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Job Chapter
Twenty-eight
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOB 28
The
design of this chapter is either to show the folly of such who are very
diligent in their search and pursuit after earthly things
and neglect an
inquiry after that which is infinitely more valuable
true wisdom; or rather to
observe
that though things the most secret
and which are hidden in the bowels
of the earth
may be investigated and discovered by the sagacity and diligence
of men
yet wisdom cannot
especially the wisdom of God in his providences
which are past finding out; and particularly in what concerns the prosperity of
the wicked
and the afflictions of the righteous; the reason of which men
should be content to be ignorant of for the present
and be studious to possess
that wisdom which is attainable
and be thankful for it
if they have it; which
lies in the fear of the Lord
and a departure from evil
with which this
chapter concludes. It begins with setting forth the sagacity of men in
searching and finding out useful metals
and other things the earth produces;
the difficulty
fatigue
and labour
that attend such a search
and the dangers
they are exposed unto in it
Job 28:1; then it
declares the unsearchableness of wisdom
its superior excellency to things the
most valuable
and that it is not to be found by sea or land
or among any of
the creatures
Job 28:12; and that
God only knows its way and place
who has sought it out
prepared and declared
it
Job 28:23; and that
which he has thought fit to make known of it
and is most for his glory and the
good of men
is
that it is to fear God
and depart from evil
Job 28:28.
Job 28:1 “Surely
there is a mine for silver
And a place where gold is refined.
YLT
1Surely there is for silver
a source
And a place for the gold they refine;
Surely there is a vein for the silver
.... Silver is
mentioned first
not because the most valuable
for gold is preferable to it
as brass is to iron
and yet iron is mentioned first in Job 28:2; but
because silver might be first known
or was first in use
especially in the
coinage of money; we read of pieces of silver
or shekels of silver
in the
times of Abraham
but not of any golden coin
Genesis 23:15; and
among the old Romans silver was coined before goldF16Plin. Nat.
Hist. l. 33. c. 3. ; it has its name from a word which signifies
"desire"
because it is desirable to men
it answering to various
uses and purposes; and sometimes the desires and cravings of men after it are
enlarged too far
and become criminal
and so the root of all evil to them: and
now there is a "vein" for it in the earth
or a mine in which it may
be dug for
and found
in which it runs as veins in a man's body
in certain
ramifications
like branches of trees
as they do; and the inhabitants of
Hispaniola
and other parts of the West Indies
when found out by Columbus
which abounded with gold mines
declared that they found by experience that the
vein of gold is a living tree
(and so the same
perhaps
may be said of
silver
) and that it spreads and springs from the root
which they say extends
to the centre of the earth by soft pores and passages of the earth
and puts
forth branches
even to the uppermost part of the earth
and ceases not till it
discovers itself unto the open air; at which time it shows forth certain
beautiful colours instead of flowers
round stones of golden earth instead of
fruits
and thin plates instead of leavesF17Peter Martyr. Decad. 3.
l. 8. ; so here there is a vein
or a "going out for the silver"F18מוצא "exitus"
Pagninus
Montanus
Mercerus
Drusius
Michaelis; "egressio"
Vatablus.
by which it makes its
way
as observed of the gold
and shows itself by some signs and tokens where
it may be found; or rather this egress is made for it
by opening the mine
where it is
digging into it
and fetching it out of it
and from whence great
quantities are often brought. In Solomon's time it was made as the stones in
Jerusalem
1 Kings 10:27;
and a place for gold where they fine it; there are
particular places for this most excellent of all metals
which has its name in
Hebrew from its yellow colour; all countries do not produce it; some are famous
for it
and some parts of them
as the land of Havilah
where was gold
and
that gold was good
Genesis 2:11; and
Ophir; hence we often read of the gold of Ophir
so called from the place where
it was found
as in this chapter
Job 28:16; and now
the Spanish West Indies; but nearer to Job than these gold was found; there
were not only mountains that abounded with gold near to Horeb
in the desert of
ArabiaF19Hieron. de loc. Heb. fol. 90. A.
but it was to be found
with the SabeansF20Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 28.
the near
neighbours of Job; yea
the Ophir before referred to was in Arabia. Some
understand this of the place where pure gold is found already refined
and
needs no melting and refining; and of such PlinyF21Ut supra
(Plin.
Nat. Hist. l. 33.) c. 4. speaks
and of large lumps and masses of it; but for
the most part it lies in ore
which needs refining; and so here it may intend
the place where it is found in the ore
and from whence it is taken and had to
the place where it is refined; for melting places used to be near where the
golden ore was found; and so when Hispaniola was first found by Columbus
the
gold that was dug out of the mountains of Cibana
and other places
were
brought to two shops
which were erected with all things appertaining to melt
and refine it
and cast into wedges; and so early as that
in these two shops
were molten yearly three hundred thousand pound weight of goldF23P.
Martyr. Decad. 1. l. 10. .
Job 28:2 2 Iron is taken from the
earth
And copper is smelted from ore.
YLT
2Iron from the dust is
taken
And [from] the firm stone brass.
Iron is taken out of the earth
.... Very easily
and in
great plenty
and is more common
being in most countries
is nearer the
surface of the earth
and here said to be taken "out of the dust"F24מעפר "e pulvere"
V. L. Montanus
Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator
Cocceius
Michaelis
Schultens. ; which
being melted in
a furnace
produces iron
a metal very serviceable for various rises
and
without which there is scarce any thing to be done
and therefore was with
brass of early invention. Tubalcain
son of Lamech
supposed to be the Vulcan
of the Heathens
a worker in iron
is said to be the instructor of every
artificer in brass and iron
Genesis 4:22;
and brass is molten out of the stone; out of a
brassy stone
called "cadmai"
as Pliny says
and also out of
another
as he observesF25Nat. Hist. l. 34. c. 1
2.
called
"chalcites"
found in Cyprus
where was the first invention of brass
according to him
and hence perhaps copper had its name; but it is plain from
Scripture
the places before referred to
that it was invented elsewhere
and
long before Cyprus was known; or a "stone melted becomes brass"
see Deuteronomy 8:9; of
these four metals was the image in Nebuchadnezzar's vision
which represented
the four monarchies of the world
Babylonian
Persian
Grecian
and Roman
Daniel 2:30; and to
them are compared
and by them are represented many things in Scripture.
Job 28:3 3 Man
puts an end to darkness
And searches every recess For ore in the darkness and
the shadow of death.
YLT
3An end hath he set to
darkness
And to all perfection he is searching
A stone of darkness and
death-shade.
He setteth an end to darkness
.... Some understand this
and what follows of God
who
by making the luminaries
has fixed the periods
and revolutions of light and darkness
of day and night; or who has determined
the times before appointed
for the discoveries of things in nature
as mines
of gold
silver
and precious stones
how long they should lie in darkness
and
then be brought to light
and who searches out the perfection of all things in
nature; and makes them known to men
when he himself and his ways are not to be
found out unto perfection by men; but rather this is to be understood of the
miner that digs for the above metals
who
when he opens a mine
lets in
natural light
or carries artificial light along with him
and so puts an end
to the darkness which had reigned there before
even from the creation:
and searcheth out all perfection; searches thoroughly the
mines he opens
and gets all he can out of them
and searches perfectly into
the nature of the ore; he finds
and tries
and proves it
what it is
its
worth and value:
the stones of darkness
and the shadow of death; searches and
digs through them
to get at what he is seeking; or brings stones
precious
stones
to light
which lay in darkness from the beginning
and in such places
which were the shadow of death
and looked dismal and horrible
and even
threatened with death
to get into and fetch them out: so spiritual miners
that search into the mines of the Scriptures
should not be discouraged with
darkness and difficulties that may attend their search; but should continue it
in order to find out truths that have lain in darkness
more precious than gold
and silver
and the richest gems; and such who search for them in like manner
as miners do shall find them
Proverbs 2:4.
