Job 21 | TNotes

21:2 ^a Job’s friends insisted that they were delivering God’s own message of comfort (15:11 ^b), but Job found no comfort in their words (16:2 ^c), so he asked for the consolation of their attentive silence (see 13:5 ^d).
21:6 ^e When I think about what I am saying: Job was dismayed by his horrible task of complaining against God (13:3 ^f, 15-16 ^g, 22 ^h; 23:1-5 ⁱ) and discussing his terrors (6:4 ^j; 27:20 ^k; 30:15 ^l).

• My body trembles: This reaction resembles that of Habakkuk (Hab 1:5 ^m; 3:16 ⁿ), Ezekiel (Ezek 3:14 ^o), and Daniel (Dan 8:27 ^p; 10:8-9 ^q).
21:8 ^r In spite of assertions by Eliphaz (5:4 ^s), Bildad (18:19 ^t), and Zophar (20:10 ^u), Job noted that the wicked enjoy children and grandchildren, which should be the reward of the righteous (Prov 17:6 ^v) but was apparently not going to be his own reward (Job 1:18-19 ^w; but see 42:13-16 ^x).
21:17 ^y light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished: Job countered Bildad (18:5-6 ^z, 18 ^aa) and standard wisdom (Prov 13:9 ^ab; 20:20 ^ac; 24:20 ^ad; see God’s remarks, Job 38:15 ^ae).
21:19 ^af you say: Job was quoting and rebutting his friends’ arguments.

• God will punish their children: These were the words of Eliphaz (5:4 ^ag) and Zophar (20:10 ^ah), but Job thought God should punish the ones who sin (see Ezek 18:19-20 ^ai).
21:22 ^aj The rhetorical answer is that no one can teach a lesson to God (Isa 40:13-14 ^ak; 45:9 ^al; Rom 11:34 ^am; 1 Cor 2:16 ^an).

• The most powerful might refer to angels or demons (1 Cor 6:3 ^ao; 2 Pet 2:4 ^ap; Jude 1:6 ^aq; Rev 20:1-3 ^ar) or, more likely, to the powerful on earth (Job 34:17-19 ^as).
21:24 ^at vigorous and fit (literally the marrow of his bones [is] moist): Bones were thought to be the seat of health.
21:25 ^au in bitter poverty: Job repeatedly complained about the apparent futility of existence (3:20 ^av; 7:11 ^aw; 9:18 ^ax; 10:1 ^ay).
21:26 ^az eaten by the same maggots: Cp. 17:14 ^ba; Isa 14:11 ^bb; see Job 19:26 ^bc.
21:28 ^bd houses have vanished because of their sins: Job was echoing Bildad (8:22 ^be), Eliphaz (15:34 ^bf), and Zophar (20:26 ^bg).
21:33 ^bh the earth gives sweet repose: Job viewed death as a relief (3:17-18 ^bi).
21:34 ^bj They told lies about Job (13:4 ^bk) and about God (42:7 ^bl).