Job 28

Job 28:1-11

Man Is Able to Discover Precious Metals (28:1-11) These verses describe the process whereby metals and precious stones were mined, for example in the copper and turquoise mines of the Sinai peninsula. The opening of the shafts, the descent of the miners on ropes, and even the displacement of earth and streams are all vividly described. Verse 5 remarks on the wonder that while the calm earth continues to bring forth its grain, underneath extensive and destructive forces work. The shafts are so far below the surface that even the keen-eyed bird and the proud king of beasts do not know of their existence. Thus man in his power is able to bring to light “the thing that is hid” (vs. 11).

Job 28:12-22

But Wisdom Cannot Be Found (28:12-22) Man may discover all that is hid — all save one thing, and that is wisdom. The irony of man’s life, moreover, is that all of the precious fortunes he can discover cannot purchase the one thing that is needful. Man cannot attain to wisdom, either by search (vss. 12-14) or by purchase (vss. 15-19). Finally, the conclusion is reached that it is completely “hid” from the sight of man, so that his deepest shafts of insight cannot reach it, for even Destruction (“Abaddon”) and “Death” cannot supply such a store.

Job 28:23-28

God Has Wisdom (28:23-28) Here the poet underlines the basic position of the whole wisdom movement: Wisdom belongs to God, not to man. God knows the location of wisdom and made use of it in the creation of the world; he uses it still in maintaining creation. Wisdom for man, then, can only be to reverence God and to obey him (“fear” in verse 28 is properly “reverence”).

This conclusion is by no means inappropriate in the mouth of Job, nor, in fact, is the entire poem. It should be remembered that Job does not anywhere claim independent wisdom. It is not his desire to “know” in the metaphysical sense. He wants an answer from God. Here, then, near the end of the discussion he rehearses for himself the ancient principles of Hebrew wisdom, and reminds himself that wisdom is never the result of man’s effort but only of God’s offer or of God’s speaking. Here the poet shows himself thoroughly in harmony with the mainstream of the wisdom movement, the poem paralleling in many respects the fundamental assumptions of the Book of Proverbs, or at least of its introductory position (see the parallel between Job 28:23-28 and Proverbs 8:22-31 where “wisdom” speaks).

Although some difficulties remain in regarding the poem in chapter 28 as a part of the original book, perhaps there are fewer difficulties in this view than in any other. If it be the true one, then it is plain that in this concluding section of Job the author is giving a kind of summary statement of Job’s best and truest positions. Basic to them all is this confidence, not unlike the rest of his speeches, although more violently expressed elsewhere — the confidence that ultimately wisdom can only be had on God’s terms and as the gift of God. Both in language and in thought we are not very far from the great speeches of the Almighty which later close the book.