other
discern those
that differ
and approve those that are excellent
by bringing them to the
standard of the word
the balance of the sanctuary
the Scriptures of truth:
and the mouth taste his meat? and judge of it
whether
good or bad
or savoury or unsavoury
and so receive or reject it: thus such
who have their taste changed
and relish spiritual things
can distinguish
between the meat that perishes
and that which endures to everlasting life
even Christ
whose flesh is meat indeed; and those that have tasted that the Lord
is gracious
and to whose taste the fruits of Christ and the doctrines of grace
are sweet; these will desire the sincere milk of the word
and that strong meat
in it
which belongs to discerning and experienced souls; and will feed by
faith upon the pure word of the Gospel
and mix it with it
and reject all
others. Job by this would signify
that the things his friends had been
discoursing of
and which they thought were such deep and wonderful things
were as easy to be searched and found out
tried and judged of
as sounds by
the ear
or food by the taste; and it may be also that hereby he suggests
that
his doctrine
if it was impartially examined and tried by proper judges
it
would appear as plain as anything tried by the ear
or tasted by the mouth.
Some think that Job intends by this
that from the senses of hearing and
tasting in men might be inferred the omniscience of God
his knowledge of all
things
and his quick discernment of men
and their actions
since "he
that planted the ear
shall he not hear? he that formed the eye
shall not he
see?" Psalm 94:9. Some
versions read the whole
"doth not the ear try words
as the mouth tastes
his meat"F17Vatablus
Drusius
Junius et Tremellius
Piscator
Mercerus
Cocceius
Schultens; so Broughton. ? as in Job 34:3. Saadiah
Gaon connects these words "as the ear tries words"
&c. with Job 12:12
"so
with the ancient is wisdom".
Job 12:12 12 Wisdom is with aged
men
And with length of days
understanding.
YLT
12With the very aged [is]
wisdom
And [with] length of days understanding.
With the ancient is wisdom
.... Meaning not himself
who was not very ancient; though some think Eliphaz so understood him; hence
those words of his
in Job 15:9; rather
as others
Job tacitly wishes that some ancient man
with whom wisdom was
would undertake to examine the affair between him and his friends
and judge of
it
and decide the point; or
as others
he has respect to Bildad's advice to
search the fathers
and learn their sentiments
and be determined by them; to
which he replies
that though it will be allowed that wisdom is with them
for
the most part
yet their judgment of things is no further to be regarded than
as it agrees with the wisdom of God
and the revelation he has made of his
will; though it seems best of all to consider these words as an adage or
proverbial sentence generally agreed to
that it often is
as it might be
expected it should
though it is not always
that men well advanced in years
are wise; that as they have lived long in the world
they have learned much by
observation and experience
and have attained to a considerable share of wisdom
and knowledge in things
natural
civil
and religious:
and in length of days is understanding; the
understandings of men are improved and enriched
and well stored with useful
science
having had the opportunity of much reading
hearing
and conversation;
by this Job would suggest
that if his friends had more knowledge of hidden and
recondite things
beyond common people
which yet they had not
it was not so
wonderful
since they were aged men
and had lived long in the world; or rather
it may be that this is mentioned
to observe that from hence
seeing it is so
among men
that ancient men have
or it may be expected they should have
a
considerable share of wisdom and understanding; it may be most easily and
strongly concluded
that God
who is the Ancient of days
has the most perfect
and consummate wisdom and knowledge
which is asserted in Job 12:13.
Job 12:13 13 “With Him are
wisdom and strength
He has counsel and understanding.
