Job (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament)

Tremper Longman, Longman, Tremper III, Tremper III Longman

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN:
  9780801098512
• eBook ISBN:
  9781441238658
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

Explore the contemporary significance of the Old Testament and hear the Word of God afresh

Veteran Old Testament scholar Tremper Longman offers an accessible commentary on one of Scripture's most intriguing books. With his deft exegetical and expositional skill, the resulting work is full of fresh insight into the meaning of the text.

In addition to paragraph-level commentary, all volumes of the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament series feature:

● A fresh translation of the Hebrew text
● Incisive comments based on the author's translation
● Linguistic, historical, and canonical insights
● Concluding reflections
● Footnotes addressing technical matters

Pastors, teachers, and all serious students of the Bible will find here an accessible commentary that will serve as an excellent resource for their study.

III.
The Debate between Job and His Three Friends

(4:1–27:23)

The largest section of Job details the debate between Job and his three friends. There are three cycles of speech. The first two cycles follow the same order and are roughly the same size. Eliphaz is the first of the friends to speak, followed by Bildad and then Zophar. Job responds to each in turn:

First Cycle	Second Cycle
Eliphaz (chaps. 4–5)	Eliphaz (chap. 15)
Job (chaps. 6–7)	Job (chaps. 16–17)
Bildad (chap. 8)	Bildad (chap. 18)
Job (chaps. 9–10)	Job (chap. 19)
Zophar (chap. 11)	Zophar (chap. 20)
Job (chaps. 12–14)	Job (chap. 21)

The third cycle is more complex. The speeches of the friends are shorter, though it is debated exactly how much shorter since parts of Job’s speeches are more fitting for the friends.[189] My approach is to treat the MT as it stands, yielding the following structure for the third cycle:[190]

Third Cycle
Eliphaz (chap. 22)
Job (chaps. 23–24)
Bildad (chap. 25)
Job (chaps. 26–31)

The brevity of the friends’ speeches (and the absence of a third speech from Zophar) demonstrates that they are running out of arguments and energy against Job’s persistent resistance. Job’s lengthy concluding speech needs further explanation. Besides the question whether parts of chap. 27 ought to be attributed to Zophar, there are questions about chaps. 28 and 29–31.

Job 28 has been the focus of extensive discussion through the years and especially in the past decade.[191] There is no explicit change of speaker between chaps. 27 and 28, and Job is most certainly speaking in chaps. 27 and 29. The problem is that Job 28 presents a view of wisdom that is at odds with Job’s thinking up to this point and afterward. Indeed, Job 28 anticipates the conclusion of the book, where we learn that God is the source of all wisdom (cf. 28:28). Thus many commentators suggest that Job is not speaking in this chapter; rather, the narrator is inserting his own view at this point. In my opinion, such an assertion has no exegetical foundation. The text as it stands places chap. 28 in the mouth of Job, and our interpretation must take account of this (see commentary at chap. 28). Chapters 29–31 are clearly Job’s speech, but he is not really debating the friends at this point. In chap. 29 he broods on how things were in the past when he enjoyed God’s blessings. He bemoans his present suffering and complains that God has turned against him (30:20). He appeals to God once again, declaring that he is blameless and does not deserve the suffering that has come upon him (chap. 31).

I will treat each person’s speech separately, beginning with Eliphaz’s speech in chaps. 4 and 5.

A.
First Cycle

(4:1–14:22)

In response to Job’s complaint (chap. 3), the debate proper begins. The first of three cycles is found in 4:1–14:22, and Job responds in turn to the initial challenges given by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.

1.
Eliphaz’s First Speech

(4:1–5:27)

Translation

4:1And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2“Should someone venture a word with you, would you be discouraged?[192]

But who is able to restrain themselves from speaking?

3You have indeed instructed many;

you have strengthened weak hands.

4Your words have lifted up those who stumble;

you have strengthened those with weak knees.

5But now it comes on you, and you are discouraged;

it touches you, and you are disturbed.

6Is not your fear your comfort?

Is not the innocence of your ways your hope?

7Please remember: Who being blameless has perished?

Where were the virtuous destroyed?

8As I have seen, those who plow iniquity

and those who plant trouble[193] harvest them.

9They perish by the breath[194] of God;

they are finished off by the blast[195] of his anger.

10The roar of the lion, the sound of the lion cub,

the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11A lion perishes without prey,

and the offspring of a lioness are scattered from each other.

12A word stole over to me;

my ears took a whisper of it.

13In anxious thoughts of night visions,

when deep sleep falls on people,

14fear and trembling called to me;

my bones trembled mightily with fear.

15A spirit passed by my face;

the hair on my skin stood on end.[196]

16It stood there, but I could not recognize its appearance.

A form was before my eyes.

Silence, but I heard a voice:

17‘Can mortals be righteous before[197] God?

Can a man be pure before his Maker?’

18If he does not trust his own servants,

nor set confidence in his angels,

19then what about those who dwell in clay houses,

whose foundation is dust,

crushed like a moth?

20From morning to evening, they are beaten fine;

they perish forever without a thought.[198]

21Are not their tent-cords pulled up in them?

They die without wisdom.

5:1Call out now! Is there anyone who will answer you?

To whom among the holy ones will you turn?

2For[199] irritation kills a stupid person,

and jealousy slays the naive.

3I have seen the stupid taking root,

but I suddenly cursed their pasturage.

4His children will be far from safety,

and they will be crushed in the gate,

and no one will rescue them.

5The famished eat their harvest,

and they take it from the thorns.

The thirsty[200] pant after their wealth.

6For misery does not come from the dust,

and trouble[201] does not sprout from the ground.

7For humanity is born for trouble,

and sparks[202] fly high.

8As for me, I would seek God,

and I would commit my thoughts to God,

9the one who does great and unsearchable things,

marvelous things, without number.

10He provides rain for the earth’s surface,

and sends water on the fields.

11He sets the lowly on high,

and mourners are lifted to safety.

12He breaks the pretensions of the crafty,

and their hands do not achieve success.

13He captures the wise in their craftiness,

and the advice of the wily is quickly ended.

14In the day, they encounter darkness;

they grope around at noon as if it were night.

15He rescues from the sword of their mouth

and from the strong hand—the needy.

16So there is hope for the poor,

and injustice shuts its mouth.

17See, blessed are those whom God reproves,

so do not reject the instruction of Shaddai.

18For he wounds and binds up.

He strikes, but his hands heal.

19From six dangers he will rescue you;

from seven, trouble will not touch you.

20In famine, he will red...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Reflective Essays
• Series Preface
• Author’s Preface
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• I. The Prologue: The Suffering and Patience of Job
• II. Job’s Lament
• III. The Debate between Job and His Three Friends
• IV. Job’s Monologue
• V. Elihu’s Speech
• VI. Yahweh’s Speeches and Job’s Responses
• VII. Job’s Restoration
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Subject Index
• Author Index
• Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Writings
• Back Cover