Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 8. Inquire-of the former age ] w¨yr rwdl ledor rishon, of the first age; of the patriarchs; the first generation of men that dwelt upon the earth: not of the age that was just past, as Mr. Peters and several others have imagined, in order to keep up the presumption of Job's high antiquity. Bildad most evidently refers to an antiquity exceedingly remote.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-19 - Bildad discourses well of hypocrites and evil-doers, and the fatal en of all their hopes and joys. He proves this truth of the destruction of the hopes and joys of hypocrites, by an appeal to former times. Bilda refers to the testimony of the ancients. Those teach best that utte words out of their heart, that speak from an experience of spiritual and divine things. A rush growing in fenny ground, looking very green but withering in dry weather, represents the hypocrite's profession which is maintained only in times of prosperity. The spider's web, spu with great skill, but easily swept away, represents a man's pretension to religion when without the grace of God in his heart. A forma professor flatters himself in his own eyes, doubts not of his salvation, is secure, and cheats the world with his vain confidences The flourishing of the tree, planted in the garden, striking root to the rock, yet after a time cut down and thrown aside, represents wicke men, when most firmly established, suddenly thrown down and forgotten This doctrine of the vanity of a hypocrite's confidence, or the prosperity of a wicked man, is sound; but it was not applicable to the case of Job, if confined to the present world.
Original Hebrew כי3588 שׁאל7592 נא4994 לדר1755 רישׁון7223 וכונן3559 לחקר2714 אבותם׃1
_1184-630.jpg "Illustration and Scripture")