YLT
13With Him [are] wisdom and
might
To him [are] counsel and understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength
.... Not with
the ancient and long lived man
but with God
who has made the whole universe
and in whose hand and at whose dispose all creatures are
Job 12:9; with him
wisdom is originally
essentially
and inderivatively
as the fountain and
fulness of it; he is the only and all wise God; his wisdom is displayed in making
the world
and all things in it
in the beautiful manner they are set
and in
their subserviency to each other; in all the dispensations of his providence
having all a "bathos"
a depth of wisdom and knowledge in them
being
all according to the counsel of his will; and in the work of redemption and
salvation by Christ
in which he has abounded in all wisdom and prudence; in
finding out and appointing a Redeemer
mighty and strong
equal to the work; in
contriving and bringing it about
in such a manner as to glorify all his
perfections; hence the Gospel
which is the publication of this grace
is
called the wisdom of God: and with him is wisdom to communicate to his people
to direct them how to behave under every providence
in every station of life
in the church
and in the world
see James 1:5; and he
has "strength"
which he has shown in making the world out of
nothing
in upholding it
and all things in it in being
in executing his
designs
decrees
and purposes
in fulfilling his promises
and in supporting
and strengthening his people
under all their trials and exercises
to
withstand every enemy
and perform every duty; ancient men
though they may increase
in wisdom
they decline in strength
but God has both
in infinite perfection:
he hath counsel and understanding; his decrees and
purposes
wisely formed within himself
are his counsels of old
and which are
truly and punctually performed in time; his plan of peace
reconciliation
and
salvation by Christ
may
with propriety
be called the counsel of peace
between them both; and the Gospel
and the various doctrines of it
are the
whole counsel of God
and so are the ordinances of it; and besides these
by
which he counsels and advises his people
he has counsel with him
and which he
gives unto them by his spirit
for which they bless his name; and so even did
Christ as man and Mediator
Psalm 16:7; he has
counsel to give
and does give in things temporal
relating to the common
affairs of life
and in things concerning the good and welfare of immortal
souls; all which comes from him who is "wonderful in counsel
and
excellent in working"
Isaiah 28:29; and
he has an "understanding" that is infinite and unsearchable; he has
an understanding of himself
his nature
perfections
and persons of all his
creatures
and of all things past
present
and to come; the same things are
said of Christ
the wisdom of God
Proverbs 8:14. Job
having observed these things of God
passes on to discourse most admirably and
excellently of the power and wisdom of God in various instances
especially in
the dispensations of his providence
by which he appears to have known the
secrets of wisdom
and not so ignorant as represented by Zophar.
Job 12:14 14 If He breaks a thing
down
it cannot be rebuilt; If He imprisons a man
there can be no
release.
YLT
14Lo
He breaketh down
and
it is not built up
He shutteth against a man
And it is not opened.
Behold
he breaketh down
and it cannot be built again
.... Which
some restrain to the tower of Babel; but though the builders of it were obliged
to desist from building
it does not appear that it was broken down
but seems
to have continued many ages after: others more probably refer it to the
destruction of Sodom
as Sephorno
which was an utter destruction
a perpetual
desolation
and that city never was rebuilt to this day; and the same may be
observed of many other cities that have had their foundations razed up
and
have never been rebuilt
Thebes
Tyre
&c. and as will be the case of Rome
or the great city of Babylon
when once destroyed; yea
this has been true of
kingdoms and states
such as Jeremiah was to root out
pull down
and destroy;
that is
by prophesying of their destruction
as the Ammonites
Moabites
Edomites
and others
whose names and nations are no more
see Jeremiah 1:10; and
the four monarchies broken down and destroyed
and made as the chaff of the
summer threshing floor
by the kingdom of Christ
Daniel 2:35; and
may be exemplified in particular persons and families; in Job and his family
the Lord broke him with breach upon breach; he broke him in his estate and
substance; he broke down the hedge about him
and exposed him to thieves and
robbers that plundered him of his substance; he broke down his family
that had
been so largely and happily built up
by taking away his children by death; and
he broke his constitution by diseases
afflictions
and sorrows
to which Job
may have here respect
when he at this time never expected to have his losses
in his substance
and in his family
and in his health
repaired
as they were;
nor could it have been done without the will and pleasure of God; and
oftentimes
when such breaches are made
there is no reparation; a man's
wealth
and health
and family
are never built up again:
he shutteth up a man
and there can be no opening; if he shut up
a man in a prison
there is no opening the doors of it to let out unless he
pleases; whether it be the prison of sin
in which all are concluded
in the fetters
and with the cords of which they are held
and will continue
unless those
shackles are broken off by powerful and efficacious grace
and the Lord
proclaims liberty to the captives
and the opening of the prison to them that
are bound
and gives it; or whether it be the prison of the law
in which
sinners are shut up
and held as condemned malefactors; there is no deliverance
from it but by Christ
who has redeemed his people from the curse and
condemnation of it; and by his Spirit
as a spirit of adoption
who delivers
them from the bondage of it
and makes them free indeed; or whether it be the
prison of afflictions
straits
and difficulties in life
with which even good
men are surrounded
being bound in fetters
and holden in cords of affliction;
there is no opening for them
or getting out of them
unless the Lord breaks
their bands asunder
and brings them out of darkness and distress
as out of
prison houses
and so opens and makes a way for their escape; or whether he
shuts them up
and they are so straitened in their souls that they cannot come
forth in the free exercise of grace
and discharge of duty
as it was with
Heman
when he said
"I am shut up
and I cannot come forth"
Psalm 88:8; and as
it was with David
when he prayed
"bring my soul out of prison
that I
may praise thy name"
Psalm 142:7; there
is no opening for them till the spirit of the Lord opens their hearts and their
graces
and brings them forth into exercise; and "where he is there is
liberty"
2 Corinthians 3:17;
or if he shuts up a man in the grave
as the Targum paraphrases it
brings him
to the house appointed for all living
and locks him up in it; there can be no
opening for him till the resurrection morn
when Christ
who has the keys of
hell and death
will unlock the graves
and the dead shall come forth
as
Lazarus did at his call
John 11:43
or if
"he shuts upon a man"F18על איש "super virum"
Montanus
Mercerus
Bolducius;
"super viro"
Schmidt
Michaelis.