Job 28:4 4 He breaks open a shaft
away from people; In places forgotten by feet They hang far away from
men; They swing to and fro.
YLT
4A stream hath broken out
from a sojourner
Those forgotten of the foot
They were low
from man they
wandered.
The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant
.... Or
"so that there is no inhabitant"F26מעם
גר "qui accolas non fert"
Tigurine
version; "dimisso accola"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator;
"ut non sit accola"
Mercerus. ; of the mine
as the miner may be
said to be
who lives there continually; and
when a flood of water arises
which is an usual thing in mines
he is obliged to flee
and make haste to save
his life:
even the waters forgotten of
the foot; such as never any foot of man touched
or was acquainted with
being subterraneous water
and never seen with the eye of man before
and who
before knew not there were such floods undergroundF1Vid. Senecae
Nat. Quaest. l. 5. c. 15. . A like figurative expression in Psalm 137:5;
they are dried up
they are gone away from men; though such a
flood of waters rise apace
and flow in with great force
and threaten the
miners' lives
and the ruin of their works; yet they are not discouraged
but
by means of engines
pumps
and buckets
and such like things
draw up the
waters
and clear the mines of them; and they are gone from the workmen
who
return to their work again
and go on with their mining: and so sometimes
spiritual miners are interrupted by a flood of Satan's temptations
the world's
persecutions
and various afflictions; but
by the assistance of the spirit and
grace of God
whereby a standard is lifted up against them
they get clear of
them
and receive no hurt by them
but go on cheerfully in the work of the
Lord
Isaiah 59:19.
Job 28:5 5 As for
the earth
from it comes bread
But underneath it is turned up as by fire;
YLT
5The earth! from it cometh
forth bread
And its under-part is turned like fire.
As for the earth
out
of it cometh bread
.... That is
bread corn
or corn of which bread is made
particularly wheat; which falling
or being cast into the earth
rises up and
brings forth fruit
and
when ground into flour
makes fine bread; and to this
same original the psalmist ascribes bread
which strengthens man's heart
Psalm 104:14. The
West Indians formerly made their bread of roots of the earth
particularly one
called "jucca"F2P. Martyr
Decad 1. l. 1. ; so Caesar's
soldiers in distress made bread of a root called "chara"
steeped in
milkF3Caesar. Comment. Bell. Civil. l. 3. c. 48. :
and under it is turned up as it were fire; coal
which
is fuel for fire; for
as in the earth are mines for gold and silver
iron and
brass
out of which they are dug
or the ore of them
so there is coal under
the earth; which
when turned up
or dug
is taken for firing; or brimstone
or
sulphureous matter
which is easily inflammable; and sometimes the same earth
the surface of which is covered with corn
out of which bread cometh
underneath are coal
or sulphur
and such like combustible matter: some think
precious stones are meant
which glitter and sparkle like fire; see Ezekiel 28:14.
Job 28:6 6 Its stones are the
source of sapphires
And it contains gold dust.
YLT
6A place of the sapphire
[are] its stones
And it hath dust of gold.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires
.... In some
parts of the earth its stones are a quarry of sapphires
put here for all
precious stones: this is a most excellent precious stone
of a sky colour
with
golden specks
and was one of the stones in the breast plate of the high
priest; and by which are represented the pavement under the feet of the God of
Israel
the throne of Christ
his bowels and affections for his people
the
comeliness of them
and the glory of his church in the latter day
Exodus 24:10;
and it hath dust of gold; some parts of the earth
abound with the dust of gold; its dust is gold
or it hath gold as plenty as
dust; though some think this refers to the sapphire in the preceding clause
which
as Pliny saysF4Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 9.
has "pulvis
aureus"
dust of gold
in it
and shines and sparkles with golden points
or specks; and so say other writersF5Ruaeus de Gemmis
l. 2. c. 2. ;
but the word used rather signifies clods
lumps
masses of gold
which better
agree with the earth; and
besides
no very good reason can be given why there
should be such a particular description of the sapphire; whereas the earth is
the original of that
and of all the other things before spoken of.
Job 28:7 7 That
path no bird knows
Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.
YLT
7A path -- not known it hath
a ravenous fowl
Nor scorched it hath an eye of the kite
There is a path which
no fowl knoweth
.... A path made by miners to the gold
silver
brass
and iron
ores; to the places where gems and precious stones lie; the way to which was
never seen
and could never have been discovered by the most sharp-sighted
fowl
as "the eagle"F4עיט
"ad id alludit aquiae Graecum vocabulum" αετος
Bochart. Hierozoic par. 1. l. 1. c. 9. col. 59. Broughton renders it "a
kite". ; which some think is particularly intended; and the Greek word for
an eagle seems to be derived from the word used in the text: this fowl
the
king of birds
as it is the swiftest
it is the most quick-sighted of any; but
though it is eager
and looks out sharp after its prey
and which it beholds at
a great distance
and in the most secret lurking places
and flies unto it
and
seizes upon it at once
yet it never could look into the bowels of the earth
or discover a track leading thereunto; in this it is outdone by the diligent
and laborious miner
who is not at a loss to make his way into the inmost and
darkest recesses of the earth:
which the vulture's eye hath not seen; which is next
to the eagle
and some of them are of the species of it
and is a very
sharp-sighted creature
even to a proverb
as well as voracious
which makes it
diligent to search everywhere for its prey; and yet this creature's sharp and
piercing eye never saw the path the miners make by digging into the earth
in
order to get metals and minerals from it. Some understand this path of
subterraneous paths in nature
made of God
through which rivers of water pass
that were never seen by creatures of the quickest sight; it may rather be
applied to the paths of God in providence
which are unsearchable and past
finding out
by men of the most sagacious and penetrating capacities
though
they will hereafter be made manifest; and also to his paths of love
grace
and
mercy towards the sons of men
which are the deep things of God
searched into
and revealed by his Spirit
or otherwise could not be known; as well as to the
ways and paths of righteousness and holiness
of faith and truth
of the word
and ordinances God has revealed
as his mind and will his people should walk
in
which otherwise would not be known
and are not by carnal men; and
especially to the principal way and path
Christ Jesus
who is the way to the
Father
the way to everlasting happiness
the way of life and salvation
the
high way and way of holiness
in which men
though fools
shall not err
and of
which some things are said in Isaiah 35:8; which
greatly agree with what are said of this path
here and in Job 28:8
this way
of peace is not known by carnal men
nor the things of it discerned by natural
men
though ever so sagacious; see Romans 3:17.
Job 28:8 8 The proud lions[a] have not
trodden it
Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
YLT
8Nor trodden it have the
sons of pride
Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.
