Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 12

In his longest speech so far, Job responds to Zophar's comments and the entire first round of speeches.

ask the animals … the birds … the earth … the fish: Job believed the reason for his grief was obvious and that even creation would understand it (Proverbs 6:6). Later, God directed Job to the animal kingdom to show him that he did not understand (Job 38–40).

The change from you (plural in 12:2–3) to you (singular here) probably indicates that Job is speaking to Zophar.

the hand of the LORD: This is the only place in the dialogues where the Hebrew name, "Yahweh" (“the LORD”), appears (chapters 3–27; 29–37). For Job, the issue was not who caused his grief but why it happened.

the tongue tastes its food: See 6:6–7.

Wisdom is found with the elderly: People often think wisdom comes with old age. Job's friends supported this idea but Job doubted it (8:8–10; 15:10; 32:6–9; 12:20).

He leads counselors away barefoot: In this metaphor, God removes leaders' abilities. It could also mean losing the symbols of office or becoming naked captives (12:18–19).

When God removes the royal robe of kings, he takes away their symbols of authority (compare 19:9). It can also mean "God loosens the bonds of kings," referring to the control they have imposed on others.

The priests lose their status or their priestly robes. They might even be naked captives (12:18).

• Pours out contempt on nobles: Compare Psalm 107:40.

• disarms the mighty (literally loosens the belt of): The strong are not ready for battle anymore.

• He reveals the deep things: This phrase might refer to Zophar’s words that God’s knowledge is "deeper than Sheol" (11:8).

• darkness … deep shadows: The Old Testament often describes God as living in darkness and showing himself through darkness (1 Kings 8:12; 2 Chronicles 6:1; 2 Samuel 22:10, 12; Psalm 18:9, 11). Examples are when he gave the law at Sinai or when he comes in judgment (Deuteronomy 4:11; 5:22–23; Zephaniah 1:15).

• Compare Daniel 2:21.

• He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason: See Job 12:18; compare Daniel 4:23, 32–33.

• He… makes them wander in a trackless wasteland: This is like the "nobles" in Psalm 107:40 (see Job 12:21).

Lack of wise advice might have caused the kings to stagger like drunkards (12:17; see Isaiah 19:14). This happened because they experienced God's punishment (Psalm 75:8; Jeremiah 25:15–27).