Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Job 20:1 - 20:5

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Job 20:1 - 20:5


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Zophar States Why he must Speak

v. 1. Then answered Zophar, the Naamathite, speaking for the second time, Cf 11, and said,

v. 2. Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer,
because the statements of Job filled him with excitement, for that very reason he felt that his reply should be tempered by calm consideration, and for this I make haste, he was storming inwardly, he was deeply perturbed, his inward impulse gave him no rest, he felt constrained to furnish an answer because of the surging excitement in his mind, which, however, should be governed by calm thoughts.

v. 3. I have heard the check of my reproach,
he was obliged to hear Job's chiding, to his disgrace, as he regarded it, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer, the knowledge which his mind had gained in the course of the dispute furnished him with information concerning the proper way of judging Job, with the latter's insulting attacks. He was eagerly impetuous to give Job back blow for blow.

v. 4. Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
since earth was inhabited, as far as the accounts of men go back,

v. 5. that the triumphing of the wicked is short,
that it never extends over a long period of time, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment, that the joyful confidence of the ungodly cannot last? This was probably directed at Job's certainty of eventual vindication, as he had expressed it at the end of his last speech, 19:25-27. Zophar was a representative of the class of people who feel obliged to parade their own judgment in every case that comes to their notice.