The lion's whelps have not trodden it
nor the fierce lion passed
by it. Or "upon it"F5עליו
"super eam"
Schultens. ; such creatures that are exceeding fierce
and cruel
hungry and voracious
eager after their prey
range here and there
in pursuit of it
search every hole and corner
and rove in dens and caves of
the earth; yet these never traversed such ways and paths the miners make to get
out the wealth and riches of the earth. Wicked men are sometimes compared to
lions
for their cruelty and oppression exercised on the saints
breathing out
threatenings and slaughter against them
Psalm 57:4; and
particularly tyrannical princes and persecutors
as the kings of Assyria and
Babylon
and Nero the Roman emperor
Jeremiah 1:17;
these never trod the way of holiness
nor walked in the path of truth
nor knew
the wisdom of God in a mystery
nor the Lord of life and glory
and the way of
life and salvation by him; which is a way the unclean walk not in
or persons
of such a temper and disposition; see Isaiah 35:8. The
former clause may be rendered
as it is by some
"the children of
pride"F6בני שחץ
"filii superbiae"
Montanus
Beza
Bolducius
Vatablus.
and as it
is in Job 41:34
which is
the only place besides this where it is used; and so the Septuagint version
"the children of proud men": and may be accommodated to
self-righteous persons
who are proud boasters of themselves and of their
works
and go about to establish their own righteousness
and despise and will
not submit unto the righteousness of Christ; these tread not in nor walk upon
the good old way
and the only way of life
righteousness
and salvation
by
Christ.
Job 28:9 9 He puts his hand on the
flint; He overturns the mountains at the roots.
YLT
9Against the flint he sent
forth his hand
He overturned from the root mountains.
He putteth forth his hand upon the rock
.... The
discourse is carried on concerning the miner
and digger in the earth for
metals and precious stones; who meeting with a rock or flint
and a ridge of
them
is not discouraged
but goes to work therewith
and with his hammer in
his hand lays upon the rock or flint
and beats it to pieces
and with proper
instruments cuts through it; and using fire and vinegar
as PlinyF7Nat.
Hist. l. 33. c. 4. "----Montem rumpit aceto"
Juvenal. Sat. 10. v.
153. observes
makes his way into it
and oftentimes by splitting it discovers
goldF8lbid. or silver
or precious stones
in it:
he overturneth the mountains by the roots; or turns them
up from the roots; he roots them up
he undermines them; he turns up the earth
at the roots of them
to get what is hid at the bottom
or in the bowels of
them. Some understand this
and what is said in the following verses
of God
and of wonderful things done by him; so Jarchi
Aben Ezra
and others; and to
whom indeed such things are sometimes ascribed in Scripture: he touches the
hills
and they smoke
Psalm 104:32; lays
his hand on the rock
and removes it out of its place
Job 14:18; it was
he that smote and opened the rock at Horeb
and the waters gushed out
Exodus 17:6; yea
turned the rock into standing water
and the flint into a fountain of water
Psalm 114:8
and
he
in a figurative sense
has laid his hand on the rock Christ
and smote him
with the rod of justice
whereby the blessings of grace come flowing down upon
his people; and he it is that puts forth his hand of powerful and efficacious
grace upon the rocky hearts of men
and with the hammer of his word breaks them
to pieces
Jeremiah 23:29
and
takes away the stony heart
and gives an heart of flesh
Ezekiel 11:19
and
he also
in a literal sense
overturns hills and mountains by their roots
through storms
and tempests
and earthquakes; and figuratively
kingdoms and
states
that lie in the way of his interest; for what are these mountains
before the great Zerubbabel? they soon and easily become a plain; and so breaks
through all difficulties
which proverbially may be signified by removing
mountains
that seem to obstruct and hinder the conversion and salvation of his
people; he makes those mountains a way
and his highways are exalted; see Song of Solomon 2:8;
but the former sense is best
and most agreeable to the context.
Job 28:10 10 He cuts out channels in
the rocks
And his eye sees every precious thing.
YLT
10Among rocks
brooks he hath
cleaved
And every precious thing hath his eye seen.
He cutteth out rivers among the rocks
.... By
cleaving rocks asunder in order to find out things of value in the cliffs of
them; or by cutting his way through them
the miner opens a course for rivers
and floods of water
to drain off from his mines
and so can go on with his
works more comfortably
and with success; though sometimes they sink through
high rocks
till they go so far below their basis
that they can go no further
for water
in some places forty or fifty fathom deepF9Philos.
Transaet. abridged
vol. 2. p. 469. :
and his eye seeth every precious thing; in the cliffs
of the rock
or at the bottom of the rivers and floods
as they go off
or in
the mines he digs
even gold or silver
or precious stones: hence came the
fable of Lynceus
and from him the phrase of Lyncean eyesF11Horat.
Sermon. l. 1. Satyr. 2. v. 90.
who was said to see all things under the
earth
because he was the first that searched for metals
as brass
silver
&c. and in search of them carried lamps
or links
under the earthF12Palaephat.
de Incredib. c. 10. . This verse is also by some ascribed to God
who is said
to cleave the fountain and the flood
and to dry up mighty rivers; and also to
open rivers in high places
in hills
mountains
and rocks
as well as
sometimes in the middle of the valleys
Psalm 74:15; and
who
in a spiritual sense
has cut out and opened the river of his pure love
and grace
which flows from the throne of God and the Lamb; and the fulness of
grace in Christ
which is as rivers of water in a dry land; and the graces of
the Spirit in his people
which flow out of them as rivers of living water; and
his word and ordinances in his church
which are the rivers of pleasure he
makes his saints to drink of in it: and his eye of omniscience
which sees all
things in particular
sees all the precious things in nature; the precious
things of heaven
and earth
and sea; the precious things brought forth by the
sun and moon; and the precious tidings of the ancient mountains and everlasting
hills
the gold
silver
and precious stones that lie hid in the bowels of
them
Deuteronomy 33:13;
and who also sees all precious persons
and things
in a spiritual sense; he
beholds his precious Son
his precious blood
righteousness
and sacrifice
with delight and pleasure; and his eye of love
grace
and mercy
upon the
precious sons of Zion
comparable to fine gold
jewels
and precious stones;
and sees all the precious graces of the Spirit in them
with acceptance and
good will.
Job 28:11 11 He dams up the streams
from trickling; What is hidden he brings forth to light.
YLT
11From overflowing floods he
hath bound
And the hidden thing bringeth out [to] light.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing
.... As the
miner finds ways and means of cutting through rocks
and draining and carrying
off the waters in his mine; so he makes use of other methods of restraining and
keeping back the waters from coming into and overflowing his works
and even
"from weeping"F13מבכי "a
fletu"
Montanus
Bolducius
Junius & Tremellius
Michaelis
Schultens; so Broughton; "a stillatione"
Vatablus
Mercerus
Drusius.
