Kommentar zu Ijow 4:23

Eliphaz’s Address
Eliphaz He was Esau’s son, and because he was nurtured in Isaac’s bosom, he merited that the Shechinah rest upon him.

the Temanite From the land of Tema, Esau’s country. (Not found in some editions.)

Eliphaz held the Torah view,¹That expressed in the Torah passage:
Today I offer you the choice of life and good, or death and evil...Choose life and then you and your descendants will live (Deuteronomy 30:15). namely, that man has freedom of choice and the stars have no influence over all those things that are subject to this choice. For man has authority and power over his deeds; to execute them or to desist from doing so, for good or for bad, whilst the stars go their own way in their celestial orbits, flying past without any effect on the world below. As he says:
For man is born to labor
whilst on high the flaming comets fly past (Ch.5:7).
The courses taken by individuals are not determined by astrology. On the contrary, man is free to do good or evil to himself, as he decides, by the exercise of his own will. For we have seen how anger and lust kill stupid persons who choose so to behave (Ch.5:2).
Man was born to strive; initiative is of the essence and effort is both effective and necessary for success (Ch.5:7).

And if a person suddenly become prosperous, without having invested any effort or labor, it appearing as though he has achieved his life's ambition without going through any of the intermediate stages, know that this is a bogus prosperity and will not last, neither in his hands nor in those of his children. However, the prosperity of one who enjoys the results of his labors is different, for it will make its seeds spring forth (Isaiah 61:11) and will produce fruit (Ch.5:3-7).

Furthermore, Job had been mistaken about the premonition he had always felt. As he had said:
I had a terrible premonition, and it has befallen me (Job 3:25).
He had attributed this to an intuition that had entered his soul from the decree of the stars. But, in fact, this fear was on account of his sins, for it is by reason of them that one rises or falls (Psalms 107:26). As Eliphaz says: Was not your immunity the purpose for your piety, ? and your expectations the motive for your integrity. And, as will be explained, Eliphaz also meant by this that Job should have been unsettled by his immunity. His integrity alone should have been his assurance.

In this speech Eliphaz also expounds one of the principles mentioned in the Sefer Ha-Ikkarim (Part 4. Chapter 5), namely, that human actions cannot all be absolutely prescribed as the astrologers believe.
...because this opinion does away with the category of the contingent, and upsets all the principles of the Torah...Also that all human acts are absolutely free, and that effort is of value in all cases,...as is the opinion of the Philosopher,²The translator Husik notes: 'I am not aware that Aristotle held this view.' is also impossible. For we see with our senses that many actions in which a person endeavors to attain something, making all the possible preparations for the attainment of the end, and yet he not merely fails to attain his end, but the very preparations which he has made produce the opposite effect. Take, for example, what had happened with Joseph's brothers. Their intention when they sold him into slavery was to prevent him ruling over them. But it was that very act that ultimately led to his rule. There are also instances where good happens to a person without him trying, as when Saul became king without making any effort whatsoever.
Evidently, human actions are of a number of types:

1. There are the contingent acts which are absolutely freely chosen. These are the ones affected by initiative and intent; in these the property of contingency is conserved. It is on account of these that a person is praised or criticized. And it is to these that both warnings and commands, and reward and punishment, apply.

2. There are those actions that are absolutely prescribed, such as those things which are decreed by God and will happen no matter what. For example, Joseph's rise to rule etc.

3. Those actions which are a mixture, involving both choice and prescription, such as the sowing of seeds and the subsequent growth of the crop; or digging for and finding treasure. For the crop will not grow without both the effort of sowing the seed and the intervention of Providence making it rain at the right time.

But even those actions that are prescribed, either totally or partially, are not determined by astrology but by Providence and the Will of God (Ch.5:8).

