Bible Commentaries
Job 23

Introduction

Job 23-24. Job’ s Reply to Eliphaz.— He dwells on the mystery of Providence. He cannot put his own personal conviction of final justification forward as a general solution of the problem. Hence he seems to lose the vantage ground already reached and viewing his own case as a part of the general world-problem, restates it as a prelude to stating this on the large scale. His tone is, however, very different from what it was before. Job dwells little on his own misery, but much on the misery of the world.

To solve the world-problem a revelation here and now seems requisite. The question is no longer, Shall I again find God on my side? but, Does God govern the world righteously? Job, therefore, putting out of sight the thought of meeting God by and by, comes back to the thought expressed in Job 13:22, though in a very different mood, of meeting Him here and now.

Verses 1-12

Job 23:1-7 . Job still rebels, though he does his best to repress his complaints ( Job 23:2). Translate as mg.

Job 23:6 f. shows the gain Job has got. Job 23:8-12. He is still in quest of God, but now is convinced that if he could find Him, God would treat him reasonably (contrast Job 9:14-16). God’ s inscrutableness ( Job 23:8 f.) now causes him no fear ( Job 23:10). Trial will but be the touchstone that will reveal his innocence ( Job 23:10-12). Read in Job 23:12 b, with LXX and Vulgate, for “ more than my necessary food,” “ in my bosom.”

Verses 13-17

Job 23:13-17 . But God follows His own will and does what He pleases. Therefore Job is afraid.

In Job 23:13 a read with Duhm, “ But he has decreed.”

Job 23:14 points out that Job’ s case does not stand alone.

Job 23:17 is obscure. Read “ For I am cut off by the darkness, and thick darkness covers my face” (Duhm).