as in the original text; he binds them up so firmly
and stops every
avenue and passage so close
that the waters cannot so much as ooze
or distil
and drop as a tear from the eye:
and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light; the several
metals and minerals
gems and precious stones
that lay hid in the bosom of the
earth
are fetched out
and brought to light by the diligence and labours of
the miner; the same that are called stones of darkness
and of the shadow of
death
Job 28:3. This
verse is likewise by several interpreted of God
and of what is done by him in
the things of nature and providence; he it is that at first shut up the sea
with doors; made the cloud its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling bands
in which he wrapped and bound it
as an infant
and still sets bars and doors
to it
and says
hitherto shalt thou come
and no further
Job 38:8; and
in a
spiritual sense
he restrains the floods of affliction from overflowing and
overwhelming his people; and
when the temptations of Satan come in like a
flood upon them
his Spirit sets up a standard against them
which keeps them
from doing them any harm; and
when the wrath of persecutors rises up against
them
and threatens them with destruction
he withholds those proud waters from
going over their souls and overwhelming them: and so likewise it is he that
bringeth hidden things to light
things in nature men had never seen or known
before; things in providence
dark and intricate; things in grace
out of the
sight of the most penetrating understanding: he reveals the secrets of his love
and grace to them that fear him; the glorious scheme of salvation by Christ
which was hid in himself
in the thoughts
purposes
and counsels of his heart;
the mysteries of his Gospel
hid from the wise and prudent
Matthew 11:25; and
life and immortality itself
or the way to it
which he has brought to light
through the Gospel; yea
he brings to light all the hidden things of a man's
heart
and sets them before him
and convinces him of them in a loving way; and
if not now
he will hereafter "bring to light the hidden things of darkness
and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts"
1 Corinthians 4:5;
but
as before observed
it is best to understand the whole paragraph of
miners; of their sagacity in opening mines
and searching into the bowels of
the earth
where none were ever before them; and of their indefatigableness
industry
and labour therein
and of the success that attends them; Job's
design being to show
that things rich and valuable
and most remote from the
sight of men
may
by diligent application
be investigated and obtained; yet
such wisdom is not attainable as to understand the reason of the various
dealings of God with the sons of men
both good and bad; and therefore
after
all he had said on the above subject
still the question is as follows.
Job 28:12 12 “But where can wisdom be
found? And where is the place of understanding?
YLT
12And the wisdom -- whence is
it found? And where [is] this
the place of understanding?
But where shall wisdom be found?.... Though there is a
vein for silver
a track where that lies
and is to be come at
and a place
where gold is found
and where it may be refined
and parts of the earth
out
of which brass and iron
and bread corn
may be produced
and even from whence
may be fetched brilliant gems and precious stones; which
though attended with
many difficulties
in cutting through rocks
draining rivers
and restraining
the waters
yet are got over through the art and skill
industry
diligence
and labour of men; so that their eyes behold every precious thing their minds
desire
and they bring to light what have been laid up in darkness from the
creation of the world: but
though these things may be found by search and labour
the question is
what vein is there for wisdom
or where is the place in which
that may be found? by which may be meant the wisdom of God
as a perfection in
him; which
though displayed in some measure in the works of creation and
providence
yet not completely
and especially in his dealings with the
children of men; in all which there is undoubtedly the wisdom of God; yet it is
such a depth as is unfathomable by mortals: such are God's dealings with men in
a way of distinguishing grace and mercy
as that he should take no notice of
any of the whole body of apostate angels that sinned against him
but doomed
them all to destruction; and yet there should be a philanthropy
a love of men
in him
and such as to give his Son to die for them
and redeem them from ruin
and destruction; also that he should make a difference among men
and ordain
some to eternal life
while others are foreordained to condemnation and death
when all were in the same situation
condition
and circumstances; and such
likewise were his dealings with the Israelites
and other nations of the world
part of which Job was not a stranger to; as his choosing them to be his
peculiar people before all others
and bestowing peculiar favours upon them
not because they were more in quantity
or better in quality
but because this
was his pleasure; when he suffered all other nations to walk in their own ways
for many hundreds of years
and winked at the times of their ignorance; and
yet
after a long course of time
rejected the people of the Jews
and wrote a
"loammi"
or "not my people"
Hosea 1:9
on them
and took out from the Gentiles a people for his name; so that they
who were
not a people
were called the people of God
and the Jews were broken off
and
the Gentiles grafted in; and when the fulness of them is brought in
there will
be a turn again
and then all Israel shall be saved: upon all which the apostle
breaks out in this exclamation
which may serve as a comment on this text
"oh the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God
how
unsearchable are his judgments
and his ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33;
particularly here may be meant the wisdom of God in his dealings with men
good
and bad
in afflicting good men
and in suffering the wicked to prosper: this
is a fact Job had fully proved
and it cannot be denied; and there is
no
doubt
much of the wisdom of God herein; he does all things well and wisely; as
he cannot do an unjust thing
so neither an unwise one; though his wisdom is
unsearchable
his judgments are a great deep
and not to be fathomed by men
not only not by weak men and wicked men
but even by the wisest and best of
men
as Asaph and Jeremiah: and this being the case
Job suggests to his
friends
that the dealings of God with him
and the reasons of them
and his
wisdom in them
were not to be searched out by them; and that they should
forbear imputing his afflictions to hypocrisy
or to secret sins indulged by
him; but to leave all
without making rash censures and wrong constructions
until the time should come when the judgments of God should be made manifest;
such wisdom and knowledge
as to account for God's different dealings with men
being too wonderful
too high to attain unto
and quite out of their reach. The
Jews
as particularly Jarchi
understand by wisdom the law
not to be found in
the depth or in the sea; and illustrate the words by Deuteronomy 30:11;
but it is much better to interpret it of the Gospel
to which the apostle
applies the above passage
Romans 10:6; in
which there is a glorious display of the wisdom of God
in all the truths and
doctrines of it; that it is a mysterious wisdom
hidden wisdom
hid from the
wise and prudent
and not to be attained unto by the light nature and carnal
reason; it contains the deep things of God
which the Spirit of God alone
searches and reveals; but why may not Christ
the Wisdom of God
be thought of?
since many things are said in the following verses
as are of Wisdom
as a
divine Person
in Proverbs 8:13; in
whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid
and on whom the spirit
of wisdom and counsel rests
as Mediator; and who
as a divine Person
is the
only wise God
and our Saviour: and to this question in Job's time
"where
shall wisdom be found?" the only answer to be given is
that he
the Logos
or Wisdom
was with God
as one brought up with him
rejoicing always before
him and that he lay in his bosom
Proverbs 8:30; and
to the same question in our time it must be returned
that he is in heaven at
the right hand of God; but that there is no coming at the true knowledge of him
by the light of nature
or by the law of Moses
but by means of the Gospel
and
through the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The first
of these senses
respecting the wisdom of God in his different dealings with
men
good and bad
is most generally given into by interpreters
and seems to
suit well with the preceding dispute between Job and his friends: but if we look
forward in the chapter
we shall find this question repeated
and an answer
given to it as in the negative
so in the affirmative
that God knows the place
of it; that he has searched it out
seen it
and declared it; and it is this
"the fear of the Lord
that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is
understanding"
Job 28:20; by which
it should seem
that this wisdom is supernatural wisdom
or understanding in men;
which lies in the fear of God
and the effects of it; in a spiritual knowledge
of God and Christ
or of God in Christ; and in that godliness which is
profitable in all things; and in that wisdom which comes from above
and is
opposed to that which is earthly
sensual
and devilish
and is not to be found
in carnal hearts
nor its worth known by carnal men
nor to be obtained by any
thing in nature ever so valuable
but is the gift of God
the wisdom he makes
men to know
in the hidden part
Psalm 51:6;
and where is the place of understanding? to attain to
the understanding of the mysteries of Providence
or of Christ
or of the
Gospel; or to have a spiritual understanding of divine things
and experience
of them
which only is the gift of God
1 John 5:20; for
by wisdom and understanding are meant one and the same
as they often are
whether understood as a thing or person; see Proverbs 1:2.
