Commento su Giobbe 28:1

For silver has a mine This, too, is another reason for his first statement that he said (27:6), “I have maintained my righteousness,” for why should I be wicked? If for silver or gold, each one has a source and an end, but from where does wisdom come? This is the end of the chapter; that is the most precious of all. Therefore, all my life, I set my heart on studying it.

Job now summarizes his complaint. Taking the mining and extraction of metals and precious stones as his metaphor,¹⁵Malbim lists five different ways of prospecting for precious metals and gems: (i) by means of a magic stone which 'according to the Ancients attracts metals towards it as a magnet attracts iron;' (ii) by searching in dried-up stream and river courses; (iii) in the outcrops of volcanic eruptions; (iv) by probing in the clefts and passages left by subterranean water flows and (v) in river banks and canyon walls. In an endnote to his commentary, Malbim explains how subterranean water can move mountains in terms of Pascal's Law of fluid pressures. he argues that God has designed Nature such that man can discover everything there is to know except for the wisdom needed to comprehend individual fate and fortune. Where this is concerned, he is required to believe blindly that God does govern justly. In order to rationalize this belief and compensate for his ignorance, he has been forced to dream up notions of recompense and retribution after death.

and...a place Gold has [a place] whence they refine and smelt it.