Eliphaz Gives a Second Speech
April 12, 2021
Commentary
This chapter contains Eliphaz’s second address to Job (vv. 1-35). Eliphaz thought he was a wise man, so he rebuked Job for his sins. Believed to be the oldest, and considered the wisest of Job’s three friends, he began his second speech by raising the question of whether wise men often use empty, meaningless, and profitless words (vv. 1-3). He believed that Job’s ideas were a hindrance to the faith of others (v. 4).In his first speech he approached Job with an expression of courtesy, but in this second one he is more harsh and vicious. In his first address he seemed to have considered Job a sincere man, though sincerely wrong, but now he changes his tone and suspects that he has a corrupt heart. He accuses Job of having irreverent talk (vv. 1-6) and assumed wisdom (vv. 7-16).
Eliphaz believes Job has proven he is not a wise man. He doesn’t just accuse Job of pride or foolish talk, but of heresy. He says that Job’s words stem from sin within, and therefore are the basis for his being condemned (v. 6). In a sarcastic way he asked him if he was the first man to be born, or whether he was in existence before the hills (v. 7). He goes on to question Job as to what knowledge or understanding he has that they do not possess (vv. 8-9). After all, they have age and experience on their side (v. 10), and Job should be willing to accept their wisdom as superior. He tells Job that he has been offered comforting words from God (v. 11). Is that not enough? He wonders why Job has permitted passion to turn him to anger and rage (vv. 12-13). He says that this in itself proves that Job is still a sinful man (v. 14). Not even the angels in heaven could pass this test (v. 15). Therefore, man could never expect to do so (v. 16).
Application
Eliphaz, instead of being a comforter, is a debater. He is not adding anything new but is playing the same old record. He has no new information since his first speech. I can learn from Eliphaz how not to treat my friends who are suffering. When a person is down he needs someone to lift him up, and not to rebuke him and put him further down.
Job 15:1– 16 (NET)
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 “Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, or fill his belly with the east wind?
3 Does he argue with useless talk, with words that have no value in them?
4 But you even break off piety, and hinder meditation before God.
5 Your sin inspires your mouth; you choose the language of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I; your own lips testify against you.
7 “Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Do you listen in on God’s secret council? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 What do you know that we don’t know? What do you understand that we don’t understand?
10 The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men far older than your father.
11 Are God’s consolations too trivial for you, or a word spoken in gentleness to you?
12 Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13 when you turn your rage against God and allow such words to escape from your mouth?
14 What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,
16 how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, who drinks in evil like water!