Job 28:13 13 Man does not know its
value
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
YLT
13Man hath not known its
arrangement
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
Man knoweth not the price thereof
.... The worth and value
of it
what price to set upon it
or offer and give for it; nor does he know
where to find an equivalent to it
or what is a valuable consideration for it:
as for the wisdom of God in his dealings with men
if a man was to give all the
substance of his house to know the secret reasons of them
it would utterly be
condemned; yea
if he had all the riches in the world in his possession
and
would offer them on that consideration
he would not be able to attain the
knowledge of them: or "the order thereof"F15ערכה "ordinem ejus"
Montanus
Bolducius. ; the
order of divine Providence
the wise disposal of thing
and the reasons
thereof. In the first sense it is applicable to all the things before
mentioned; to spiritual wisdom in men
supernatural grace
experimental
religion
and real godliness; the worth of which is not known by carnal men
they despise it
and scoff at it; and to the Gospel
which is reckoned
foolishness by them
and is of no account; and so is Christ himself rejected
and disallowed of men
though chosen of God
and precious both to him and them
that believe
who only know the price and value of him:
neither is it found in the land of the living; meaning not
wisdom
though that in every sense is not from below
or earthly
but from
above
and heavenly
but the price of it; and the sense is
that there is
nothing in the whole globe that is equal to its worth
or can be proposed as a
valuable consideration for it.
Job 28:14 14 The deep says
‘It is
not in me’; And the sea says
‘It is not with me.’
YLT
14The deep hath said
`It
[is] not in me
' And the sea hath said
`It is not with me.'
The depth saith
it is not in me
.... That is
the deep places of the earth
that are dug in it
the mines
and the like
could they speak
they would say there are no metal
nor minerals
no rich
treasures of gold and silver ore
of pearls and precious stones
in the bowels
of it
that are of the value of wisdom
or to be compared to it:
and the sea saith
it is not with me; had that a
voice to speak
it would freely declare
that there is nothing in its vast
compass
at the bottom of it
or to be got out of it
as corals that grow in
it
and pearls fished from thence
after mentioned
that are a sufficient price
for wisdom. Some understand these words
the former part of miners and
colliers
and such sort of men
that dig and live in the depths of the earth;
and the latter part of mariners
that are employed on the sea
who are
generally ignorant and carnal men
and void of the knowledge of wisdom in every
view of it; but the sense first given is best.
Job 28:15 15 It cannot be purchased for
gold
Nor can silver be weighed for its price.
YLT
15Gold is not given for it
Nor is silver weighed -- its price.
It cannot be gotten for gold
.... Having in general
said that there is nothing in the whole compass of the terraqueous globe
nothing that is upon the surface of the earth
or in the bowels of it
or in
the vast ocean
that is an equivalent price for wisdom
Job descends to
particulars
and instances first in gold
that being the most valuable of
metals; the word here used for it signifies "shut up"F23סגור συγκλεισμον
Sept. "conclusum"
Tigurine version; "clausum"
Bolducius.
because it is first shut up in the earth
out of which it is dug
and when
taken from thence
and refined
and made into coins or vessels
it is shut up
among the treasures of men; the words may be more literally rendered
"gold shall not be given instead of it"F24לא יתז־תחתיה "non dabitur
pro ea"
V. L. Montanus
Schultens. ; as a sufficient price
or valuable
consideration for it:
neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof; in former
times this metal used to be delivered
in buying and selling
not by the number
and value of pieces
but by weight
in rude masses and lumps
and even when
coined into shekels; see Genesis 23:16.
Job 28:16 16 It cannot be valued in the
gold of Ophir
In precious onyx or sapphire.
YLT
16It is not valued with pure
gold of Ophir
With precious onyx and sapphire
It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir
.... Which is
often spoken of in Scripture as choice gold
if not the best; See Gill on Job 22:24; the
sense is
that the gold of Ophir is not of the value of wisdom
or of the same
worth with that
and so not sufficient to purchase it: with the precious onyx
and sapphire: two precious stones that were in the breastplate of the high
priest
of which See Gill on Exodus 28:9; see
Gill on Exodus 28:18
and
See Gill on Exodus 28:20; but
not so precious
or of such value as wisdom. PlinyF25Nat. Hist. l.
37. c. 6. speaks of the onyx stone as in Arabia
near which Job lived
and who
doubtless was acquainted with it and its worth
and also with the sapphire he
makes mention of before; see Gill on Job 28:6. The word
for "valued" is by some rendered "strowed"F26תסלה "verbum significat sternere"
Michaelis.
as goods are when they are exposed to sale; but wisdom should not be laid
or
put on a level with these
though so excellent and precious.
Job 28:17 17 Neither gold nor crystal
can equal it
Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.
YLT
17Not equal it do gold and
crystal
Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it
.... Crystal
was found in an island of the Red sea
situated before Arabia
called Neron
and in another
which from a gem found in it bears the name of Topazion
and
may be thought therefore to be well known by Job; and though it is not now of
so much account
it formerly was very valuable. PlinyF1Ut supra
(Nat. Hist. l. 37.) c. 2. makes mention of a crystal vessel
sold for 150
000
sesterces
about 1250 pounds sterling; and of two crystal cups broke by Nero in
his fury
on hearing of some losses
to punish the then present age
that no
other men might drink out of them: some render it "amber"
which is
found in Prussia
and being at a great distance from Job's country
might be
the more valuable there; and PlinyF2Ib. c. 5. speaks of it as had in
as great esteem as gems: the Septuagint
Vulgate Latin versions
and others
translate it "glass"F3זכוכית υαλος
Sept.
"vitrum"
V. L. Tigurine version
Cocceius. which had its original
from Phoenicia
near Judea; so Pliny saysF4Ut supra
(Nat. Hist.) l.
36. c. 26. Joseph. de Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 10. sect. 2. from the lake Cendevia
within the roots of Mount Carmel
in Phoenicia
near Judea
springs the river
Belus
from whence glass came first; and he speaks of Sidon (a city in
Phoenicia) as famous for it; and TacitusF5Hist. l. 5. c. 7.
observes
that the river Belus glides in the Jewish sea
and about the mouth of
it sand is gathered and mixed with nitre
and boiled into glass; and this being
near the country where Job dwelt
it is thought be had knowledge of it; and
from this passage someF6Neri Praefat. ad. lib. de re vitriaria. have
concluded the great antiquity of glass; and if it is true what AelianusF7Var.
Hist. l. 12. c. 3. relates
that when the monument of the ancient Belus (the
first king of Babylon) was dug up by Xerxes
the son of Darius
that there was
found a glass urn
where lay a body in oil
it must be in use before the times
of Job. An Arabic chronologerF8Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. p. 33.
affirms what be had from men conversant in history
that in Egypt
after the
flood
there were men learned in various sciences
and among the rest in
alchemy
and had knowledge of burning glasses; though the invention of these
and of a glass globe
is ascribed to ArchimedesF9Vid. Fabritii
Bibliothec. Gr. l. 3. c. 22. sect. 11. 15.
who lived somewhat later than two
hundred years before Christ. There was great plenty of glass very early in
Ethiopia
after mentioned
in which they enclosed their dead
that they might
be seen through itF11Diodor. Sic. l. 2. p. 102. Herodot. Thalia
sive
l. 3. c. 24. ; and if it was in use in Job's time
and especially if it
was then a late invention
it might be highly valued
and therefore placed here
with things of the greatest worth. In the times of Nero
Pliny saysF12Ut
supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 36. c. 26.) two small glass cups were sold for six
thousand sesterces
or forty five pounds sterling
and according to others near
fifty pounds; and the same writer relates
that in the times of Tiberias an art
was found out to make glass flexible and malleable; but was ordered to be
destroyed
lest the value of gold
silver
and brass
should be lessened by it.
