Bible Commentaries

A NEW DISPUTANT

‘Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.’

Job 32:10

I. The last voice in the earthly controversy is now heard.—It is a new voice, and opportunity never comes to Job to answer. Moreover, God in the final movements takes no notice other than that of interruption, and in the epilogue Elihu has no place. Nevertheless, the long speech of this man is full of interest, and moves as to its insight on a higher plane than that of the men who have spoken. In the first five verses Elihu is introduced by the author of the book. His three friends are silent because unable to bring conviction of guilt to Job. In the presence of their inability Elihu, who evidently has heard the whole argument, is moved with anger. This anger is against Job, because he has justified himself rather than God. It is against Job’s friends, because they have been unequal to the task to which they set themselves.

II. In the opening of his speech Elihu makes his apology.—The reason of his silence has been that of his youth. As he has listened he has come to the conclusion that age is not always wisdom. Addressing himself to the friends, he declares that he has waited, and they have failed, and indicates his intention to adopt a new method. The apology ends with a soliloquy, in which he considers the failure of the other men, and speaks of his own consciousness of conviction and readiness to speak. He then appeals to Job by asking his attention, assuring him of sincerity in motive, and finally declaring that he speaks to him as a comrade and not as a judge or one who would fill him with terror.

Illustration

‘Elihu was a young man not destitute of that beautiful modesty which so well becomes youth. He apologises for speaking at all in the presence of men so much older, and presumably so much wiser, than himself. But he was constrained to speak. It is well he did speak, for his utterance was of great value. The reason urged indicates the wisdom and piety of this young man. Whatever of understanding is possessed by man he attributes to the inspiration of the Almighty in the human spirit. And this was the belief of the best men in the olden times, not of the Hebrew nation alone, but of all nations.’