Job 8
8:1 a Like Eliphaz, Bildad the Shuhite (see study note on 2:11) believed that Job’s sufferings were God’s retribution (8:3-6 b, 13 c; cp. 4:7-8 d; 5:2-3 e). This counselor revered the wisdom of the past (8:8-10 f; cp. 4:7 g) and addressed Job with a mixture of instruction (8:3-6 h, 8-10 i; cp. 4:12-21 j; 5:9-16 k) and encouragement (8:5-7 l, 20-22 m; cp. 4:6 n; 5:19-26 o). His point was that Job should quit blustering. He advised Job to repent and allow God’s justice to bring about restoration (8:1-7 p).8:2 q How long? Bildad’s question might be an ironic parody of Job’s question in 7:19 r.
Summary for Job 8:3-4: 8:3-4 s According to Bildad, God does not twist justice, so the death of Job’s children proved that they had sinned against God. Bildad divided people into the blameless (Hebrew tam, 8:20a t; see 1:1 u) and the secretly wicked (Hebrew khanep, 8:13b v). He believed that they could be differentiated by watching what God did to them.
8:7 w you will end with much: Bildad’s words were more true than he realized (42:12 x; cp. 5:19-26 y).
Summary for Job 8:8-10: 8:8-10 z Bildad made the case for traditional wisdom by appealing to ancient tradition and history (Deut 4:32 aa; Jer 18:13 ab).
8:9 ac born but yesterday and know nothing: Bildad suggested that Job’s generation was either born too late to be acquainted with ancient wisdom or was too young to have accumulated it.
8:11 ad Papyrus reeds grow as high as ten to fifteen feet.
Summary for Job 8:12-13: 8:12-13 ae To forget God does not mean to have a lapse of memory but to act as if God did not exist (see Pss 10:4 af; 14:1 ag; Zeph 1:12 ah) or cannot see (see Job 22:13-17 ai; Ps 94:7 aj).
Summary for Job 8:16-17: 8:16-17 ak In this parable, a plant with roots that grow down through a pile of stones gains stability by becoming entwined with the rocks.
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