The Book of Job
Job 42
Chapter XLII · Vol. II, pp. 985–986
1 Job submitteth himself unto God. 7 God, preferring Job's cause, maketh his three friends submit themselves to him. 9 He accepteth and blesseth Job. 16 His age and death.
1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
3 Whoc is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?2 therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things dtoo wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, eI beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand3 of thee, and declare thou unto me.
e Ge.18.30,32. Pr.3.5,6. Is.45.11, with ch.40.7; 38.3; 34.31,32.
3 Ask.—M. Good.
7 And it was so, that, after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to jEliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not kspoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.5
j ch.2.11; 4.1; 8.1; 11.1.
k ch.iv. v. viii. xi. xv. xviii. xx. xxii. Ps.51.4.
5 Job and his friends had all erred in their estimates of Providence; but Job had now confessed his fault to God, and humbled himself in dust and ashes; wherefore God bears witness to the work of grace in his heart, and rebukes the tardiness of his friends in following his example.—C.
8 Therefore take unto you now lseven bullocks and seven rams, and mgo to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall npray for you: for ohim will I accept: lest I deal with you pafter your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
l Nu.23.1. 1 Ch.15.26. He.10.10,14. Ep.5.2.
m Mat.5.24.
n Eze.14.14. Ja.5.14,16. Ge.20.17. 1 Jn.5.16.
o Heb. his face or person, ver.9.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite qwent, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted rJob.6
10 And the LORD sturned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gavet Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Thenu came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house; and they bemoanedx him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an ear-ring of gold.7
u Pr.16.7; 14.20, with ch.19.13,14; 30.1.
x Ro.12.15. He.13.1,3; 12.12. 1 Th.5.14. Is.35.3. ch.2.11, with Am.3.6.
7 What a picture is this of human character and human society! In sorrow, humiliation, and poverty, friends are few; but when brighter prospects dawn, and when the sun of prosperity shines, swarms of friends flit and flutter in the sunbeams. Presents flow upon the rich; but the poor, though hungry and naked, are overlooked and forgotten.—P.
12 So the LORD yblessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.
13 Hez had also seven sons and three daughters.
A.M. cir. 2484. B.C. cir. 1520.
z Is.49.17-21.
14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima;8 and the name of the second, 9Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.1
8 Turtle-dove or shining day.
9 Sweet-smelling cassia.
1 Fulness of paint, or ray of a ruby, carbuncle, or emerald.
15 And in all the land were no women found aso fair as the daughters of Job; and their father bgave them inheritance among their brethren.
Notes
[Ver. 3. Job here refers to his own previous conduct. He had attempted by his rash statements, and his insinuations of injustice on God's part, and injured innocence on his own part, to obscure the gracious purpose the Almighty had in view in his afflictions. Now he fully perceives and faithfully and humbly acknowledges all. P.]
Reflections.—How serious and humble fellowship with God makes a soul! And it is a great mercy that, when he demands of us answers of obedience, we may freely demand of him knowledge and grace to answer his requirements. If his gracious convictions render us exceeding vile and loathsome in our own view, let us expect that our deliverance is at hand. Jesus' blood and grace can more than balance our sins. Whom God humbles and pardons he delights to honour and acknowledge as his own. Yea, tenderly he regards his afflicted saints, notwithstanding their peevish quarrellings with him. He resents in the most humiliating manner the injuries done to them by their angry friends: and he often finds them sadly mistaken who were positive of their being in the right. But it is pleasant to see saints reconciled to one another through Jesus' death, in order to their enjoyment of comfortable fellowship with God. And our consolation is certainly approaching when our repentance towards God, faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, and forgiving kindness to and prayer for injurious friends, are become remarkable. God can easily make all things concur for the welfare or enrichment of his people. And it is absurd therefore to despair in distress, when this very book was written for our encouragement in it.—But was not Job a type of our blessed Redeemer? He was infinitely rich and righteous; yet for our sakes he became poor, till he had not where to lay his head. Quickly was he reduced to the depths of abasement: and behold how he lay bearing our sins, and carrying our sorrows, in the stable—in the manger—in the garden—on the cross—and in the grave! Stupendous and amazing were the troubles, the assaults, he suffered from God—from sinners—from saints! How tempted—how reproached—how afflicted and tormented! But marvellous was his faith, resignation, and patience; and undeserved and powerful his intercession; till at last he arose into illustrious and lasting glory and honour; and a great church of Jewish and Gentile saints succeeded and proceeded from his troubles.