Reading Plan · Day 146
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Job 16-18
Day 146
Previously · Day 145 · Job 13-15
The previous day's reading covered Eliphaz's Second Round response which included attacking Job, and accusing him of both being in pride and of turning his back on God. Also, Eliphaz claimed he must be right because of his age/experience and the number of people who agree with him. Next was Job's Second Round response to Eliphaz.
Day 146 Read
Where You Stopped
Job 16
1Then Job answered and said, 2I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.
1Then Job answered and said,
2I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
3Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
Commentary · verse 3
Job stated their words were vain (unprofitable) and then asked them what their objective was.
4I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.
4I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
Commentary · verses 4-5
Job told them that anyone could do what they were doing and that if their roles were reversed, he would strengthen them with his mouth (with words) and remove their grief.
6Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?
7But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.
8And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.
9He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.
6Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
Commentary · verses 6-10
Job recognized he was being abused. His "friends" were ganging up on him. They were empowering themselves by each other's words.
11God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
12I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.
11God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Job believed his "friends" were ungodly and wicked and that God had given him into their hands.
13His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.
16My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death; 17Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
13His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
Commentary · verses 13-17
Job still believed he did not cause this suffering. However, this did not help because he still did not know what was the cause/WHY.
18O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no resting -place.
19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.
20My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God, 21That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!
22For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
18O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Commentary · verses 18-22
Job still thought he would only get his answer once he was dead.
Commentary · verse 22
In this first part of Job's response to Eliphaz, it can be summed up by the following statement: "You haven't changed my mind at all because you aren't experiencing what I'm experiencing and even if you were experiencing what I'm experiencing, I'd at least show you compassion and encourage you."
Where You Stopped
Job 17
1My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, The grave is ready for me.
2Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.
1My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
Commentary · verses 1-2
Job considered his "friends" as mockers.
3Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; Who is there that will strike hands with me?
4For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: Therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
5He that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6But he hath made me a byword of the people; And they spit in my face.
3Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
5He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
Commentary · verses 3-6
Job had accepted what happened and was ready to die. Job believed he had no help to change his situation.
7Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow.
8Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.
9Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.
10But as for you all, come on now again; And I shall not find a wise man among you.
7Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
Commentary · verses 7-10
Job said he could not find one wise man among them. In 1 Corinthians 6:5, Paul stated the following: "I say this to move you to shame. What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren..."
Was it possible Paul got this line from Job? At the very least, Paul was dealing with a similar "foolish" group of people.
11My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.
12They change the night into day: The light, say they, is near unto the darkness.
13If I look for Sheol as my house; If I have spread my couch in the darkness; 14If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister; 15Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?
16It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, When once there is rest in the dust.
11My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
13If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
14I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
15And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
16They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
Commentary · verses 11-16
This second half of Job's response can be summed up by this question and statement from Job: "Will you show me compassion and encourage me? Otherwise I have no hope and I'm ready to die!"
Where You Stopped
Job 18
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Commentary · verse 1
Like the First Round, Bildad spoke second in the Second Round.
2How long will ye hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
3Wherefore are we counted as beasts, And are become unclean in your sight?
2How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
3Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
Commentary · verses 2-3
Bildad blamed Job for the inability of the three "friends" to help.
4Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?
5Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the spark of his fire shall not shine.
6The light shall be dark in his tent, And his lamp above him shall be put out.
7The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down.
4He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
5Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
6The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
7The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
Commentary · verses 4-7
Bildad was saying that Job was wicked. This was Bildad's justification for the three "friends" to not help him.
Doctrines on this passage
8For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walketh upon the toils.
8For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
Commentary · verse 8
Bildad stated that this was Job's own fault.
9A gin shall take him by the heel, And a snare shall lay hold on him.
10A noose is hid for him in the ground, And a trap for him in the way.
11Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, And shall chase him at his heels.
12His strength shall be hunger-bitten, And calamity shall be ready at his side.
13The members of his body shall be devoured, Yea, the first-born of death shall devour his members.
14He shall be rooted out of his tent wherein he trusteth; And he shall be brought to the king of terrors.
15There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his: Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
16His roots shall be dried up beneath, And above shall his branch be cut off.
17His remembrance shall perish from the earth, And he shall have no name in the street.
9The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
10The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
11Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
12His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.
13It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.
14His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
15It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
16His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
17His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
Commentary · verses 9-17
Bildad was implying that Job's entire reputation was now destroyed.
18He shall be driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.
19He shall have neither son nor son’s son among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned.
20They that come after shall be astonished at his day, As they that went before were affrighted.
21Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, And this is the place of him that knoweth not God.
18He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
19He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.
21Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.
Commentary · verses 18-21
Bildad did the opposite of showing compassion and encouraging Job.
Commentary · verse 21
This day's reading covered Bildad's Second Round response. Bildad believed Job was unrighteous and did not know God and Bildad would only answer Job's questions once Job became smarter.
Job answered back and referred to his "friends" as "Miserable comforters." The attacks continued...