Job
Chapter 26
Job’s Final Response
Job answered then:
What help have you provided to the powerless? What strength have you given to the weakened arm?
What advice have you shared with the foolish, and what great insight have you revealed?
Who has inspired these words within you? Whose spirit has spoken through your mouth?
The shades of the deep are terrified, the waters and their inhabitants tremble.
Sheol is naked before God; destruction lies uncovered.
Over the void he spreads out the northern skies; over emptiness, he suspends the earth.
He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst their seams.
He covers the face of the moon and spreads his clouds over it.
On the surface of the waters, he draws the horizon as a boundary between light and darkness.
The pillars of the heavens quake, stunned by his thunderous rebuke.
y his power calmed the sea; by his wisdom, he defeated Rahab.
By his breath, the skies cleared; his hand struck down the fleeing serpent.
These are just glimpses of his power; we only hear a faint whisper of him. But who can comprehend the thunder of his strength?
Commentaries
Third Round of Speeches.
This round of speeches comes across as disorganized and confusing. Eliphaz speaks, and Job responds. Bildad’s speech, which is only five verses long, is clearly cut short; Zophar remains silent. Additionally, some of what Job says seems more fitting coming from his friends. Experts continue to work towards a coherent conclusion. Still, it seems as if Job and his friends are all shouting at once, which might be the fitting end to a “dialogue” of the deaf about the cosmic and moral order.
Job’s Final Response.
These two chapters are problematic; they appear to be composed of fragments gathered and placed together. Job begins by mocking his friends and rebukes them with plenty of classic wisdom, including advice, warnings, and reflections (26:2f). The grand description of creation (26:5-14) might actually be a continuation of Bildad’s hymn to the Creator (25:2-6). As it stands, it appears that Job interrupted Bildad to finish the hymn his friend started. With a solemn oath, Job reaffirms his innocence—saying it is God who does him wrong, but unlike his friends, Job will not serve God with lies and falsehood (27:4; cf. 13:7-9). The passage in 27:7-21 seems to echo what his friends have reproached him for. Some experts have speculated, based on these verses, that there may be a lost third speech by Zophar. If we try to find meaning as it currently stands, that might be it. According to ancient Israeli law, anyone found guilty of giving false testimony against an innocent person should face the same punishment that the innocent would have received. This is the punishment Job wishes upon his so-called friends (27:7), later detailing the punishments they have threatened him with (27:8-23).