as the words may be rendered;
shuts the gates of heaven upon a man
as the door into the marriage chamber of
the Lamb will be shut upon and against the foolish virgins
as well as profane
sinners
there can be no opening
cry as long as they will; see Matthew 25:10; and
as God shut the door of Eden
or the earthly paradise
against Adam
when he
drove him out
Genesis 3:23
to
which Sephorno refers this passage; or if the Lord shuts up a man in hell
there is no opening
no way of escape from thence. We read of "spirits in
prison"
1 Peter 3:19
which
is to be understood not of the limbus or purgatory of the Papists
but of hell;
and these "spirits" are the disobedient in the times of Noah
who
dying
or being swept away with the flood
were cast into hell
where they have
lain ever since
and will lie unto the judgment of the great day; between the
place of the damned
and of the happy
in Abraham's bosom
is a great gulf
that there is no passing from one to the other
which is the immutable and
unalterable decree of God
which has fixed the everlasting states of men
Luke 16:26.
Job 12:15 15 If He withholds the
waters
they dry up; If He sends them out
they overwhelm the earth.
YLT
15Lo
He keepeth in the
waters
and they are dried up
And he sendeth them forth
And they overturn the
land.
Behold
he withholdeth the waters
and they dry up
.... Or
"lays a restraint in" or "on the waters"F19יעצר במים "detinebit in
aquis"
Montanus
Bolducius; "si contineat
vel cohibeat
q. d.
imperium exerceat in aquas"
Michaelis. ; either in the ocean
as he did
at the creation
when he gathered the waters that were upon the face of the
earth into one place
and restrained them there
even in the decreed place he
broke up for them
called the sea
and set bars and doors to keep them within
bounds
whereby the places they left became dry and the dry land appeared
called earth; and so at the time of the flood
when the waters which covered
the earth and drowned the world were called off again
the face of it was dry
and so it remains
the waters of the great ocean being restrained from
overflowing it; and also when God rebukes the see
and smites the waves of it
or withholds the ebbing and flowing of the tides brooks and rivers of water dry
up; see Nahum 1:4; or else
this may be understood of God's withholding and restraining the waters in the
clouds
and not suffering them to let down rain on the earth; when not only
brooks dry up
as the brook Cherith did
where Elijah abode for sometime
but
the fruits of the earth
trees
plants
and herbs dry up
wither and die; see 1 Kings 17:7; and
this is an emblem in a spiritual sense of God's withholding the word and
ordinances
the waters of the sanctuary the means of grace
and of
fruitfulness; which when he does
the consequence of it is barrenness and
unfruitfulness in kingdoms
cities
towns
families
sad particular persons; and
of his withholding the communications of his grace
often compared to water in
Scripture
even from his people; the effect of which is
that they are in
withering circumstances
the things that revive seem ready to die
though they
shall not; love waxes cold
faith is ready to fail
and hope and strength seem
perishing from the Lord:
also he sendeth them out
and they overturn the earth; as at the
time of the flood
when the fountains of the great deep were broken up
and the
windows of heaven were opened
and such vast quantities of water issued out as
overflowed the whole world
by which it was overturned; and as the Apostle
Peter says
"perished"
2 Peter 3:5; though
this is also true of inundations that may have been since
which though not
universal as that
yet so far as they have reached have overturned all in their
way
and carried off the fruits of the earth
the habitations of men
and men
themselves; whole countries
cities and towns
have been carried away by the
waters of the sea
or sunk into it
particularly all that space. Where now is
the Atlantic sea
as PlinyF20Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 90
92.
from
Plato
relates. It is well when the grace of God flows
and overflows
and
superabounds abounding sin
and overpowers and overcomes carnal
earthly
and
sensual lusts
and reigns where sin did
and teaches to deny ungodliness and
worldly lusts
and to mortify the members on the earth.