The Targum renders the word here used a looking glass; See Gill on Joshua 11:8. Some
think the diamond or adamant is meant
and others that it is a general name for
all sorts of precious stones
they being clear
transparent
and lucid
as the
word signifies:
and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold; set in fine
gold; or "vessels" of it
more valuable than gold itself
being made
of gold
purified
refined
and wrought by art into curious forms; and yet
wisdom is so valuable as not to be exchanged for these. Mr. Broughton takes
this fine gold
or gold of Phaz
to be the same with Fess in Barbary
which had
its name from a heap of gold there found when its foundation was laid; for
"fess" with the Arabs signifies goldF13Leo African.
Descript. Africae
l. 3. p. 273. .
Job 28:18 18 No mention shall be made
of coral or quartz
For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
YLT
18Corals and pearl are not
remembered
The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.
No mention shall be made of coral
or of pearls
.... Coral is
a marine plant
is as hard as a stone
and of such value as to be reckoned
among precious stones; See Gill on Ezekiel 27:16. In
Arabia Felix
on the shore of the Red sea
is a place called CoraliaF14Plin.
Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 28. ; it may be from coral found there. Pearls are from
shellfish taken out of the sea
though these seem rather intended in the next
clause: the words "ramoth" and "gabish" are left
untranslated by some
and by others are taken for precious stones
though
unknown
so called because they are found in high places
which both words
signify. The Targum renders the first by "sandalchin"
and seems to
be the same with the sardonyx
a precious stone found in Arabia
and which
found there is by PlinyF15Ib. l. 37. c. 6. said to excel. Junius and
Tremellius render it by "sandastros"; which
as Pliny saysF16Ib.
c. 7.
some call "Garamantis"
being bred in a place of that name in
India; and he also observes
that it is found in Arabia towards the south
and
has shining golden drops in the body of it; it is a sort of a carbuncle.
"Gabish" seems to have some affinity with "chabazios"
mentioned by OrpheusF17 περι λιθων
p. 240. as a precious stone; but whatever precious stones are meant
as it is
hard to determine what
they are not to be spoken of with wisdom
or to be
compared to it:
for the price of wisdom is above rubies; or rather
pearls
as BochartF18Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 5. c. 6. col. 681
&c. seems to have abundantly proved
who renders the words
"the
extraction of wisdom is greater than the extraction of pearls;'
and
so the Targum; there being
as he thinks
an allusion to the extraction of
pearls out of the sea by divers into itF19Of fishing for pearls in
this way
see the Account of it in Vartoman. Navigat. l. 3. c. 2. in P. Martyr.
Decad. 3. l. 2. and Oviedo de Occident. Ind. c. 4. and with nets
Aelian. de
Animal. l. 15. c. 8. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 9. c. 35. ; who get them through
much art
difficulty
and danger; and he observes
that there is a double
extraction
or drawing them out
first of the shellfish out of the sea
and
then of the pearls out of the shells; but the drawing out of wisdom
or the
attainment of that; is more difficult
and superior to it
as well as attended
with greater advantage; see Proverbs 3:15 and
See Gill on Lamentations 4:7;
and though of pearls some are very large
OviedoF20Ut supra. (Oviedo
de Occident. Ind. c. 4.) speaks of one that weighed thirty one carats
and
another twenty six; some as big as hazel nuts
and even as a middling walnut
and of very great price
as that bought by Pope Paul at 44
000 ducatsF21P.
Martyr
Decad. 3. l. 10. ; that by Philip the Second
of the size of a pigeon's
egg
valued at an hundred forty four thousand ducats; that drank by Cleopatra
at a draught
reckoned worth eighty thousand pounds sterling; and that of the
emperor of Persia
bought at 110
400 poundsF23See Chambers's
Dictionary on the word "Pearl". ; yet the price of wisdom is above
them.
Job 28:19 19 The topaz of Ethiopia
cannot equal it
Nor can it be valued in pure gold.
YLT
19Not equal it doth the topaz
of Cush
With pure gold it is not valued.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it
.... Not
Ethiopia Abyssinia
or that which lies beyond Egypt in Africa; for
as
LudolphusF24Hist. Ethiop. l. 1. c. 7. says
there are no gems found
there
or very rarely; but Cush
as the word is
or Arabia Chusaea
the same
with the country of Midian
and the parts adjacent; see Habakkuk 3:7; hence
Zipporah
the wife of Moses
who was of that country
is called an Ethiopian
woman
Numbers 12:1; and
this was near Job's country
who knew the produce of it; and here the topaz is
found
as many writers observe. Diodorus Siculus saysF25Bibliothec.
l. 3. p. 172.
in Ophiodes
an island in the Arabian gulf
belonging to the
Troglodytes
the topaz is found
which is a very clear stone
pleasant to the
sight
like to glass
and affording a wonderful golden colour; and with him
StraboF26Geograph. l. 16. p. 529. agrees
who relates there is an
island called Ophiodes
from its being freed from serpents by the king's
orders
which killed men that came there for topazes; which
he says
is a
clear stone of a golden colour
and so refulgent
that it is not easy to see it
in the daytime
being so surrounded with light; but at night it is seen by
those that gather it
who set a vessel for a sign
and then dig for it in the
daytime; and
he adds
a multitude of men are hired by the kings of Egypt
to
gather and keep these stones
and men from stealing them; and
according to
ArchelausF1Apud Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 8.
the topaz is found
in Chitis
an island in Arabia
where the Troglodytes digging for herbs and
roots find it; and
as Juba relatesF2Apud ib.
there is an island
called Topazion
in the Red sea
three hundred furlongs (about 73 miles) from
the continent
which is cloudy
and is therefore often sought for by
navigators; whence he says it had its name Topazion
which in the language of
the Troglodytes signifies to seek
and the topaz itself in their language so
signifies; in the Samaritan version of Exodus 39:10; it is
called Dachetah
from the Arabic wordF3Vid. Castel. Lex. Heptaglott.
col. 686
693. "Dachatz"
the language of the Troglodytes
which
signifies to seek and search by removing the earth with the foot. This island
seems to be the same with Topazos
which PlinyF4Nat. Hist. l. 6. c.
29. says is an island of the Arabians
and gave name to a gem
meaning the
topaz; but the truth rather is
that the gem gave name to the island: upon the
whole
it is no wonder
as BrauniusF5De Vest. Sacerdot. Heb. p. 649.
observes
that this gem should be called by Job the Arabian topaz. The Targum
here calls it a green pearl; and some have thought the emerald is meant
which
is of that colour; and the emeralds of Ethiopia are praised by some
according
to JubaF6Apud Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 5. ; and in Egypt were
emerald mines the Ethiopians laid a claim toF7Heliodor. Ethiop. l.
8. 1. & 9. 6. ; and there were emeralds also in Arabia
as the above Juba
relates; however
be this what it may
as it is most likely to be the topaz
it
is not equal in value to wisdom
no
not the largest topaz ever known; not even
that of the great Mogul
which weighs more than an hundred fifty seven carats
valued at 271
500 French poundsF8Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr p. 747. ;
and according to TavernierF9Apud Braunium de Vest. Sacerdot. Heb. p.
649
650. it weighs almost an hundred fifty eight carats
and was bought at Goa
for almost 272
000 florins:
neither shall it be valued with pure gold; that is most
refined and freed from dross; they are not to be laid together as of equal
value; See Gill on Job 28:16
where
the same word is used.
