What hitherto he said of princes, he now applies to nations and people, whom God doth either increase or diminish as he pleaseth. He enlargeth the nations; he multiplies them, so that they are forced to send forth colonies into other lands. Straiteneth them again; or, leadeth them in, or bringeth them back, into their own land, and confineth them there. read more
JOB’S REPLY TO ZOPHARI. Defends himself against the charge of ignorance implied in Zophar’s speech (Job 12:2-3).His defence is:—1. Ironical (Job 12:2). “No doubt but ye are the people; and wisdom shall die with you;” the wisdom of mankind is collected in your person, and when you die wisdom must perish at the same time. Times when it may be proper to use the language of irony and sarcasm. Its proper use to put error and pretension to shame. So Elijah to the worshippers of Baal: “Cry aloud for... read more
Chapter 12So Job answered him and said, No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom is going to die with you ( Job 12:1-2 ).He's about had it with these guys who think they know all the answers, and they're not really ministering or reaching him at all. Now, it's very frustrating to try to explain yourself to people and have people in a mindset where they are determined they know all the answers about you, and yet they don't understand it at all. Oh, how frustrating that is. To talk with people... read more
Job 12:6 . The tabernacles of robbers prosper. Or as it might be rendered, a placid tranquility gladdens the tabernacles of robbers; referring to the Arabs, who plunder the merchants. This and the following are invincible arguments. Job 12:12 . With the ancient is wisdom. The Hebrews have three words which they use to express degrees of age in old men. Zaken, a man above sixty years of age; Sheb, a man above seventy; Ishish, a man upwards of eighty. Ishish being used here, we may... read more
Job 12:13-25Behold, He breaketh down.Job’s maximsPerhaps Job uses this lofty language concerning God for two reasons.1. To show that he could speak as grandly of the Eternal as his friends had spoken.2. To show that he had as correct and extensive a view of God’s agency as they had. He gives them here at least six different ideas of God’s agency.I. That it is active both in the mental and the moral world.II. That it is destructive as well as restorative. “Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot... read more
Job 12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again]. Ver. 23. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them ] It is all one with God whether against a single man or a whole nation, Job 34:29 , when he once taketh them to do. "The wicked shall be turned into hell," and (that they may not hope to escape because a multitude) "all the nations that forget God," Psalms 9:17 . Soon after the flood the Babel builders were scattered; Sodom... read more
increaseth: Exodus 1:7, Exodus 1:20, Psalms 107:38, Isaiah 9:3, Isaiah 26:15, Isaiah 27:6, Isaiah 51:2, Isaiah 60:22, Jeremiah 30:19, Jeremiah 33:22, Zechariah 10:8 straiteneth them again: Heb. leadeth in read more
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.Nations — What hitherto he said of princes, he now applies to nations, whom God does either increase or diminish as he pleases. read more
23. Straiteneth them Leadeth them away (into captivity). Compare 2 Kings 18:11. read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Job 12:1-25
Job 12:1-Lamentations : . Eliphaz had appealed to revelation, Bildad to the wisdom of the ancients, Zophar assumes that he himself is the oracle of God’ s wisdom. Job answers this assumption. Firstly Zophar is not the only wise man in the world, and secondly, as to this wisdom of God, which explains everything, Job has himself studied the ways of God, and whatever wisdom there may be in them there is certainly also the most arbitrary exercise of Divine power.The friends take themselves to be... read more