An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Some by his Companions understand those who came to visit him in his affliction, and maintained that long Discourse with him, those three friends of whom we read (Chap. 2.11.) Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuite, and Zophar the Naamathite. The Septuagint conclude Elihu meant them only,¹ for thus they render, I will answer thee, and thy three friends.

1. 1[Greek or Hebrew]. Sept.〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Sept.

But why should Elihu join them with Job, seeing they held Opinions contrary to Job? True, they did, yet they were not ⟨p. 23⟩able to make good their Arguments, or convince Job; they had condemned Job, but not answered him, they did their business imperfectly, and to halves, or impertinently, and to no purpose; so that all their answerings were called no answer, Chap. 32.3. And therefore Elihu might see reason to undertake the satisfaction, not only of Job, but of his three friends, who had not given Job a satisfactory answer unto that hour.

But why should Elihu joyn them with Job, seeing they held Opinions contrary to Job? True, they did, yet they were not ⟨p. 23⟩able to make good their Arguments, or convince Job; they had condemned Job, but not answered him, they did their businesse imperfectly, and to halves, or impertinently, and to no purpose; so that all their answerings were called no answer, Chap. 32.3. And therefore Elihu might see reason to undertake the satisfaction, not only of Job, but of his three friends, who had not given Job a satisfactory answer unto that hour.