Job 22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Job 22:1: 22:1–26:14 In this third round of speeches, Job’s friends explicitly accuse Job of being among the wicked and sharing their fate.

Summary for Job 22:1: 22:1–26:14 ^a In this third round of speeches, Job’s friends explicitly accuse Job of being among the wicked and sharing their fate.
Summary for Job 22:2-3: 22:2-3 ^b Eliphaz did not understand that God would gain pleasure from Job’s righteousness (1:8 ^c; 2:3 ^d), as he does from every righteous person (1 Chr 29:17 ^e; Ps 147:10-11 ^f; Prov 11:1 ^g, 20 ^h; 12:22 ⁱ). God would also gain glory from Job’s steadfast faith, which emphasized the lie behind Satan’s challenge (Job 1:9-12 ^j; 2:4-6 ^k).

• Job steadfastly claimed that he was perfect (23:10-12 ^l), as did God himself (1:1 ^m, 8 ⁿ; 2:3 ^o).
22:6 ^p Demanding clothing as security for lent money was forbidden by the law and condemned by the prophets (Exod 22:26-27 ^q; Deut 24:10-13 ^r; Ezek 18:7-8 ^s; Amos 2:8 ^t). In contrast, Job had provided clothing for the poor (Job 31:19-20 ^u).
22:9 ^v The Old Testament gives Israel the responsibility of caring for widows and orphans (Deut 10:18 ^w; 14:29 ^x) and repeatedly condemns their neglect as the worst of social evils (Exod 22:22-24 ^y; Deut 27:19 ^z). Job agreed that it was wicked (Job 24:3 ^aa, 21 ^ab) but claimed that he was innocent (29:12-13 ^ac; 31:16-18 ^ad, 21 ^ae).
Summary for Job 22:12-14: 22:12-14 ^af That’s why: Job had not claimed that God can’t see, but others have (Pss 10:11 ^ag; 73:11 ^ah; 94:7 ^ai).
22:18 ^aj I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking: Eliphaz threw Job’s words back at him (21:16b ^ak).
Summary for Job 22:19-20: 22:19-20 ^al The righteous will be happy to see the wicked destroyed: They will be glad to see justice done and injustices avenged (see also Ps 58:10-11 ^am; Rev 19:1-4 ^an). Eliphaz’s sentiment neglected God’s desire that sinful people repent (see Ezek 33:11 ^ao).
22:22 ^ap The term instructions (Hebrew torah, “law,” Deut 17:11 ^aq), used in Job only here, frequently refers to the Pentateuch (Genesis—Deuteronomy).

• Listen ... store: See Deut 4:1-2 ^ar; 6:6-9 ^as; Ps 119:11 ^at; Prov 2:1-9 ^au. Job had done this (Job 23:12 ^av).
22:23 ^aw return to the Almighty: Bildad (8:5-6 ^ax) and Zophar (11:13-14 ^ay) had already misapplied this biblical principle (Isa 55:6-7 ^az; Hos 14:1-2 ^ba; Zech 1:3 ^bb; Acts 26:20 ^bc), and now Eliphaz also misapplies it.
22:24 ^bd precious gold (literally Ophir): Ophir was probably located in southern Arabia (see 1 Kgs 9:28 ^be; 22:48 ^bf). The gold of Ophir was the standard in fine gold (Isa 13:12 ^bg); queens wore it at weddings (Ps 45:9 ^bh).
22:25 ^bi God promises to be his people’s treasure (Ps 16:5 ^bj; Isa 33:6 ^bk; Matt 19:21 ^bl; Mark 10:21 ^bm); although they possess nothing, they will be rich (2 Cor 6:10 ^bn; Jas 2:5 ^bo).
22:27 ^bp Ironically, Job will pray, God will hear, and Eliphaz will reap the benefits (42:8 ^bq).

• you will fulfill your vows: Vows were often stimulated by repentance and forgiveness (Hos 14:2 ^br; Jon 1:16 ^bs; 2:9 ^bt) and when seeking divine intervention (Judg 11:29-40 ^bu; 1 Sam 1:1-28 ^bv). Vows are binding (Num 30:2 ^bw; Deut 23:23 ^bx; Pss 22:25 ^by; 61:5 ^bz, 8 ^ca; 116:14 ^cb, 18 ^cc; Eccl 5:4-5 ^cd).
22:29 ^ce This difficult text probably conveys the effectiveness of a righteous man’s prayer. The principle (Pss 34:15 ^cf, 17 ^cg; 145:18 ^ch; Prov 15:8 ^ci, 29 ^cj; Jas 5:16 ^ck) is illustrated throughout Scripture (see, e.g., Gen 18:23-32 ^cl; 19:29 ^cm; 20:7 ^cn, 17 ^co; 32:28 ^cp; Exod 9:28-32 ^cq; 17:11 ^cr; 32:10-14 ^cs; Rom 5:19 ^ct).