Job 22 Eliphaz’s answer: man’s righteousness profiteth not God; nor can God fear man, Job 22:1–4. He chargeth Job’s misery on his sins, Job 22:5–11; which God beheld, and knew, nor could they be hid from him, Job 22:12–14. The wicked, and their misery, Job 22:15–17.

Be profitable unto God, i.e. add any thing to his perfection or felicity, to wit, by his righteousness, as the next verse shows. Why then dost thou insist so much upon thy own righteousness, as if thou didst oblige God by it, or as if he could not without injury afflict thee? who supposest thyself…

Any pleasure, i.e. such a pleasure as he needs for his own ease and contentment, without which he could not be happy, as appears by the foregoing and following words; for otherwise God is oft said to delight in the good actions of his people, to wit, so far as to approve and accept them.

Will, or doth, or would he reprove thee, i.e. punish thee? For this word is frequently used of real rebukes or chastisements, as hath been oft noted. For fear of thee; because he is afraid, lest if he should let thee alone, thou wouldst grow too great and powerful for him, as princes ofttimes crush…

Thy great sins are the true and only causes of thy misery. The words may very well be rendered thus, Is not thy evil (i.e. thy punishment or affliction, which is frequently expressed by this very word) great, because (the particle and being oft used causally, as it is Gen. 18:13, Gen. 22:12, Gen.

For thou hast taken, or, surely thou hast taken. He speaks thus by way of conjecture, or strong presumption. When I consider thy grievous and unusual calamities, I justly conclude thou art guilty of all or some of these following crimes; and do thou search thine own conscience, whether it be not so…

Surely thou hast been so hard-hearted as to deny a cup of cold water to those that needed and desired it. Water was ofttimes scarce and precious in those hot countries, and was appropriated to particular persons, without whose leave other persons might not take it. To the weary, i.e.

Heb. And, or but, the man of arm, or strength, or, power, to him was the earth, or the land. i.e. he had the firm possession or free enjoyment of it: which is meant either, 1. Of Job, of whom he speaks invidiously in the third person.

Widows, whose helpless estate called for thy pity, Ex. 22:22, Deut. 24:17, Deut. 24:19. Away empty; either by denying them that relief which their poverty required, or that right which their cause deserved; or by spoiling them of their goods, because thou knewest them to be unable to oppose thee,…

For these and the like crimes. The cause of thy ruin is not secret from God’s sovereign power, and unsearchable judgments, (as thou pretendest,) but plain and manifest, even thy own crying sins. Snares are round about thee; thou art encompassed with dangers and calamities.

Darkness; either, 1. A darkness and confusion of mind so great that thou canst not discern the true cause and use of all thy sufferings. Or, 2. Grievous calamities, which are oft called darkness, which are such that thou canst see no way nor possibility of escaping.

Is not God in the height of heaven? Surely he is; and from that high tower he looketh down upon men, Ps. 14:2, to behold, and govern, and recompense all their actions, whether good or bad.

And, or, therefore; from this true and certain principle thou drawest this false and wicked conclusion. Or, yet, notwithstanding this undeniable argument. Thou sayest; thou reasonest thus within thyself, as it may seem by thy discourses. How doth God know? i.e.

His conversation and business and delight is in the higher and heavenly world, which is worthy of his care, but he will not disparage nor burden himself with the care of this contemptible spot of earth; which was the opinion of many heathen philosophers, and, as they fancied, was Job’s opinion also.

Heb. the way of antiquity, i.e. of men living in ancient times, or former ages. By this way is here meant, either, 1. Their course or common practice; or, 2. Their end or success; as the way is taken, 1 Sam. 9:6, 1 Sam. 9:8; and as death, which is, and is called, the end of all men, Eccles.

Out of time, i.e. before their time; who died a violent and untimely death. Whose foundation was overflown with a flood; who, together with their foundation, to wit, the earth, and all their supports and enjoyments in it, were destroyed by the general deluge; which doubtless was very well known to…

He reports Job’s words, Job 21:14–15, (where they are explained,) but to a contrary purpose. Job alleged them to show that they prospered notwithstanding their professed wickedness, and Eliphaz produceth them to show that they were cut off for it.

Yet it is true that for a time God did prosper them, as he did thee; which also was the aggravation of their sin, and that which hastened their ruin: but at last, and in due time, God cut them off in a tremendous and exemplary manner; as he will also do thee, if thou dost not repent.

The righteous see it; whom God oft spares in common calamities, and makes them to survive and see the destruction of the wicked; as Noah, Lot, &c. Are glad; not that they insult over or rejoice in the ruin of any men, but because they delight in the vindication of God’s honour, and justice, and…

Whereas; or, when; or, seeing that; or, because; for this Hebrew particle im is oft used for chi. And so the following words may contain the reason of the joy and laughter of the innocent, mentioned Job 22:19, because when wicked men are destroyed, they are preserved; because our substance, i.e.

With him, i.e. with God, as appears both from Job 22:23, where he is expressed, and from the nature of the thing, there being no other way to happiness. Renew thy acquaintance and converse with God by prayer, which thou hast restrained, Job 15:4.

Take the law and rule whereby thou governest thy thoughts, and words, and whole life, not from profane heathens, whose opinion concerning God’s providence thou hast embraced, nor from thy own vain imaginations or violent passions, which have led thee into thy present errors and miscarriages, but…

To the Almighty; or, home to the Almighty; or, so as to reach to the Almighty, and be joined to him. The Hebrew phrase is extraordinary, and emphatical, and implies a thorough and effectual turning not only from sin, (which a hypocrite may do in great part, at least for a time, upon carnal motives,…

Gold; solid or choice gold, as the word signifies. As dust, i.e. in great abundance. Or, upon the dust, or ground; it shall be so plentiful, and therefore vile, that thou shalt not lock it up in chests and treasuries, but scatter it any where, and let it lie even upon the ground.

God by his special and watchful providence shall protect thee from all dangers and calamities. Heb. thy defences, or munitions. One God shall keep thee as safely as many munitions. Plenty of silver, Heb. silver of strength, i.e. which by God’s blessing shall be thy defence, Eccles. 7:12.

For; — so this verse contains a reason why he might confidently expect all those former outward blessings, because he should have God’s favour, which is the spring and foundation of them.

Hear thee, i.e. answer thy prayers, and not disregard them, and hide himself from thee, as now he doth. Thou shalt pay thy vows, i.e. thou shalt obtain those blessings for which thou didst make vows to God, and therefore, according to thy obligation, shalt pay thy vows to him.

Thy purposes and designs shall not be disappointed, but effected and ratified by God; which is a great satisfaction. In all thy counsels, and courses, and actions, God shall give thee the light of his direction and governance, and of comfort and success; and thou shalt not be in such a dark, and…

When men are cast down, Heb. When they (i.e. they who do this work. It is an indefinite and impersonal speech, which is very common in the Hebrew language) shall cast down or overthrow; either, 1.

He, i.e. God, as Job 22:29, whose prerogative it is to give deliverances. Shall deliver, to wit, upon thy request, as the following clause showeth: God will hear thy prayers even for others, which is a great honour and comfort; and much more for thyself.