Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 5

The holy ones probably refers back to the angels mentioned in 4:18. They are "holy ones" because of they are close to God, not because they have achieved moral perfection (15:15; Daniel 4:14; 8:13; Zechariah 14:5).

in court: Literally this reads, in the gate. At that time, legal and business discussions happened. Job participated in these discussions (29:7; see Deuteronomy 21:19–21; Ruth 4:1–11).

• Appeal to God: This meant a formal request for help, advice, or removal of blame, sometimes through asking God to forgive (Amos 5:4, 6). It could possibly refer to an appeal through a message from a prophet (Genesis 25:22; 1 Samuel 9:9; 1 Kings 22:8).

• Job wanted to present his cause before God. Later he tried to do that very thing (Job 13:3, 15, 18; 23:3–8; 29:1–31:40).

The region where Job lived relied on rain instead of human methods to water crops (see 36:27–28).

Eliphaz praised God as the creator and and the one who sustains the universe who performs wonders (5:9–10). He also praised God as the righteous judge who humbles the powerful and honors poor people (5:11–16).

God catches the wise in their craftiness (Proverbs 12:13). The apostle Paul referred to this idea when he rejected the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:19).

the discipline of the Almighty: See Deuteronomy 8:5; Proverbs 3:11–12; Revelation 3:19.

• Six calamities … in seven: This formula for wise sayings suggests a condition of completion (compare Proverbs 30:15–31).

• This list reflects the blessings and curses of the covenant God gave to Moses (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28).

  Eliphaz believed that people in a right relationship with God would avoid:

1. Famine, meaning starving. (Job 5:20, 22; see Leviticus 26:4–5, 10; Deuteronomy 28:4–6, 8, 11–12).

2. Battle and its destruction (Job 5:20; 5:21, 22; see Leviticus 26:6–8; Deuteronomy 28:7, 48).

3. Scourge of the tongue, or words spoken against them (slander).

4. They would even be at peace with wild animals and the stones of the field (Job 5:23; see Leviticus 26:6). This peace might mean productive fields instead of rocky ones (2 Kings 3:19, 25; Matthew 13:5). Or it might symbolize broader harmony with creation (see Psalm 91:11–12).

nothing amiss: See Deuteronomy 28:11–12; compare with Job 1:6–19.

descendants like the grass of the earth: See Genesis 22:17; Leviticus 26:9; Deuteronomy 28:4, 11–12.