Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 7. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee ] Mr. Good's paraphrase here is very just: "Why tell ye me that the Almighty hath brought this calamity upon me? Every thing in nature, the beasts of the field, the fowls of the heaven, every inhabitant of earth and sea, and every thing that befalls them, are the work of his hands; and every thing feels and acknowledges him to be the universal Creator and Controller. It is the common doctrine of all nature; but to apply it as ye would apply it to me, and to assert that I am suffering from being guilty of hypocrisy, is equally impertinent. He ordains every thing in wisdom as well as in power; but why events happen as they happen, why good and evil are promiscuously scattered throughout nature or human life, ye are as ignorant of as myself."
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-11 - Job appeals to facts. The most audacious robbers, oppressors, an impious wretches, often prosper. Yet this is not by fortune or chance the Lord orders these things. Worldly prosperity is of small value in his sight: he has better things for his children. Job resolves all int the absolute proprietorship which God has in all the creatures. He demands from his friends liberty to judge of what they had said; he appeals to any fair judgment. (Job 12:12-25)
Original Hebrew ואולם199 שׁאל7592 נא4994 בהמות929 ותרך3384 ועוף5775 השׁמים8064 ויגד׃5046