Job 28:20 20 “From where then does
wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
YLT
20And the wisdom -- whence
doth it come? And where [is] this
the place of understanding?
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of
understanding? The same questions as in Job 28:12; repeated
to set forth the superior excellency of wisdom
and to carry on the discourse
and lead on to other things concerning it. See Gill on Job 28:12.
Job 28:21 21 It is hidden from the eyes
of all living
And concealed from the birds of the air.
YLT
21It hath been hid from the
eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living
.... Meaning
not the beasts of the field
as some interpret it; this makes the sentiment
jejune and trifling; but rational creatures
men
so the Septuagint
Eve is
said to be the mother of
Genesis 3:20;
wisdom
as a perfection in God
displayed in his works of creation and
providence
is but imperfectly known by men; and the secret reasons of his
providential dealings with men
good and bad
are hid from all at present; and
as for spiritual wisdom or godliness
and the Gospel of Christ
and Christ
himself
they are hid from the eyes of all natural and carnal men
though ever
so wise and prudent in other things:
and kept close from the fowls of the air
or
"heaven"F11השמים
"caeli"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c. ; either the devils so called
because they dwell in the air
and are the posse or power of the air
Ephesians 2:2; and
because of their ravenous and cruel disposition
and swiftness to do mischief;
see Luke 8:5; or rather
the holy angels
as Jarchi
whose habitation is in heaven
and who are swift to
do the will of God
and are represented as having wings like fowls; though
these know much
yet the wisdom of God in his providence
in the doctrines of
the Gospel
and Christ himself
the Wisdom of God
are in a good measure hid
from them; at least their knowledge is imperfect
and they are desirous of
prying more into these things
1 Peter 1:12
unless men of the most piercing and penetrating geniuses
that soar aloft in
the things of nature
and make the greatest discoveries therein
and yet know
nothing of divine and spiritual things
of the arcanas of Providence or of
grace
should be meant.
Job 28:22 22 Destruction and Death say
‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’
YLT
22Destruction and death have
said: `With our ears we have heard its fame.'
Destruction and death say
.... Meaning the dead
that are in the pit of destruction
the grave; not their dead bodies there
devoid of life and sense
and know not anything
but their souls; either the
damned in hell
or the saints in heaven: the Targum is
the house of
destruction
and the angel of death; or rather it regards such as are dead
who
while alive had only a report of this wisdom; wherefore if their records and
writings
or traditions handed down from them
are inquired into
the result of
the information they will give concerning it will amount to no more than this:
we have heard the fame thereof with our ears; it has been reported
to us there is such wisdom
but what it is we know not; and this is all that we
can say about it.
Job 28:23 23 God understands its way
And
He knows its place.
YLT
23God hath understood its
way
And He hath known its place.
God understandeth the way thereof
.... And he only; not the
way that men can come at the knowledge of wisdom
which at present appears to
be past finding out; but rather the way which wisdom itself takes
and is in
the deep
and its footsteps not known by any other
and the grounds and reasons
of its taking such a course it does; which are only understood by the Lord: it
may be applied to spiritual wisdom in men
and the way to come at it; which God
only knows and instructs in
and is his special and peculiar gift; and to Christ
the wisdom of God
and the way which he has taken in the council and covenant
of grace and peace
for the salvation of his people; and which he took in time
in the assumption of human nature
and by sufferings and death to obtain it for
them:
and he knoweth the place thereof; the seat of wisdom
within himself
the source of all his dealings with men
his sovereign will and
pleasure in his own heart; the place of spiritual wisdom and knowledge
the
heart of a regenerate man
where his Gospel is
and has come with power
and
took place and works effectually; and where Christ
the Logos
the Wisdom of
God is
even with himself
and in his bosom
as in the times of Job
and now at
his right hand
in human nature.
Job 28:24 24 For He looks to the ends of
the earth
And sees under the whole heavens
YLT
24For He to the ends of the
earth doth look
Under the whole heavens He doth see
For he looketh to the ends of the earth
.... In this
and some following verses
reasons and are given
which abundantly show that
God must know the way and place of wisdom; since all the parts and places of
the earth
even to the ends of it
are seen by him
and all creatures and
things in it; nor is there anything in heaven
earth
and hell
that is hid
from him; and therefore if there is a way to it
or a place for it
he must
needs know it; where its direction is
or where it steers its course
and takes
up its abode
and seeth under the whole
heaven; the fowls of the air
the beasts of the field
the inhabitants
of the world
and all that is done in it; everything falls under the eye of his
omniscience
and under the notice of his providence
which extends to all
creatures and things throughout the whole earth
and under the compass of the
heavens; and since all places and persons are obvious to his view
and all
subject to his all wise and disposing providence
and are ordered
directed
and governed
according to his sovereign will and pleasure; the path of wisdom
and the place of understanding
he must be acquainted with; and particularly
his all seeing eye
and all powerful providence
are concerned in the following
things
and in which there are wonderful proofs of his knowledge and wisdom.
Job 28:25 25 To establish a weight for
the wind
And apportion the waters by measure.
YLT
25To make for the wind a
weight
And the waters He meted out in measure.
To make the weight for the wind
.... He indeed makes the
wind itself
holds it in his fists
and brings it forth out of his treasures
and lets it go
or restrains it
at his pleasure; he gives it an inclination to
this or that or the other point of the heavens
and a force to blow with
greater or lesser
as he pleases
either for the good and benefit of men
or
for the punishment of them; he raises the stormy wind
which fulfils his word
and his will; and he makes it subside and become a calm when he thinks fit; he
can make it heavier or lighter
add to or take from its weight
so that it
becomes more or less pressing on bodies it meets with; he can make a rough wind
and stay that in the day of his east wind; he can make the rain in some sense a
weight to it; he can wet its wings with it
and bear it down and cause it to
rest and be still; and he that knows from whence it comes
and whither it goes
though we do not
being wholly under his direction
must know the way and place
of wisdom:
and he weigheth the waters by measure; or
"in
a measure"F11במדה "in
mensura"
V. L. Pagninus
Montanus
Bolducius
Beza. ; in the hollow of
his hand
where he poises them; see Isaiah 40:12; some
because there is a seeming impropriety in weighing by
or with a measure
render it "out of a measure"F12"Ex mensura"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator
Mercerus. Mr. Broughton translates the
words
"and held the waters in a measure"; in his hand
as before
or
in the sea; weight and measure being both applied to the waters
may denote the
perfect and exact knowledge God has of them
and of his great and diligent
concern in Providence about them
he ordering and disposing of them according
to his will; and which is greatly the sense of the word used for weighing; and
so the Targum paraphrases it
"the
waters he prepares (orders or disposes of) by measure.'
These
waters
as they seem to be distinguished from rain in Job 28:26
may
design the waters of the sea and rivers; with these the earth at first was
covered
which being ordered off of it
and a place provided for them
they
were gathered into it
and measured and bounded in it by shores and sand
that
they might not overflow the earth; which is a wonderful instance of the
providence of God
in weighing and measuring the waters; of which also there
was a singular instance at the general deluge
when the windows of heaven were
opened
and the fountains of the great deep broke up
which overflowed the
whole earth
and the highest mountains in it; and after a time went off at the
command of God
and the earth was dry as before: the tides
the ebbing and
flowing of the sea
and the flux and reflux of rivers
from and to the same
place
are surprising things
and wholly owing to the power and providence of
God; the causes and reasons of which are unknown to us
but are well known to
him
who weighs and measures the waters
which flow in a regular course; and
who therefore must know the way and place of wisdom and understanding.
