Elihu had given Job much security already that he would deal fairly with him; and here he gives him a promise for it; As if he had said; I give thee my hand, I plight thee my truth, that my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor shall my hand be heavy upon thee. 1The vulgar translation reads, my miracles (or what I will do in any strange and unusual way) shall not terrify thee. Indeed miracles have a kind of terror in them; But we need not put such a strain upon the Text. The word which we translate terror, signifies that which is most terrible and dreadful to man, even the Magistrates throne,2 the presence of great Princes; of which Solomon saith (Pro: 20.28.) The King sitting upon the throne, scattereth all evil with his eyes; that is, with the terrible looks of Majesty which God hath stamped upon him. The Prophet (Jer: 50.38.) useth this word to express idols or false Gods by; and he c•lls them so either in a holy scorn; O these dumb idols which have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, feet and walk not, are doubtless very shrewd and terrible things, are ⟨p. 189⟩they not? have we not great reason to fear what these doughty Gods will say or do, who can neither say nor do any thing? Thus he might call them in a way of scorn: or he calls those Idols terrible things Jehim, from the event, because foolish, vain, ignorant men, did exceedingly fear them, or were much terrified by them, and God left them to their own fears and terrors, as he spake by the Prophet (Isa: 66.4.) I also will choose their delusions, and bring their fears upon them. As if he had said, Because they being vainly deluded, have chosen to fear that which was not to be feared, therefore I also will make this my choice to bring that upon them which they feared, and hoped to avoid by following and worshipping Idols, or by their Idolatrous worship. Now whereas Job was afraid of the terror of the true God, Elihu, who presented himself in Gods stead, tells him, my terror shall not make thee afraid. And we may well conceive, that Elihu spake this ironically concerning himself; for having said before, I am but a piece of clay, surely then my terror cannot make thee afraid. What terribleness is there in a piece of clay,3 in a clod of earth? What are the most terrible of the sons of men, that they should be a terror to us?
Elihu had given Job much security already that he would deale fairely with him; and here he gives him a promise for it; As if he had said; I give thee my hand, I plight thee my truth, that my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor shall my hand be heavie upon thee. 1The vulgar translation reads, my miracles (or what I will doe in any strange and unusuall way) shall not terrifie thee. Indeed miracles haue a kinde of terror in them; But we need not put such a straine upon the Text. The word which we translate terror, signifies that which is most terrible and dreadfull to man, even the Magistrates throne,2 the presence of great Princes; of which Solomon saith (Pro: 20.28.) The King sitting upon the throne, scattereth all evill with his eyes; that is, with the terrible looks of Majesty which God hath stampt upon him. The Prophet (Jer: 50.38.) useth this word to expresse idols or false Gods by; and he c•lls them so either in a holy scorne; O these dumbe idolls which have eyes and see not, eares and heare not, feete and walke not, are doubtlesse very shrewd and terrible things, are ⟨p. 189⟩they not? have we not great reason to feare what these doughty Gods will say or doe, who can neither say nor doe any thing? Thus he might call them in a way of scorne: or he calls those Idolls terrible things Jehim, from the event, because foolish, vaine, ignorant men, did exceedingly feare them, or were much terrified by them, and God left them to their owne feares and terrors, as he spake by the Prophet (Isa: 66.4.) I also will chuse their delusions, and bring their feares upon them. As if he had said, Because they being vainely deluded, have chosen to feare that which was not to be feared, therefore I also will make this my choyce to bring that upon them which they feared, and hoped to avoyd by following and worshipping Idolls, or by their Idolatrous worship. Now whereas Job was afraid of the terror of the true God, Elihu, who presented himselfe in Gods stead, tells him, my terror shall not make thee afraid. And we may well conceive, that Elihu spake this ironically concerning himselfe; for having sayd before, I am but a piece of clay, surely then my terror cannot make thee afraid. What terribleness is there in a piece of clay,3 in a clod of earth? What are the most terrible of the sons of men, that they should be a terror to us?
- 1Veruntamen miraculum meum te non terreat. Vulg:
- 2Vox [Greek or Hebrew] terrorem denotat & saepe illum, qui in facie regis, judicis, principis elucet.Vox 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 terrorem denotat & saepe illum, qui in facie regis, judicis, principis elucet.
- 3Terror minimè potest esse in massa luti, qualis est omnis homo.