Chapters 16-17 Job’s response to Eliphaz

16:3 Job seemed to wonder if their unfounded accusations would ever come to an end. How were they able to be so bold in their speech?

16:4-5 Job let them know if the rolls were reversed he could be just had as they were with him, but Job wanted them know a true friend, as he, would comfort and strengthen them with his words.

16:6-10 be sure to take note of the pronouns

·       V7 He is God who Job felt had wearied by not allowing him to die (3:17, 20;10:10;19:8)

·       V 9,10 he and they are those Job would call enemy , who hated him

·       V 8, Thou is Eliphaz. Job seems to be adding Eliphaz to the list of his enemies who want to tear Job apart. (13:24)

16:11-14 Job was talking to directly to Eilphaz and the others about what had come upon him.

·       V11a God delivered Job to the ungodly: I believe Job spoke of the three friends. By not allowing him to die Job felt God delivered him to their attack.

·       V11b Job knew God in His providence put him in the hands of the wicked. The wicked: 1:12, 2:5

·       V12-14 Job tells his friends what the wicked did. See Ch 1

·       13b gall upon the ground, Job’s bitterness was poured out

·       V12a Job finally mentioned what he had lost, his life of ease he had before (12b -14) he, the wicked, attacked Job.

16:15-17 Job upheld his knowledge that he had not committed an injustice that caused God to punish him. His mourning was not over his sin. (3:25-26).  

V18 with Gen 4:10-11 Job did not want the accusations of his accusers to buried with him and or that his cry against the wicked talk to be silenced.

V19-20 While the three men had accused Job of some sin they could not name. Job knew heaven would uphold his innocence of that unnamed sin and God knew of Job’s tears; his cry was upon the deaf ears of the three men, but God heard and knew what was going on. See 42:7

V21-22 Job knew there was no daysman that could barter a deal with God on his behalf. But Job wished there was such man who could plea to God, but what about? V22 Job again mentioned his years were few upon the earth.

Job state of hopelessness was seen and 7:1-3, 6. He said he made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights because he was like servant or hireling who never received rest or reward for their day of work never ended. This is why he asked the question in  

3:20-22

 Chapter 17 is Job’s sense of hopelessness is seen again.

V17:2 Remember in 9:30-31 Job knew if he confessed of the unknown sin their attack would not stop. In 3:5-6 Eliphaz mocked Job. These men were mocking Job with their unfounded accusations: “look at the great man of God now he is less that we are.” Could it be possible that Satan was using these three friends to provoke Job into cursing God? 

V17:3-4 The thee and the thou is God

·       V3a Who else would Job want as his guarantor but God 

·       V3b-4 His friends would not shake hand in agreement with Job. V4 for Job believed God had hardened their heart against Job. See 12:20 (16:11) Job knew it was God who turned him over to the hand of “the wicked”. God will harden hearts as he did Pharaoh’s in Ex 7:13. Was Job correct is his belief that God had hardened their heart against him?

V5a He that speaketh flattery to his friends,

·       I believe Job accused the three men of trying to impress one another or one-up each other. In 17:13 Job accused them of speaking wickedly for God. Could each man want the others to believe, “God spoke through me more than you two.” (I was harder on Job that you were.)

·        V5b even the eyes of his children shall fail. (Ex 34:7) Their speaking wickedly for God could cause damage to their children.

V6 He, the flattery speake, in his attempt to impress the others destroyed Job in the eyes of all who knew him.

V7-14 How their speech added to Job hopelessness in seen.

V15-16 Notice in verse 15 hope is singular but in 16 he speaks of plural hopes

Job believed his hope (singular) would never be seen again.

Job would rest together with his hopes in the dust. His grand hope was made up of many individual hopes.

·       Hope of safety (3:26); Hope as a father in his children; Hope of comfort and rest; Hope of living a life of ease (V16:12)

·        Job 19:10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

Mat 6:19-21 I believe Job had placed his grand hope in fearing God and eschewing evil; could it be that Job had begun to wonder if that hope was in vain. (3:25). Who better than Job to these verses.