Job 12:16 16 With Him are
strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
YLT
16With Him [are] strength and
wisdom
His the deceived and deceiver.
With him is strength and wisdom
.... Which is
repeated from Job 12:13; though
different words are used but expressive of the same things; of the greatest
strength might
and power of God
as the above instances show and of his most
consummate
solid and substantial wisdom
as appears by what follows:
the deceived and the deceiver are his: the wisdom
knowledge
sagacity and penetration into affairs
which the one has not
and
the other has are from him; he withholds them from the one
who are simple and
void of understanding
and so are easily imposed upon and deceived
and he
given them to others
who make as ill use of them
deceive their fellow
creatures some are deceivers in civil things
in the business and affairs of
life
who circumvent
trick
cheat
and defraud their neighbours in buying and
selling
using deceitful weights and measures
and by many other artful
methods; others are deceivers in religious affairs
such are false teachers
deceitful workers
that lie in wait deceive; their intention into deceive
they
do it knowingly
and on purpose; they walk in craftiness
and handle the word
of God deceitfully; there were many of these in the times of the apostles that
had then entered into the world
but never more than now; the great impostor
and deceiver of all is. Satan
to whom Jarchi restrains the words
who beguiled
Eve
and indeed deceives the whole world
Revelation 12:9.
Multitudes are deceived by him
as well as by
his emissaries
false teachers
and by their own hearts lusts; and even God's elect themselves
while in a
state of unregeneracy
bear this character of "deceived
serving divers
lusts and pleasures"
Titus 3:3. Now
these are "his"
the Lord's; which Mr. Broughton interprets
"from him"
"by him"
and "for him"; the wit
wisdom
subtlety
and sagacity of deceivers
are from him; gifts of nature
in
themselves good
bestowed on them by him; the ill use they make of it is from
themselves
and owing to the vitiosity of their nature; nay
it is not only by
his permission
but according to his ordination and will
that there are such
persons in the world: in some cases they appear not only to have leave or
permission
but an order to seduce
as to the
lying spirit sent forth to
seduce Ahab
1 Kings 22:20; yea
the princes of Noph being deceived
and they seducing Egypt
it is ascribed to
the Lord's mingling a perverse spirit in the midst thereof
Isaiah 19:13; nay
when a prophet is deceived
God himself is said to deceive that prophet
Ezekiel 14:9; so
much is there of the permissive and efficacious will of God in this matter; not
that he is the author of error and deceit
or infuses these into men
only the
orderer
disposer
and
overruler of these things to some purposes orb is; he
has power over them
and counterworks them
when he pleases; he can and does
restrain them
and stops them
that they shall proceed no further
than he
wills; false teachers would
if possible
deceive the very elect
Matthew 24:24
but
they cannot
and the reason is
God hinders them; Satan can go on no longer
deceiving the world than it is the pleasure of God; a notorious instance of
hindering and
restraining him may be seen in Revelation 20:3;
and all the deceptions that are suffered to be among men they are all
wisely
ordered
and overruled to good purposes
so as to issue well; the deception of
our first parents was suffered and willed
that the grace of God might be
displayed in the salvation of
men; errors and heresies are and must be for the
trial and discovery of sound believers that they which are approved might be
manifest; and men that like not to retain God in their knowledge reject both
the light of nature and revelation
are left in righteous judgment to a
reprobate mind
to give heed to seducing spirits
and are given up to strong
delusions to believe a lie
that they might be damned
see 1 Corinthians 11:19
Romans 1:28. Now
all this shows the infinite and consummate wisdom of God; it is brought to
prove
not only that he "knows" deceivers
and all their arts and
tricks
through which men are deceived by them
as Aben Ezra interprets it
and
so the Vulgate Latin version renders it; but he is the fountain of all that
wisdom and knowledge in them
superior to others
which they abuse
nor can
they use it without his leave; and he can and does counterwork them
and
restrains them as he pleases
and makes all to work for and issue in his own
glory.
Job 12:17 17 He leads counselors away
plundered
And makes fools of the judges.
YLT
17Causing counsellors to go
away a spoil
And judges He maketh foolish.
