cannot be judged only by verbal criticism. Anyone at all competent in such a matter must admit that it is very difficult to imagine that the great poet who wrote The Book of Job could have interrupted the grand movement of the divine description of Nature, in order to introduce a submissive speech of Job, which makes any farther divine reproof unnecessary and anticipates in a most inartistic manner the fine conclusion. Besides, there is a very suspicious repetition in verse 7 of the opening words in xxxviii, 3, and the whole passage from verse 7 to verse 14 is entirely out of keeping with the rest of the speech. It is, in fact, far more in the style of the Friends' scolding platitudes, and clearly suggests to literary instinct that it was inserted by some imitating scribe. 68 Behemoth; that is, the hippopotamus. 69 There is probably some corruption in the text. 70 The hippopotamus is not found on the banks of the Jordan. The word is here equivalent to water. In the same way old English writers used the word Thames. 71 Leviathan here means the crocodile. The Hebrew word signifies something wreathed or coiled, and according to the context it indicates either real or imaginary creatures (see Note 33). 72 The word loathe (the R. V. marginal reading) is unnecessarily strong, though better than abhor myself (the textual reading). The idea is one of repudiation, not of his purpose, which was to gain access to God, but of his "words without knowledge." 73 I have omitted verse 4 and part of verse 3 in chap. xlii, in which are again repeated the opening words of the theophany (see Note 67). 74 The expression turned the captivity is figurative for restored the prosperity. 75 Fair-weather friends were as common in those days as they are now, a fact not unnoticed by Job himself, who likens such friendship to a winter brook dried up by summer heat (vi, 14-20). 76 The proper pronunciation of the second part of the name is happuch, with the accent on the last syllable. APPENDIX THE INTERPOSITION OF ELIHU So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in xxxii, 1— his own eyes. xxxvii, 24. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled. And durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding. It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand judgment. Therefore I say, Hearken to me; Behold, I waited for your words, |