Jó 20
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jó 20
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS An outline of the three cycles of Job's discussion with his friends (Andersen, Tyndale, OT Commentaries, p. 22). Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Eliphaz (chapters) 4-5 15 22 Job 6-7 16-17 23-24 Bildad 8 18 25 Job 9-10 19 26 Zophar 11 20 ? Job 12-14 21 27 Zophar, like the other comforters, repeats the same thoughts (i.e., the two ways) regarding the wicked. Zophar bases his reasoning on ancient traditions experiences, Job 20:4 Zophar accuses Job of hidden sin (cf. Job 20:12,27). There are several lists of the calamities that will come upon the wicked in the speeches of the three comforters (i.e., Job 8:11-19; 15:20-35; 18:5-21). Here is Zophar's. the triumph of the wicked (BDB 957) is short, Job 20:5a the joy of the godless (BDB 338) is momentary, Job 20:5b he perishes forever like his refuse, Job 20:7a he is no more, Job 20:7b-9 Job 20:10 is uncertain in the MT but addresses the fact that the wicked's lack of compassion and devious gathering of wealth will be lost to both him and his family though he was once active and healthy, he will die, Job 20:11 Job 20:12-18 uses the imagery of good food turned bad. Evil is sweet at first but it brings misery and death. he does not enjoy his desires, Job 20:20 he and his family do not retain his ill gotten gain, Job 20:21 (possibly 20:26c) he will face problem after problem, Job 20:22 he will be attacked by God, Job 20:23b,28b,29 (also 20:15c) terror will come upon him, Job 20:24-25 darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, Job 20:26 both heaven and earth know his sin and will confront him, Job 20:27
Jó 20:1-11
20:1 "Zophar" See notes at Job 11:1. This man is listed in the Septuagint of Gen. 30:11 and 1 Chr. 1:36. The Septuagint also calls him "the King of Mineans," which is a Semitic tribe in South Arabia. 20:2-3 "my disquieting thoughts. . .inward agitation. . .reproof which insults me" Job has really angered Zophar! Because he feels attacked his theology is attacked 20:3 NASB, NKJV, Peshitta, JPSOA "the spirit of my understanding makes me answer" NRSV, REB "a spirit beyond my understanding gives me the answers" "my mind inspires me with an answer" "my understanding inspires me" MT, LXX "a spirit from understanding answers me" Is Zophar affirming either the help of revelation (cf. Job 4:12-21; 32:8; NRSV) his own theological acumen (NASB)? 20:4 "Do you know this from of old, From the establishment of man on earth" This is an argument from traditional wisdom (cf. Job 8:8; 15:18). The whole purpose of the Book of Job is to react against the traditional wisdom (i.e., the two ways, Deut. 30:15,19; Psalm 1) that God prospers those He loves (who are obedient) and punishes those He hates (who are disobedient). ▣ "earth" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH. 20:5 "That the triumphing of the wicked is short" This is also the assertion of Psalm 37. This is the major theological tenant of Job's three friends. In Job 20:5-11 this theme is developed; joy is brief for the wicked (Psalm 73). By innuendo Zophar is accusing Job of being arrogant, Job 20:6 exploitative of the poor, Job 20:19 greedy (cf. NRSV of Job 20:20b) 20:6 "his loftiness reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds" This may just be Hebrew imagery of a powerful man, as in the book of Daniel to speak of Nebuchadnezzar (cf. Dan. 4:11,22) a reference related to the King of Tyre and the King of Babylon (cf. Isa. 14:13-14; Ezek. 28:2,17) ▣ "heavens" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN. 20:7 The OT presents the afterlife in several ways. all humans go to Sheol (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHEOL, I. B.) wicked humans are destroyed (Job 20:7a; 4:20) premature death (Job 20:11; 15:32; 21:13; 22:16) no children (Job 20:21a; 26c) all humans, both the righteous and wicked, will be raised from the dead but to radically different futures (cf. Dan. 12:1-4) The afterlife is one of several doctrines that begin in the OT but are developed in the NT. Theologians call this "Progressive Revelation." "The two ways" focuses on this life, not an afterlife, in light of the Mosaic Covenant (i.e., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-29). 20:10 "His sons favor the poor, And his hands give back his wealth" This is either a statement of fact or irony. Some see this as a rich man's sons, themselves being poor now, or that they feed the poor to try to make amends for their father's wicked behavior. 20:11 "in the dust" Dust is a euphemism for the grave (cf. Job 7:21; 1716; 21:26).
Jó 20:12-19
20:12-19 This expresses the traditional position that sin bears the seeds of its own destruction. 20:17 This verse has three words which refer to the same thing. rivers (BDB 811) streams (BDB 625) torrents (BDB 636) Commentators suggest that to #2 should be added "of oil," and thereby make a parallel with "honey and curds" (cf. Job 20:17b).
Jó 20:20-29
20:23-28 The VERBS in this section express a "curse formula" (three JUSSIVE forms). 20:23 NASB, NKJV "while he is eating" "as their food" —omit— "His weapons upon him" "cruel blows" "while he wars against him" The MT has "into his bowels" (BDB 535). The UBS Handbook, p. 382, suggests that the emendation which changes the last word to "bread" (BDB 536) is preferable. The MT has בלחומו; this could be derived from three roots. לחם (BDB 535) – "fight" or "do battle" לחום – "bowels," "intestines" לחם (BDB 536) – "use as food," "eat bread" 20:25b "the glittering point" This imagery could be related to the weapons of Job 20:24 (i.e., metal arrow point) a reference to "lightning" (cf. Job 20:26b) Maybe Zophar is using Job's imagery from Job 6:4 to infer he is a sinner receiving his just dues. 20:27 "The heavens. . .the earth" This seems to refer to the legal need for two witnesses (cf. Deut. 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; 32:1; Isa. 1:2). ▣ "reveal" This verse and Job 20:12b imply hidden sin. This is what the three comforters claim about Job. He must be hiding sin! 20:28b "the day of His anger" The Bible clearly and repeatedly asserts that all humans will stand before God to give an account of the gift of life! The question in Job: is this divine confrontation and its consequences in this life or the afterlife? In context it must refer to this life! SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT 20:29 Zophar's summary statement related to "the two ways."