Job chapter 6

After reading chapter 6:

*Here we have Job's reply to Eliphaz. He says if his misery could be weighed it would outweigh all the sands in the sea. The poisoned arrows of the "almighty" are in him. Here is another word that is assumed to be referring to the one God worshipped by the Abrahamic faiths. It comes from the hebrew word shaddai and is usually translated "almighty" in the bible, though the actual meaning is unclear. As with animals who only make noises when they don't have food, so it is with him. Life has no savor. It is like an egg white without salt.

*Job wants one thing from God (elowah), to have his life ended. Then he would have consolation knowing he had not denied the words of "the holy one." This phrase is is actually a one word adjective that means holy. The noun it follows is "words." It is possible that this passage means "holy words", not "words of the holy one." Job continues on, saying, he has no strength or power left to help himself. With an apparent dig at Eliphaz, he says a despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even if he does not fear the almighty. Whoa, is Job saying a friend should be loyal even if the other party rejects God? So, shunning is out?

*Job goes on to rant about how undependable his friends are in very poetic imagery. His friends have proved to be of no help. When did he ever ask them for anything? Perhaps they could inform him where he went wrong, then he would be quiet. Their honest words are painful but they prove nothing. Are they trying to correct what he has said, disregarding his despair? They would gamble for orphans, and trade in their friends. Ooh, burn.

*Finally, he says, "look me in the eye and call me a liar." He asks them to be just, for the sake of his integrity. Has he ever said anything wicked before? He wants them to admit they have no evidence that he deserves what is happening.