Глава 32

1–22. Elihu's speeches. Double insertion into them. One of them, historical, written in prose, belongs to the author of the book (1–5), the other – to Elihu himself (Job 32:6–33:7). The latter breaks down into three parts: 1) an explanation addressed to friends for his previous silence (6–10); 2) the reason for interference in the conversation is the inability of friends to refute Job (11–22) and 3) the admonition addressed to Job to pay close attention to his speeches (Job 33.1–7). The last part of the introduction serves as a transition to Elihu's speeches. Elihu's speech gives the action of the book of Job a new direction, leading it to a denouement. With their defense of the theory of earthly rewards, the friends could not convince Job of the legitimacy of the disasters that befell him (see interpretation of Job 32.1). Continuation of speeches in the same spirit was unthinkable, since under such conditions the disputes would drag on indefinitely and the purpose of the book would not be fulfilled - it would remain unexplained how the suffering righteous Job, who ended his speech with a testimony of his innocence, overcame temptation, strengthened in faith, how good triumphed over evil. And since his faith was wavered by false, one-sided views on God’s attitude towards him and the world in general, then to support it, their analysis and refutation was required. Elihu takes on a similar task. Thus, in contrast to Job’s statement that God, who struck him with disasters, is hostile to him, he points to the educational significance of suffering (Job 33.8 etc.); contrary to Job's opinion about divine arbitrariness that violates the truth, he proves that there is no arbitrariness and cannot be (Job 36.5 et c.), and, finally, considering sin not as one or another private act, but as wrongness, the depravity of every person, he concludes from this that the truth of God can be punishing and punishing for every person, even if he does not notice any special private offenses in himself (Job 36.7 etc.). Job 32:1. When those three men stopped answering Job, because he was right in his own eyes, Job’s speeches addressed to his friends did not meet with any objections from them, since they understood the futility of dissuading the sufferer: he was “right in his own eyes” and no arguments on their part could force him to admit his guilt and the deservedness of his punishments. And this is quite understandable. Friends viewed divine truth as punishing sin in the sense of an individual offense, but not for sin in the sense of sinfulness in general. But Job does not know any sins or individual offenses. Job 32:2. Then the anger of Elihu the son of Barahiel, a Bozite from the tribe of Ram, was kindled: his anger was kindled against Job because he justified himself more than God, Job 32:3. and his anger flared up against his three friends because they did not find anything to answer, and yet they accused Job. The silent three older friends are replaced by the fourth, younger Elihu, the representative of a new view that has not yet been revealed by anyone. His name, meaning “he is my God,” is found among the names of the Jewish people (1 Samuel 1.1; 1 Chronicles 12.20), and the name of the ancestor “Buz” is known, firstly, as the name of the second son of Nahor, Abraham’s brother (Gen. 22.21) and, secondly, as the name of one of the Arab tribes (Jer. 25.23). In the tribe of Buz, Elihu belonged to the generation of Ram. The speeches Elihu heard from Job and his three friends not only did not satisfy him, but also aroused feelings of indignation in him. He “flared with anger” at Job because the latter, considering himself innocent, accused God of injustice (IX), and at his friends because, while convicting Job of his sins, they could not refute his testimony of his innocence - to prove the correctness of their views (cf. vv. 12, 15). Job 32:4. Elihu waited while Job spoke, because they were years older than him. Job 32:5. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of those three men, then his anger flared. Aware of the mistakes of his friends and Job, Elihu nevertheless remained silent, because out of respect for his elders he did not want to interrupt their reasoning (Job 29.21). His speech begins only after the end of the conversation has become clear and obvious, and the opportunity has arisen to take part in the dispute without violating the Eastern rules of decency. Job 32:6. And Elihu the son of Barachiel, the Buzite, answered and said, I am young in years, but you are old men; That's why I was timid and afraid to tell you my opinion. Job 32:7. I told myself: let the days speak, and many years teach wisdom. Admiration for the wisdom and worldly experience of elders (Job 8.8–9, 12.12, 15.9–10) prompted Elihu not to announce his view until the time (cf. Sir 32.9–11). He left the solution to the elderly (v. 7). Job 32:8. But the spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Job 32:9. It is not only the old who are wise, and it is not the old who understand the truth. The considerations explaining Elihu's silence, however, turned out to be insufficiently thorough and convincing. Wisdom does not depend on age, but on the “spirit and breath of the Almighty” who dwells in a person (Gen. 2.7); it belongs to man in general, as a rational being, but not only to old people (cf. Ps. 119.100; Dan. 2.21). Job 32:10. Therefore I say: listen to me, I will tell you my opinion too. Having come to this view, Elihu decides to take part in the conversation. Job 32:11. Behold, I was waiting for your words - I listened to your judgments while you were figuring out what to say. Job 32:12. I looked at you intently, and now none of you denounces Job or responds to his words. The change in Elihu's former view of wisdom (v. 7) was influenced by the speeches of his friends. Listening carefully to their reasoning and evaluating their arguments, he did not find anything convincing in them, refuting Job (“none of you denounces Job”). Weak in this regard, the friends showed their mental impotence and lack of wisdom in the fact that they could not answer all of Job’s provisions (“no one answers his words”). The elders, bearers and exponents of wisdom, turned out to be far from wise. Job 32:13. Do not say: we have found wisdom: God will refute it, not man. Job 32:14. If he had addressed his words to me, I would not have answered him with your speeches. In their defense, friends cannot say that to refute and dissuade Job is beyond human strength. Only God can do this. If Job's speeches had been addressed to him, Elihu, he would have been able to say what he should. Job 32:15. They got scared and didn’t answer anymore; stopped talking. Job 32:16. And how I waited, but they didn’t speak, they stopped and didn’t answer anymore, Job 32:17. then I will answer from my side, I will declare my opinion, Elihu's intervention in the conversation at this moment, but not earlier, is explained by two reasons. One is to end Job's argument with his friends. Elihu begins his speech without fear of interrupting the reasoning of others and thereby violating the custom of politeness. He did everything in his power to comply with it. He waited to see if his friends would respond to Job's last speeches, but there was no answer - a sign that he could start speaking. Job 32:18. for I am full of words, and the spirit within me oppresses me. Job 32:19. Behold, my womb is like unopened wine: it is ready to burst like new wineskins. Job 32:20. I’ll talk, and it will be easier for me; I will open my mouth and answer. Another reason is Elihu's preparedness to speak. His consciousness is full of thoughts that have already taken on verbal form (“I am full of speeches”). They wander, rushing out, like wine ready to burst the bottles (cf. Ps 44.2). Elihu will speak out and it will be easier for him. Job 32:21. I will not look at a person’s face and I will not flatter any person, Job 32:22. because I do not know how to flatter: kill me now, my Creator. The complete impartiality of Elihu's judgments. If he speaks against the truth, then may God strike him with death. You might be interested in: