Job 23
23:2 a Job dropped the doubt he had expressed earlier (9:14-20 b, 32 c) and here expressed confidence that he could successfully present his complaint.23:4 d present my arguments: Job wanted to make his case with God (13:3 e, 18 f, 22 g; 16:21 h; 31:35 i); Abraham pled directly with God regarding Sodom (Gen 18:25-32 j), and Moses did the same for Israel (Exod 32:12-13 k; Num 14:13-19 l).
Summary for Job 23:6-7: 23:6-7 m Earlier, Job had believed that God was too strong for him to summon (9:19 n), so he had requested an arbiter (9:33-34 o) and asked God not to terrify him (13:21 p). Here he expressed more hope that God would grant him a fair hearing.
• acquitted: Job did not want to be pardoned as a guilty man but to be declared innocent (13:18 q; see Pss 17:2-3 r; 26:1-3 s).
23:10 t tests me: Job did not want the kind of chastising that would cleanse him like a refiner’s fire (Prov 17:3 u; Zech 13:9 v; Mal 3:2-3 w). He wanted an examination that would prove that he had been as pure as gold and did not need to amend his life (Job 22:23 x).
Summary for Job 23:13-14: 23:13-14 y No one can change God’s mind (9:12-13 z; 11:10 aa; 12:14 ab; 34:29 ac; Num 23:19-20 ad; Jas 1:17 ae).
Summary for Job 23:15-17: 23:15-17 af terrified in his presence: See Pss 77:3 ag; 88:16 ah; 119:120 ai.
• Job had complained earlier of being plunged into darkness (Job 19:8 aj); Eliphaz (15:22 ak; 22:1 al) and Bildad (18:6 am, 18 an) ascribed this fate to the wicked.
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