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled
.... Such who have the
greatest share of knowledge and wisdom in civil things
and are capable of
giving advice to others
and are very useful in commonwealths
in cities
towns
and neighbourhoods; wherefore it is a judgment on a people when such are
removed
Isaiah 3:3; these
God can spoil at once of all their wisdom and knowledge
and render them unfit
to give advice and counsel to others; or he can confound their schemes
disappoint their devices
carry their counsel headlong
and make it of none
effect
and so spoil them of their ends and views
and of their fame
credit
and reputation:
and maketh the judges fools; men of great parts
abilities
and capacities
whereby they are qualified to sit upon the bench
preside in courts of judicature
and judge in all matters of controversy that
come before them; and it is a happiness to a country to have such persons
as
it is a judgment to have them removed
see Isaiah 3:2; yet God
can take away the wisdom of such men
deprive them of their natural abilities
and so infatuate them
that they shall not be able to understand a cause
but
pass a foolish sentence
to their own shame and disgrace
as well as to the
injury of others; see Isaiah 40:23.
Job 12:18 18 He loosens the bonds of
kings
And binds their waist with a belt.
YLT
18The bands of kings He hath
opened
And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.
He looseth the bonds of kings
.... Not with which they
themselves may be bound
being taken prisoners
or being so before made kings
and brought from thence to reign
as in Ecclesiastes 4:14;
but that which they bind on their subjects
a yoke of bondage
tyranny
and
oppression; so that to loose their bond is to loose their subjects from it
and
free them from their arbitrary and despotic power
and from the burdens they
lay upon them: unless rather it should be understood of loosing their
waistbands
as an emblem of their government
ungirding them
or unkinging
them
stripping them of their royal power and authority
called a "loosing
of their loins"
Isaiah 45:1; and
this power God has over such great personages
as to set up kings
and remove
them at his pleasure
Daniel 2:21; which
shows that strength and power
as well as wisdom
are with him; this may
respect Chedorlaomer casting off the yoke of Nimrod
and the kings of Canaan
casting off the yoke of Chedorlaomer
and being loosed from it
Genesis 14:1;
and girdeth their loins with a girdle; not with a
royal waistband
as an ensign of government; see Isaiah 11:5; which
he looses
and strips them of
but another instead of that; he girds them with
the girdle of a servant or traveller; the allusion being to the custom in those
eastern countries
where they wore long garments
for servants to gird them up
when they waited on their masters
or when men went long journeys
see Luke 17:7; and so
may signify that kings sometimes become servants
or go into captivity
and
there be used as such
as they sometimes are; the Vulgate Latin version is
"he girds their reins with a rope".
Job 12:19 19 He leads princes[b] away
plundered
And overthrows the mighty.
YLT
19Causing ministers to go
away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.
He leadeth princes away spoiled
.... Of their principalities
and dominions
of their wealth and riches
and of their honour and glory; or
"priests"F21כהנים
"sacerdotes"
V. L. Montanus
Tigurine version
Bolducius
Cocceius
Schmidt
Schultens.
as some choose to render the word
against whom God has
indignation for their sins
and leads them into captivity with others; so the
Septuagint version
"he leads the priests captives"; for no office
ever so sacred
can protect wicked men
see Lamentations 2:6;
and from these sometimes the law perishes
and they are spoiled of their wisdom
and knowledge
and made unfit to instruct the people
and so of their credit
and reputation among them. Sephorno interprets it of the priests spoiled of
their prophesying
they prophesying false things to kings:
and overthroweth the mighty; the mighty angels from
heaven when they sinned
and mighty men on earth
kings and princes
whom he
puts down from their seats of majesty and grandeur. Sephorno interprets this of
kings
whose ways are perverted
by being led by false prophets
as Ahab was.
SomeF23Schmidt
Michaelis
Schultens. understand this of
ecclesiastical men
mighty in word and doctrine
well grounded in theology
yet
their wisdom being taken away from them
they turn aside into wicked paths
practices
and principles
and fall from their steadfastness in truth and
holiness.
Job 12:20 20 He deprives the trusted
ones of speech
And takes away the discernment of the elders.
