Job 15:7 [Art] thou the first man [that] was born? or wast thou made before the hills?
Ver. 7. Art thou the first man that was born?] Or, Wast thou made before Adam? Ut vox Rishon non significet primus, sed prius (Lavat., Bucholc.). Out of the mouth of Adam, as from a fountain, flowed whatsoever profitable learning, skill, or wisdom, is found in the world, saith the divine chronologer. Job had taxed Zophar for a young puny and a novice. Job 12:9-12 This Eliphaz kindleth at, and taketh upon him to answer in Zophar's behalf. As indeed these three speakers, Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad, stood to one another, as much as any one of them did for himself, as if they had all entered bond, and given security for reciprocal assistance. Here then Eliphaz asketh, Art thou the first man born? that is, Art thou the wisest man alive? and must we all be taught by thee, as Adam's nephews were by him, in things divine and human.
Or wast thou made before the hills?] i.e. Before the angels, as some sense it. But take it literally for the mountains, called, for their antiquity, the everlasting hills, Gen 49:26 Habakkuk 3:6, because they were from the beginning, and shall continue to the end. These appeared first at the separation of the waters, Genesis 1:9,10. And Christ, to set forth his eternity, saith, Proverbs 8:25, "Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, was I brought forth." So Psalms 90:2 .