Eliphaz brings evidence for the existence of Providential acts from the occurrence of rainfall (Ch.5:9-12), and from the way it saves the needy from the clutches of those stronger than them. By the nature of things, tyrants should always oppress the weak and bring about their extinction from upon the face of the earth.³In Nature small fish are eaten by bigger fish who, in turn, are eaten by still bigger ones. That this is not always the case where man is concerned is the result of Providential intercession. (Ch.5:12-17).
He also explains that Providence may sometimes make something bad happen to a person in order to save him from a still greater harm that was about to befall him. For instance, when someone who planned to travel by a certain route is prevented from taking it because he twists his ankle on a stone, and the route he had intended to take is raided by bandits. Or, when a person who was planning to board a ship and at the last moment is taken ill and could not sail, and the ship he had intended to take sinks. Thus, by the lesser evil, God saves him from a greater one that was awaiting him (Ch.5:17-23).⁴vide Gersonides, The Wars of the Lord. Part 4 Chapter 5 and Albo, Ikkarim Part 4 Chapter 5.
This Providential shield stretches over the righteous and over every detail of their activities (Ch.5:8), protecting them from all types of misfortune (Ch.5:23). According to Eliphaz, neither a man's children, nor the length of his life nor his income depend on luck; they are all determined by merit and Providence alone (Ch.5:24-27).⁵vide TB Moed Katan 28a

• On the global scale, the evidence for the existence of this Providence is found in the nature of rainfall and of the river-based irrigation in countries where no rain falls, such as Egypt (Ch.5:9-10).

• On the individual scale, the evidence comes from the way it upsets the schemes of the cunning, or how the schemes they have contrived for achieving their goals often become the cause of just the opposite happening (Ch.5:12,17).

Thus, the reasoned reply that Eliphaz makes to Job's complaint and to his argument that the fact that righteous people suffer the deserts of the wicked is an absolute proof of the non-existence of Providence, is that at times it is for their own good (Ch.5:17,23).

However, he does not consider this reply to be completely satisfactory, for he had only derived it from his intellect. Consequently, he does not have complete confidence in it, as he says:
This is what we present, having examined it and found it valid. Consider it and form your own opinion (Job 5:27).
Eliphaz presents his main thesis on the issue of the suffering of the righteous in Chapter 4, where he relates that he had had a prophetic revelation concerning this; visions of the night, (Job 20:8 ) in which he was informed that bad befalls the righteous because of some sin that they have committed. As our Rabbis said:
There is no suffering without sin (TB Shabbat 55a).
And even though, at first sight, no sin could be found in Job, no person can boast and say:
I have cleansed my soul and I have become purified of my sins (Psalms 55:4).
Whichever way it is considered, whether by reference to the greatness of the Creator and the extent of His beneficence towards man, by virtue of which worship beyond measure is due to Him; or by reference to the lowliness of man compared to Him, no person, born of woman, (Job 15:14) can be vindicated against the Most High God or can claim that he has discharged his worship of God, his Maker, in perfect totality. Therefore, God afflicts him, not for his detriment but for his benefit; a penitence for his sin. To cure the sickness of his soul before his measure becomes full (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 1) and he becomes deserving of yet greater punishment, still more severe and enduring, namely, the perdition of his soul or the condemnation of his body to die before its time (Ch.4:12,21).

These afflictions are but mild medicines if they succeed in safeguarding (Nehemiah 4:1) him against perishing for all eternity.
Now since according to Eliphaz's thesis, it is conceivable that a righteous suffer but not that he perish (Ch.4:7-11); and since, even according to Job, all that can be concluded from his afflictions is that a righteous person may suffer but not that he perishes; the foundation upon which Job had built his hypothesis that the world has been handed over to astrology, namely, his contention that he had been made to suffer even though he not in his judgment sinned, is destroyed. These afflictions had befallen him because of a sin he had committed, namely, not perfecting his worship [of God] to a degree that befits the worship of the Lord; a worship that has no limit or design. The afflictions had not been intended to wipe him out; he will yet be rebuilt…and restored (Proverbs 24:3) (Ch.4:20, 4:27).

