Job 5:2

"“Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?"

Key Reflection

In Job 5:2, Eliphaz challenges his friend Job to call out for help from the divine realm. He asks, "Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?" This verse reflects a cultural context where the idea of seeking direct intervention from the divine was significant. In ancient Near Eastern thought, it was believed that humans could appeal to the gods for help or justice, and Eliphaz is perhaps suggesting that Job’s suffering might be due to his own actions rather than expecting divine response.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

For wrath killeth the foolish man -That is, the wrath of God. The word foolish here is used as synonymous with wicked, because wickedness is supreme folly. The general proposition here is, that the wicked are cut off, and that they are overtaken with heavy calamities in this life. In proof of this, Eliphaz appeals in the following verses to his own observation: The implied inference is, that Job, having had all his possessions taken away, and having been overwhelmed with unspeakably great personal calamities, was to be regarded as having been a great sinner.

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