YLT
20Turning aside the lip of
the stedfast
And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
He removeth away the speech of the trusty
.... Speech is
proper to mankind
and a benefit unto them
whereby they can converse together
and communicate their minds to each other; this is the gift of God
he gives to
men in common the faculty of speaking; to some the tongue of the learned to
speak various tongues
either in an ordinary or in an extraordinary manner; and
he that gives can take away; he that made man's mouth or lip can make it
speechless
as he does at death; when he takes away man's breath
he takes away
his speech; the state of the dead is a state of silence; and sometimes he does
it while living
by striking dumb
as he did Zechariah the father of John the
Baptist; and even without so doing
as in the builders of Babel
he took away
the speech they had
and gave them another; and sometimes he suffers not men to
speak what they would
but what is contrary to their inclinations and desires
as in Balaam
who would willingly have cursed Israel
but could not. Now that
God should take away by any means the speech of liars
and faithless persons
as Ananias and Sapphira
by striking them dead
Acts 5:1; and of
false teachers
deceivers
and bold blasphemers of God
and of his Son
and of
the blessed Spirit
whose mouths ought to be stopped
is no wonder; but it
seems strange that he should remove the speech of "trusty" or
"faithful"F24לנאמנים
"veracibus"
Pagninus
Montanus
Vatablus
Schultens;
"fidis"
Mercerus
Piscator; "fidelibus"
Bolducius. men
that speak the truth
and are to be credited and believed; and as the preceding
words are understood of ecclesiastic persons
these may be continued concerning
them; and the character agrees with ministers of the word
who are in trusted
with the rich treasure of it; that is put in earthen vessels
and committed to
the trust of faithful men; who appear to be such when they speak the word
faithfully
declare the whole counsel of God
and keep back nothing profitable
to men; when they speak plainly
without ambiguity
and sincerely
without
mixing or adulterating it; and are faithful as to God
who has appointed them
and put them into the ministry
so to the souls of men under their care: now
God sometimes takes away the speech of these
not by changing their voice
or
ordering them
instead of the gracious promises of the Gospel
to deliver out
the menaces and threatenings of the law; but either by commanding them to be
dumb and silent
and speak no more to an incorrigible and rebellious people; as
Ezekiel was bid to prophesy no more to the house of Israel
and the apostles to
preach no more to the Jews; or by suffering them to be silenced by the edicts
of wicked princes
and their violent persecutions of them
so that the teachers
of men are removed into corners
and not to be seen or heard; and also by
death
when their faces are no more seen
and their speech no more heard. Some
both Jewish and Christian interpreters
derive the word here used from the root
נאם
"to speak"
and render it
"speakers" or "orators"F25"Dicendi
peritis"
Beza; eloquentibus
Junius & Tremellius; so Kimchi
Ramban
Ben Gersom
Ben Melech
Sephorno. ; so Mr. Broughton translates the words
"he bereaveth the orators of lip"; he takes away their eloquence from
them
deprives them of their speaking well
and strips them of their natural
and acquired abilities
by which they have become good speakers; and such who
use their talents well in this way are beneficial to a commonwealth
and it is
a loss when they are removed
or their speech removed from them
see Isaiah 3:3;
and taketh away the understanding of the aged; or
"elders"F26זקנים
"seniorum"
Cocceius
Michaelis; "senatorum"
Schultens.
as Mr. Broughton
either in age or office; elders in age
with whom
understanding
reason
judgment
counsel
and wisdom
by all which the word is
interpreted
may be thought to be
and it is expected they should
and
oftentimes are
though not always; yet all this God can take away
and does
when he pleases
and they become like children in understanding; through the
infirmities of old age their memories fail them
their reason is impaired
their
understanding and judgment are weakened
and they become unfit to give advice
themselves
and are easily imposed on
and drawn aside by others
as may be
observed in Solomon
the wisest of men
when he was grown old. This is to be
understood of the natural understanding in things natural and civil
but not of
the spiritual understanding
which is never taken away
but rather increased in
old age; the true light of grace shines more and more unto the perfect day; it
is a gift of God without repentance
which he never revokes and removes: it may
intend the natural "taste"F1טעם
"gustum"
Drusius
Schultens.
as the word may be rendered; this is
often and generally taken away from the aged
as in old Barzillai
who could
not taste what he ate and drank
as to distinguish and relish it
2 Samuel 19:35; but
not the spiritual taste
of the Lord as gracious
of the good word of God
and
the fruits of divine grace; the taste and savour of which remain with the
people of God in old age; or this may design men in office
either civil
magistrates
called senators
the elders of the people
judges
and
counsellors
who instead of being taught more wisdom
which their offices
require
sometimes become infatuated
their understanding of civil things is
taken away from them
their wise counsels become brutish
and they like
children; or ecclesiastic persons
elders of churches
who
having talents for
public usefulness
either neglect them
or make an ill use of them
and
therefore are taken away from them; their right arm is dried up
and their
right eye darkened
Matthew 25:28.
Job 12:21 21 He pours contempt on
princes
And disarms the mighty.
