Job 16 Study Notes

16:1-4 Miserable comforters is literally “comforters (who bring) trouble, harm, or hardship.” Shaking the head was a gesture of mockery or contempt (2Kg 19:21; Ps 22:7).

16:5 Job claimed he would make a much better comforter.

16:6-17 Job observed that whether he spoke or said nothing, his suffering remained unaltered (v. 6). He would therefore speak, hoping that God would hear and be sympathetic (vv. 7-17).

16:7-8 Job switched the form of his verbs from third to second person; such changes are not uncommon in Hebrew poetry. Job addressed God as though he were present in the discussions among the four.

16:9 Gnashing of teeth conveys rage or hatred (Ps 37:12; Lm 2:16). Job called God his enemy, who so scrutinized him that he seemed to look right through him (7:17-20).

16:10-11 Job’s enemies showed their contempt by mocking him with open . . . mouths (Ps 22:13; Lm 2:16) as though to devour him. The enemies are unjust and wicked people; Job perceived that God had handed him over to them.

16:12-14 Job reminded his friends of his former state of ease. In graphic metaphors Job likened God to a warrior in command of a vast army. God had made him the object of his attack (7:20). Eventually an arrow struck Job’s vital organ with tragic consequences (6:4). He compared himself to a besieged city whose defenses had been repeatedly assailed and finally penetrated by God’s assaults.

16:15 In sorrow and mourning, Job had put on sackcloth (2Kg 19:1; Jl 1:13).

16:16-17 With reddened eyes that no longer saw clearly, Job considered himself as good as dead. He felt he had done nothing to merit God’s attack. He had maintained a pure attitude in prayer (1:22). Purity was an issue that had been brought up by his friends (4:17; 8:6; 11:4; 15:14-15).

16:18 Because Job must surely die soon, he pleaded that his spilled blood would not be covered (Gn 37:26). Like the blood of innocent Abel, Job’s blood would cry out from the ground for justice (Gn 4:10). He asked that his cry for vindication not be forgotten until his blood shed in innocence was avenged (Ezk 24:7-8).

16:19-20 Job wanted an audience with God to plead his case (9:34-35; 13:20-22). If his case came before God, a holy God would bear witness to his integrity. Job placed his hope for vindication in God alone, despite his verbal attacks against him. He could expect no help from his friends; God remained his only advocate.

16:21 Job repeated his need of and desire for an arbitrator to represent him before God. Although he longed for an audience with God (13:3) where a fair hearing would vindicate him (13:15-16), he felt inadequate to represent himself (9:2-4,32-33). Jesus the Messiah became just such an intercessor for humanity (Is 2:4; 11:4; Rm 8:34; Heb 7:25; 1Jn 2:1).

16:22 Job lamented that his life expectancy was short at best (7:16,21; 9:25). With few years remaining, he faced only a death from which there was no return (10:20-21).