Ver. 1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite] Then, when Job had laid about him in this sort; and, giving his tongue too much liberty to lash out, had uttered words little better than blasphemous and contumelious against God; then Eliphaz, Temanites ille, the first born of Esau, Genesis 36:4 (saith R. Salomon), brought up in the bosom of Isaac, and so inured to revelations from on high. Others think he descended of Teman, nephew to Esau, &c. A man of great wisdom he was, and of great discourse; one that could speak his mind fitly, and did it freely. He seems to have been the chief of the three for age and authority, and therefore begins; pretending to be moved thereunto by zeal for God’s glory, not a little impaired by Job’s impatience savouring of hypocrisy, and arguing eum ficto fucatoque cordo fuisse, that he had been little better than a dissembler. A causeless and uncharitable charge; enough to have driven him into desperation. The Rabbis speak so well of Job’s three friends, that they used to say in a Proverb (Bava bathra Perech 1), Let a man either get him such friends as Job had, or else get him out of the world (like as Chrysippus was wont to say, Aut mentem, aut restim comparandam). But Gregory the Great saith, that these three, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, do fitly set forth heretics, who begin to speak smoothly at first, as if they meant no harm to him to whom they speak, but only good, to purchase his benevolous attention, but soon come to speak words which much hurt the hearer, and greatly trouble him, &c.
Ver. 2. If we assay to commune with thee] Or may we assay to commune with thee? Art thou in case to be counselled? and will not an essay to this purpose further trouble thy patience and distemper thee? The ear which tasteth words (as the mouth doth meat), if filled with choler, can relish no comfort; and the easiest medicines, or mildest waters, are troublesome to sore eyes (Basil. Orat. 12). Honey causeth pain to exulcerate parts, though in itself it be sweet and medicinal; children, though at other times they like it and lick it in, yet they will not endure to have it come near their lips when they have the cankers (Alex. Aphrod. problem.). Some patients are mad against their medicines; and some hearers rage at a reproof. Eliphaz knew not but that Job might do as much, and that having newly been in a fearful fit of passion, he might fall into another, as Jonah did; the orifice of his corruption being not yet closed up by repentance; hence this preamble by way of friendly insinuation. The like art useth Paul with Philemon, and with the Corinthians often. But who can withhold himself from speaking?] Who that hath any piety toward God, or pity to his offending friend? We use to say, He that receiveth a courtesy selleth his liberty; but true love will not be tongue tied. Our Saviour’s mouth was not stopped with all the good cheer that Simon the leper made him, Luke 7:36-50, neither entertained he the Pharisees with fewer menaces than they did him, eftsoons, with messes of meat. Job had been doubtless very friendly to his friends, who yet spare him not; and had they done it aright with the meekness of wisdom they had showed themselves friends indeed there being not a better office or evidence of love than this, Leviticus 19:17. Friends, as bees, are killed with the honey of flattery, but quickened with the vinegar of reproof, so it be well managed. The eagle, though she loveth her young ones dearly, yet she pricketh and beateth them out of the nest when they are ready for flight.
Ver. 3. Behold, thou hast instructed many] sc. To do each day’s duty with Christian diligence, and to bear each day’s crosses with Christian patience thou hast done it well. But how comes it now to pass, quod dicta factis erubescant, that thy present doings shame thy former sayings? (Tertul.); and that (as it was noted of Demosthenes the orator) thou art better at praising of virtue than at practising of it? Turpe est Doctori, &c. Should not the physician first heal himself? and ought not the preacher’s word be Spectemur agendo; let our profiting appear to all men, let our lives be a true transcript of our sermons? What a shame was it that Hilary should complain that the people’s ears were holier than the preachers’ hearts, Sanctiores sunt aures plebis quam corda sacerdotum (Hilar.), and that Erasmus, by a true jest, should be told that there was more goodness in his book of the Christian soldier than in his bosom! Eliphaz from this ground would here argue that Job was little better than a hypocrite; a censure overly rigid, it being the easiest thing in the world, as a philosopher observed, to give good counsel, and the hardest thing to take it. Dr Preston, upon his death bed, confessed, that now it came to his own turn, he found it somewhat to do to practise that which he had oft pressed upon others. And thou hast strengthened the weak hands] Loose and lax, feeble and infirm, through many terrors and troubles: to these thou hast spoken words which have been as sinews to their hands, and as strength to their joints. Job had comforted the feeble minded, or the dispirited, the sick at heart, and sinking under the sense of sin and fear of wrath, 1 Thessalonians 5:14. This is a harder work than to raise the dead to life, saith Luther; this not one of a thousand can skill of, Job 33:23. He must have feeding lips and a healing tongue that shall do it. O quam hoc non est omnium! The Christian Romans were able to do it, Romans 15:14. And holy Job was both able and apt, for he did it to many. True goodness is diffusive of itself, and is therefore compared to the most spreading things; as fire, water, sunlight, &c.