YLT
21Pouring contempt upon
princes
And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
He poureth contempt upon princes
.... Not on good princes
such as rule in righteousness
and decree judgment and govern their subjects
according to good laws
in a mild and gentle manner
and answer to their name
of free
liberal
beneficent and munificent. These
as there is an honour due
unto them
it is the will of God they should have it; much less are princes
in
a figurative sense
meant
good men
the children of God
who are born of him
the King of kings
and so princes in all the earth; but
in a literal sense
bad princes
that oppress their subjects
and rule them with rigour
and
persecute good men; such as rose up against Christ
as Herod and Pontius
Pilate; persecutors of the saints
as the Roman emperors
and the antichristian
princes in the papacy; these God sometimes brings into contempt with their
subjects
deposes them from their government
reduces them to a mean
abject
and servile state; or they die a shameful death
as Herod was eaten with worms
and many of the Heathen emperors died miserable deaths; and the vials of God's
wrath will be poured out upon all the antichristian states
and their princes:
pouring denotes the abundance of shame they are put to
as if they were clothed
and covered with it
it being plentifully poured out like water
or as water
was poured upon them
which is sometimes done by way of contempt
see Psalm 107:40;
and weakeneth the strength of the mighty; the strength
of men
hale and robust
by sending one disease or another upon them
which
takes it away from them; or by "the mighty" are meant men in power
and authority; kings
as the Targum paraphrases it
mighty monarchs
whose
strength lies in their wealth and riches
in their fortresses and powerful
armies; all which God can deprive them of in an instant
and make them as weak
as other men. Some render it
"and looseneth the girdle of the
mighty"F2ומזיח אפיקים
רפה "et zonam potentium laxat"
Tigurine
version
Piscator
Beza
Schmidt; so Jarchi
Ben Gersom
Bar Tzemach
& Ben
Melech.
the same as loosening the loins of kings
Isaiah 14:1;
ungirding them
and taking away their power and authority from them
rendering
them unfit for business
or unable to keep their posts and defend their
kingdom.
Job 12:22 22 He uncovers deep things
out of darkness
And brings the shadow of death to light.
YLT
22Removing deep things out of
darkness
And He bringeth out to light death-shade.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness
.... The deep
things of God
his own deep things which lie in his heart
wrapped up in
darkness impenetrable to creatures
and which could never be known unless he
had discovered them; such as the thoughts of his heart
which are very deep
Psalm 92:5; the
deep things of God
which the Spirit of God only knows
searches
and reveals
1 Corinthians 2:10;
even his thoughts of peace
and good things for his people
which are many and
precious
are known to himself
and made known to them
or otherwise must have
remained in darkness
and out of their reach
being as high as the heavens are
from the earth; the decrees and purposes of God
which he hath purposed in
himself
are deep things in his own breast
and lie concealed in darkness
there
until discovered by the accomplishment of them; such as his decrees of
election in Christ
redemption by him
and the effectual calling by his grace;
all which are revealed and made known by the execution of them: the love of God
to his people
which lay hid in his heart from everlasting; this is discovered
by the gift and mission of his Son; in the regeneration and quickening of his
people
and of which he makes still larger discoveries to them in the course of
their lives: likewise the mysteries of the Gospel
unknown to natural men
even
the wise and prudent
only known to such to whom it is given to know them
to
whom they are revealed by the Father of Christ
and by the Spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of the mystery of God
and of the Father
and of
Christ; respecting the persons in the Godhead
the grace of each person
the
incarnation of Christ
the union of the two natures in him
redemption and
justification by him
regeneration by the Spirit of God
union to Christ
and
communion with him
and conformity to him in soul and body
now and hereafter:
likewise the secrets of his providence
in which there is a great depth of his
wisdom and knowledge
and is in great obscurity; his path is in the great
waters
and his footsteps are not known; his judgments are unsearchable
and
his ways past finding out
but before long they will be made manifest
and lie
open to view. There are also the deep things of others
which he discovers
as
the depth of sin in the deceitful heart of man
which none knows as himself;
and which lie hid there until they are discovered in the light of the divine
Spirit
who convinces of them
enlightens the understanding to behold those
swarms of lusts and corruptions it never discerned before; and then a man comes
to see and know the plague of his own heart
he was before a stranger to; also
the depths of Satan
his deep laid schemes
his wiles and stratagems
to draw into
sin
and so to ruin; these are unknown to natural men
but saints are made
acquainted with them
so that they are not altogether ignorant of his devices
Revelation 2:24;
likewise the secret plots
counsels
and combinations of wicked men
which they
lay deep
and seek to hide from the Lord
being formed in the dark; but he sees
and knows them
discovers and confounds them: to which may be added all the wicked
actions of men done in the dark
but cannot be hid from God
with whom the
darkness and the light are both alike; and who
sooner or later
brings them to
light
even the hidden things of darkness
and makes manifest the counsels of
the heart
as he will do more especially at the day of judgment
to which every
secret thing will be brought:
and bringeth but to light the shadow of death; not only life
and immortality
as by the Gospel
but death
and the shadow of it
even deadly
darkness
the grossest of darkness; such who are darkness itself he makes
light
and out of the darkness in them commands light to shine
as in the first
creation; to them that sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death
he causes a
great light to arise
the light of the Gospel
and the light of grace
yea
Christ himself
the light of the world; he calls and brings them out of it into
marvellous light
out of the dark dungeon and prison of sin and unbelief
to the
enjoyment of spiritual light and life here
and to everlasting light and glory
hereafter.
