And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].
Ver. 7. And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words to Job] And Job those other again to God, it soon repented the Lord concerning his servant. Pro magno delicto parum supplicii saris est patri, A little punishment is enough to a loving father for a great fault (Terent.). "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith the Lord, … for (alas) they have received of my hand double for all their sins," Isaiah 40:1,2. So it seemed to him who is all heart, and who in all their afflictions is equally afflicted. God weeps on his people's necks tears of compassion; they weep at God's feet tears of compunction. Oh beautiful contention!
The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite] Because he was the oldest man, of greatest authority, and he that passed the heaviest censures upon Job, doing enough to have driven him into desperation.
My wrath is kindled ayainst thee] Thus God passeth not sentence on Job's side till he had first angrily repressed and reprehended those three friends of his, who had assailed him without all right and reason. Let God's servants hold out faith and patience; sooner or later they shall be righted.
And against thy two friends] Bildad and Zophar who stuck so close to thee, and chimed in with thee, against a better man than any of you all. As for Elihu, he is neither commended here nor condemned. He spake well for the main, but many times took Job at the worst, and misconstrued his speeches. He is therefore punished (as ambassadors are used to be when they commit indecencies) with silence, which is the way royal to correct a wrong. The other three had great cause to be much troubled and terrified at that short, but sharpest speech, of God, My wrath is kindled against you; for, Who knoweth the power of God's wrath? saith David, Psalms 90:11. It is as the messenger of death and harbinger of hell. God never said so much to Job in all those long and large speeches he made unto him, for he knew that milder words would do, and he loveth not to over do.
Ille dolet quoties cogitur esse ferox.
By the way observe, that although these three had offended more than Job, yet he was afflicted, and they escaped free. Judgment beginneth at God's house; neither have any out of hell ever suffered more than those worthies of whom the world was not worthy, Hebrews 11:38
For ye have not spoken the thing that is right] And yet they seemed to be all for God; and to plead his cause against Job throughout. But as in some things they were much mistaken, so they had their self respect, and were much biassed in their discourses. Hypocrites and heretics (saith Gregory here) seem unto men more righteous; but God accepteth them not for all their plausible pleas and specious pretences. Luke 16:15, "Ye are they," said our Saviour to the Pharisees, "which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."
As my servant Job hath] They also were God's servants, but because they had lent Satan their service against Job, and drawn from him many passionate speeches, they are for a punishment set by after a sort; as David was also when he had numbered the people, 2 Samuel 24:12, "Go and say unto David." Now it is plain David, who was wont to be my servant David, 2 Samuel 7:5. That Job is called God's servant (and that emphatically and exclusively) is a very great honour done him upon his repentance; and the like was done to David and Peter.