As further evidence that Job had not been completely perfect in his worship, Eliphaz cites the fact that he had begun to complain against God and to deny principles of faith the moment the suffering started. This showed that his fear of God had not been genuine and had only been motivated by love of reward and fear of punishment. For someone who genuinely fears the Lord, his steps do not falter (Psalms 37:31) when He rebukes him; unlike Job who preaches nonsense, (Job 35:16) turning everything upside down (Ch.4:2, 4:7).

Because He tested This is an expression of wonder. Because He tested you with one thing, should you weary? With one rest that the Holy One, blessed be He, tested you, you have become weary. From now on, who will be able to withhold his words from answering you?

Behold, you have chastised many who multiplied words; you admonished them and chastised them.

Job's almost instantaneous loss of faith would be a lesson to all. The Providential retraction of his prosperity had revealed that his faith had only ever been instrumental; based not on love of God but on the expectation of His blessings and bounty. Job deserved punishment. Had he remained silent, no-one would have known. But now everyone knew and they would see his punishment as proof that God does govern.

and...weak hands of those who feared the retribution that came upon them. You used to strengthen [them] and say, “Fear not, for that is the Divine Standard of Justice.”

would pick up Your words were wont to pick up the stumbler.

Surely now, your end reveals your beginning, that your fear, that you feared heaven...

your foolishness is due to foolishness and not to full understanding, and so are your hope and the sincerity of your ways all foolishness.

destroyed Heb. נכחדו, disappeared and perished, like (Exod. 9:15), “and you would vanish (ותכחד) from the earth.”

Job's argument had been based on his claim that he had been unjustifiably victimized. Eliphaz challenges this. He maintains that no-one ever suffers without it being justified. Suffering is always warranted, for no-one is absolutely free of sin. However, whereas the suffering endured by the righteous is transient for he does not perish for ever, the proud and predatory are irrevocably and eternally condemned.

As I have seen that those who plow violence and prepare the iniquity in their thoughts, like a plower who prepares [the field] before sowing, afterwards they sow mischief with their deeds. And I saw that they will reap it—i.e., their evil that comes upon them, and I saw that.

From the breath of God they will perish From the blowing of His stormwind and His anger.

and from the wind of His nostrils they are always destroyed, and he spoke of the Generation of the Flood.

The roar of an old lion, the voice of a young lion The אריה is the old one, the שַׁחַל the middle one, and the כפיר the cub; all of them were misled, i.e., the kings, the princes and the slaves; all these names are names of the lion.

A lion perishes without prey The princes perished like a lion who perishes without food; so did their strength to commit violence dissipate. The word אֹבֵד is not an expression of a man who loses something, but [of a man who has] himself become lost, like (Ps. 119.176), “I have gone astray like a lost (אבד) sheep.” and like (ibid. 31:13), “I was like a lost (אבד) vessel.”

and the young of the lion will scatter He is speaking of the Generation of the Dispersion, who were scattered from there [Babel] over the face of the entire earth.

Now a word was conveyed secretly to me He returns to his rebuke with which he has been chastising him till now: Why are you crying? “Remember now who was innocent that perished...As I have seen, etc.” And concerning you a word of prophecy was secretly conveyed to me, [lit. was stolen to me], from the expression like a stolen thing, because the Holy Spirit does not reveal itself to the prophets of the heathens in public. This is analogous to a king who had a wife and a mistress. When he would go to his wife, he would go in public, but to his mistress, he would go clandestinely and stealthily. So it is with the Holy One, blessed be He. Regarding the prophets of the heathens [Scripture states:] (Gen. 20:3), “And God came to Abimelech in the dream of the night,” and similarly (ibid. 31: 24), “And God came to Laban the Aramean in the dream of the night”; to Balaam (Num. 24:4), “who falls, but his eyes are open” [in Gen. Rabbah 52:5 (Num. 22:20), “And God came to Balaam at night”]; to Eliphaz, “in the visions of the night.” But concerning the prophets of Israel it is written (ibid. 12:8): “With him I speak mouth to mouth manifestly and not with riddles.” In Midrash Tanchuma, I found it emended [See Tanchuma Balak 8, Tanchuma Buber Vayishlach 24.]