Job 12:23 23 He makes nations great
and destroys them; He enlarges nations
and guides them.
YLT
23Magnifying the nations
and
He destroyeth them
Spreading out the nations
and He quieteth them.
He increaseth the nations
and destroyeth them
.... As he did
before the flood
when the earth was tilled
and all over peopled with them
but at the flood he destroyed them at once. Sephorno interprets it of the seven
nations in the land of Canaan
which were increased in it
and destroyed
to
make way for the Israelites to inhabit it; and this has since been verified in
other kingdoms
large and populous
and brought to destruction
particularly in
the four monarchies
Babylonian
Persian
Grecian
and Roman
and will be in
the antichristian states and nations of the world:
he enlargeth the nations
and straiteneth them again; or
"stretcheth" or "spreadeth out the nations"F3שטח "extendit"
Tigurine version
Drusius
Mercerus;
"expandit"
Beza
Junius & Tremellus
Piscator
Schmidt;
"expandens"
Schultens.
as he did all over the earth before the
deluge
and then most remarkably straitened them
when they were reduced to so
small a number as to be contained in a single ark: "or leads them"F4וינחם "et ducit eas"
Pagninus
Montanus
Mercerus
Cocceius
Schmidt. ; that is
"governs them"
as Mr.
Broughton renders the word
rules and overrules them
as large as they are; or
leads them into captivity
as some Jewish writersF5Kimchi
Ben
Melech
Bar Tzemach.
as the Israelites; though they have been enlarged
and
became numerous
as it was promised they should
yet have been led into
captivity
first the ten tribes by the Assyrians
and then the two tribes by
the Chaldeans; the Targum is
"he spreadeth out a net for the nations
and
leadeth them"
that is
into it
so that they are taken in it
see Ezekiel 12:13.
Job 12:24 24 He takes away the understanding[c] of the
chiefs of the people of the earth
And makes them wander in a pathless
wilderness.
YLT
24Turning aside the heart Of the
heads of the people of the land
And he causeth them to wander In vacancy -- no
way!
He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth
.... The
people of the earth are the common people; the "chief" or
"heads"F6ראשי
"capitum"
Montanus
Cocceius
Schmidt
Michaelis
Schultens. of
them
as it may be rendered
are kings
princes and generals of armies; whose
"hearts" may be said to be "taken away" when they are
dispirited
and deprived both of courage and conduct; have neither valour nor
wisdom
neither fortitude of mind
nor military skill to defend themselves and
their people against their enemies. Sephorno interprets this of Sihon and Og
whose spirits the Lord hardened
and made their hearts obstinate to war with
Israel
Deuteronomy 2:30;
but it may be better understood of the Israelites
and the heads of them
when
they were discomfited by the Amalekites
quickly after their coming out of
Egypt
see Numbers 14:45;
about which time Job lived: and the rather
since it follows
and caused them to wander in a wilderness where there is no
way: no track
no beaten path to follow
to be a guide to them
and
direct their way; in such a wilderness the Israelites wandered near forty
years
see Psalm 107:40.
Job 12:25 25 They grope in the dark
without light
And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
YLT
25They feel darkness
and not
light
He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.
They grope in the dark without light
.... Like
blind men
as the men of Sodom
when they were struck with blindness; or
"they grope"
or "feel the dark
and not light"F7ימששו חשך ולא
אור "palpant tenebras et non lucem"
Vatablus
Mercerus
Drusius
Schultens.
as the Targum; as the Egyptian
did
when such gross darkness was upon them as might be felt:
and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man; that has lost
his sight
his senses
and his feet
and knows not where he is
which way to
go
nor how to keep on his legs
but reels to and fro
and is at the utmost
loss what to do; all this is said of the heads or chief of the people
in
consequence of their hearts being taken away
and so left destitute of wisdom
and strength.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)