Job 15:20-35
Summary for Job 15:20-35: 15:20-35 a The wicked also suffer everything that happened to Job (see 1:16-19 b)—attacks by marauders (15:21 c), loss of possessions (15:29 d), crumbled houses (15:28 e), and fire (15:30 f, 34 g).15:21 h Although Eliphaz generalized the terror that the wicked experience, Job had undergone similar experiences (3:25 i; 6:4 j; 9:34 k; 13:11 l, 21 m; 23:15 n; 27:20 o; 30:15 p). Bildad (18:11 q, 14 r) and Zophar (20:25 s) spoke of more terror to come.
• The Sabeans and Chaldeans were examples of the destroyer (1:13-17 t), but this could refer to any destructive agent (1:18-19 u). Destroyers might be agents of Satan (1 Cor 10:10 v; Rev 9:11 w) or divine agents that punish wickedness (Exod 12:23 x; 2 Sam 24:16 y; 2 Chr 32:21 z; Acts 12:23 aa; Heb 11:28 ab). Eliphaz meant the latter.
15:22 ac for fear they will be murdered (literally he is marked for the sword): The wicked might be killed by murder or by the sword of God’s wrath.
15:23 ad They wander around, saying, “Where can I find bread?”: Like the wicked (15:20 ae), Job either experienced hunger (see 15:27 af) or (following the Greek Old Testament) had been “appointed to be food for a vulture,” which would parallel “marked for the sword” (15:22 ag).
15:25 ah Job had complained earlier that God was treating him like a formidable foe (7:19-21 ai; 13:24 aj).
15:30 ak The burning sun (literally The flame) might be the scorching sun or a flame of judgment from God (15:34 al, see Num 16:31-35 am; Ps 106:17-18 an; Ezek 20:47 ao).
• The breath of God might be a desert wind or a more direct theophany (a manifestation of God’s presence) that caused the burning of Job 15:34 ap.
15:34 aq The flame of judgment (15:30 ar) will burn the unjust gain of the godless.
Copyright information for
TNotes