Eliphaz now relates that, in a prophetic vision, it had been revealed to him that no man can be absolutely perfect and beyond punishment and that the transient suffering of the righteous prevents their perdition. ⁶Malbim asserts that the vision seen by Eliphaz had been indistinct, as befits a lesser prophet, one whose standing is far below that of Moses, the master of the prophets. For God has not revealed the full answer to the question of the suffering of the righteous to anyone, not even to Moses. Malbim adds that the account of the vision accords with the description of lesser prophecy—'prophecy through a clouded mirror'—given by Maimonides in Chapter 7 of The Halachot of the Principles of the Torah:
In what respects was the prophecy of Moses distinguished from that of the other prophets? All the prophets received their inspired messages in a dream or in a vision; Moses while awake and standing...All the prophets received their messages through the medium of an angel; Moses realized the prophetic message clearly, without riddle and without parable...All the prophets (when receiving their messages) were filled with fear and consternation and became physically weak; Moses was vigorous enough to comprehend the words of prophecy while retaining his normal state.

Now [in] the expression, “And my ear grasped a bit of it,” שֶׁמֶץ, means a bit of the spirit of understanding.

terror befell me from the spirit that came to me. and the spirit was an angel. as it is stated (Ps. 104:4): “He makes his angels spirits.”

it made stand on end The spirit made the hair of my flesh (stand on end].

תסמר. That is an expression of a man whose hair stood on end.

It was standing It was standing before me, but I did not recognize its appearance.

a faint voice I heard the sound of faint words. Another explanation: I heard silence and a voice. I heard the voice of the silence, but the silence I did not hear. “Silence” denotes angels reciting praise silently, as [Jonathan] renders (I Kings 19:12): “a still small voice” as: a voice of those praising quietly. Moses heard the silence [i.e., the voice of the angels praising]—from here we deduce that the early prophets heard [lit. used] the voice, whereas the later ones heard an echo, like a man who hits with a hammer, and the echo resounds far away. From here... far away. Here it is written: silence and a voice, whereas concerning Elijah it is written: a still small voice; because Eliphaz heard only the silencing of the voice, like a person who shouts into a barrel, that the voice of the barrel shouts toward him. That is an echo, not the voice itself, but concerning Elijah if is written: a still, small voice, for he heard the voice itself] And this is what it said.

Can a mortal be more righteous than God? This is a wonder.

or can a man be purer than his Maker? Or can a man be more pure than his Maker?

Behold...His servants the righteous. He does not trust that they will not sin against Him, and He takes them out of the world before their time.

עבדיו - The hosts of heaven are the celestial orbs whose fixed motion has maintained constancy of the world since Creation;
מלאכיו - the angels are those messengers God sends on special missions.

reproach Heb. תהלה, an expression of folly.

Surely Surely.

those who dwell in mud houses, whose foundation is in dust, meaning their graves.

they crush them before the worms From heaven, their strength is sapped until they are humble and crushed before the worms that eat them in death.

From morning to evening they are crushed in one day, they are crushed and subdued.

without giving [a thought] lit. without putting it upon their heart to return to their Maker.

they perish to eternity This too is an elliptical verse.

Their haughtiness, which is absorbed within them does it not leave [them]? Heb. יתרם בם, like (Isa. 15:7), “Because of haughty things (יתרה) they did.” Their haughtiness and their wisdom, which is absorbed into their body—behold it will move away and be uprooted from them, like (ibid. 33: 20), “whose pegs shall never be moved (יסע).”