Job 28:26 26 When He made a law for the
rain
And a path for the thunderbolt
YLT
26In His making for the rain
a limit
And a way for the brightness of the voices
When he made a decree for the rain
and a way for the lightning of
the thunder. Decreed within himself that he would give it; for rain is his
gift alone
and which none of the vanities of the Gentiles can give
and a
wonderful blessing to the earth it is; and which God bestows on all sorts of
men
both good and bad
and causes it to fall sometimes on one place and
sometimes on another
sometimes in greater
sometimes in lesser showers; and
according to his sovereign pleasure he gives or withholds it; the effects of
which are quickly seen. Mr. Broughton renders the clause
"he made a bound
for the rain
and a way for the lightning of thunder"
or "the
lightning and the thunder"
as Ben Gersom
who thinks the copulative ו
"and"
is wanting. Thunder is from God
it is
his voice
and the word here used is in the plural number
"voices"F13קולות "vocum"
Piscator
Mercerus
Drusius.
signifying various claps of thunder; and lightning generally accompanies it
which
though first perceived
they are both at once the eye doing its office
quicker than the ear; and a cloud also is usual; and so some render the word
for lightning
as in Zechariah 10:1; it
may signify the way of the lightning out of the thunder cloud
and attending
claps of thunder; the thunder breaks the cloud and makes a path for the
lightning: the Targum is
"a
path for the lightnings
which run with the voices or thunders;'
but
though the course or path the lightning steers is very quick and very extensive
from east to west
and cannot be traced by us. God that made it knows it
and
he knows the path and place of wisdom. Sephorno interprets this of the thunder
and lightnings at the giving of the law
which he understands by wisdom
as do
other Jewish writers: PlinyF14Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 43. speaks of
thunder and lightning as chance matters; but SenecaF15Nat. Quaest.
l. 2. c. 13. 31. more truly
ascribes them to divine power and Providence
as here.
Job 28:27 27 Then He saw wisdom[b] and
declared it; He prepared it
indeed
He searched it out.
YLT
27Then He hath seen and
declareth it
He hath prepared it
and also searched it out
Then did he see it
and declare it
.... His own wisdom
when
he made and executed his decrees concerning rain
lightning
and thunder; he
saw it in himself
and as it appeared in the works of his hands
which he
looked on and approved of
and saw that all was very good; and he declared it
to others
by his works of nature and providence; for they declare the glory of
God
and particularly the glory of his wisdom:
he prepared it
yea
and searched it out; he prepared
it in his counsels
according to which he wrought all things in the creation
and still does in Providence; and his searching out denotes his perfect
knowledge of it
and the way and course of it
or he takes with it
though it
is unsearchable
and past finding out by us. Mr. Broughton understands this of
a person
as do some others
even Christ
the Wisdom of God; rendering the
words
"then he saw her
and showed her"
&c. and so the passages
in Proverbs 8:27
may
be a comment on these words and the foregoing; for when the above decrees were
formed in the divine mind
then he "saw" his Wisdom
his Logos
his
eternal Son; for he was by him
and with him
and in him
lying in his bosom;
he looked at him in creation
and made man after his image
the idea he had
formed of his human nature
and made all things for his sake; and he viewed him
with the utmost delight and pleasure
as being the express image of his person;
he declared him to be his only begotten Son
saying
"this day I have
begotten thee"
Psalm 2:7; be made
him known to the angels
as the Targum here expresses it
and what he designed
to do by him
and with him; which occasioned the revolt of many of them from
him; and he declared him to Adam as soon as there was an opportunity and
occasion for it; he prepared him in his eternal purposes to be the Redeemer and
Saviour of his people
to be the Head of the church
and the Judge of quick and
dead; he searched him out in his infinite wisdom
and found him
singled him out
laid help on him with his holy oil anointed him
and appointed him to be the
ransomer of his chosen ones
Job 33:24.
Job 28:28 28 And to man He said
‘Behold
the fear of the Lord
that is wisdom
And to depart from evil is
understanding.’”
YLT
28And He saith to man: --
`Lo
fear of the Lord
that [is] wisdom
And to turn from evil [is]
understanding.'
And unto man he said
.... What follows; unto
Adam
so some render it
as Mr. Broughton; taking what is after delivered to be
said to the first man; either by suggesting it to his mind and conscience
and
inscribing it on his heart
where the law of God was written
and by which he
was directed to fear God and avoid evil; or by the express command he gave him
not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge; thereby instructing him to
fear him
and abstain from evil; which
had he done
would have been his
highest wisdom
and a proof of it
and of his understanding; but it seems best
to understand it in general of the sons of men
as the Targum and others: this
is the substance of what God says in his works
which are done that men might
fear him
and stand in awe of him
Psalm 33:6; and in
his word
and by his prophets
and their ministry in all ages; whereby it
appears
that this is the whole of men
to fear God and keep his commandments
Ecclesiastes 12:14.
Some render the words
"but unto men he said"F16ויאמר ειπε δε
Sept. "dixit autem"
Tigurine version
Beza; "dixit vero"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. ; though he knows his own wisdom
and the
way and place of it
the course it steers in Providence
and has seen
observed
and shown it; has prepared
disposed
ordered
and searched it out
and perfectly knows it
and the causes and reasons of it; yet he has not
thought fit to make these known clearly to men; who therefore must be content
they should be secrets to them
and attend to the wisdom which is revealed
and
is of the greatest importance and consequence to them; namely
what follows
behold
the fear of the Lord
that is wisdom; by which is
meant
not a fear of his wrath
and of eternal damnation
but an affection for
God with reverence of him; such as is peculiar to children
a godly filial
fear; and which is consistent with strong faith
great joy
and true courage;
is opposite to pride and self-confidence
and takes in the whole worship of God
both external and internal: and it is called the fear of the Lord
because he
is the object and author of it; it is not from nature
or in men naturally
but
comes from the grace of God
and is a gift of it; it is wrought in conversion
and is increased by the discoveries of the love and goodness of and is that
wisdom which God makes his people know
in the hidden part; no man is wise till
he fears the Lord; and when that grace is put into him
he begins to be wise
for this is the beginning of wisdom
Proverbs 1:7; and
is a principal part of it
and very profitable to men
both for this life
and
for that to come; and therefore it is their highest wisdom to be concerned for
it: the heart of God is towards them that fear him; his eye is upon them; his
hand communicates to them; his secret with them; he sets a guard of angels
about them; causes the sun of righteousness to arise on them
and he has laid
up much for them
for time and eternity:
and to depart from evil is understanding; this is the
fruit and effect of the fear of the Lord
through which men have an hatred of
sin
and an aversion to it
and are careful not to commit it; through it they
depart from evil
and abstain from all appearance of it; see Proverbs 8:13; and
it puts them upon a regard to God and his commandments
and to all that is
good
and which is an evidence and proof of a good understanding
Psalm 111:10. Now
Job suggests by this
that his friends should be solicitous about
and
satisfied with
such wisdom and understanding as this
and not pry into the
secrets of Providence
and the wisdom of that
which are not to be found out;
and so cease to charge him with being an hypocrite
and a wicked man
because
of the dealings of God with him
which were not to be accounted for: and by
this Job appears to be a good man
and had an experience what he here
expresses; that he was one that feared God and eschewed evil
according to the
testimony given of him
Job 1:1; and this
he gave proof of his former life and conversation; of which an account is given
in the following chapter.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)