We continue with Iyov’s response to Tzofar, who held that you can't really rely on your perceptions in order to understand whether or not you’re a Tzaddik or a Rasha. These things are only considered the “knowledge” of God. It’s up to Hashem to judge who is which.
Iyov opens the perek by continuing to assert that you can rely on your own perceptions, life experience and knowledge to understand whether you’re a Tzaddik or a Rasha, guilty or innocent.
In verse 2, Iyov responds sharply to his friends. “Kidatchem yadati gam ani lo nofeil anochi mikem - I also know what you know. I am no less than you.” I also know through my life experience about God. Are you God, the Almighty? You’re liars! It would be better for you all to stay silent than to speak up!
The Malbim explains Iyov as saying that the sum total of all your arguments is that human intelligence can't comprehend why God causes innocent people to suffer. Therefore, it would be fitting for you to just be quiet.
In pessukim 7 through 17, Iyov goes on to question his friends’ motives. God hates flattery. Iyov very directly and sharply asks his friends why they are speaking this way. Are they trying to defend God to get “in” with Him? Don't they fear Him?
In verse 12 Iyov tells his friends, “Your recollections are like dust.” The Pesikta Rabba brings that he asked, “Why are you misleading people? You think that you’re like Avraham, who considered himself like” dust and ashes.” In truth, you are more like the Dor Hamabul, the Generation of the flood, steeped in sin.
In passuk 15 Iyov says “Hein yiktileini lo ayachel,ach d’rachai el panav oche’ach - Though He might kill me, I will place my hope in Him. Just let me defend my ways before Him.”
There are many different ways to read this passuk. There are both a kri and a ksiv on the word “lo” here. The word “lo” is written with an aleph which would make the passuk read “I do not put my faith in God.” However, the ‘“lo” is read with a vav meaning “I do put my faith in God.”
The Rambam and the Metsudos explain that Iyov was saying, even if God should decide to kill me, I will still place my hope in Him after death. The Ramban notes that here we see Iyov’s strong belief in the world to come and reward and punishment. Iyov just questions God’s justice.
The Gemarah in Sotah 27b says that Rav Yehoshua ben Hurkanos explained that this shows that Iyov served Hashem out of pure love. Despite all his suffering he said, “Though He might kill me, I place my hope in Him.
This is a really incredible lesson for all of us. Despite all our suffering and the questions we have on life and God, we can still have emunah and place our hope in Him. Even when suffering like Iyov, we still can have faith.
In the last section of the perek, from verses 20 through 28, Iyov asks God to show him his sins so he can do teshuva. Tell me what I did wrong, and please don't hide from me. He ends with lamenting his pain, saying in verse 28, “My body disintegrates like a rotting thing, like a garment being eaten by moths.”
May we merit calling out to God every day for Him to draw us close, and rely on His mercy to end all of our suffering.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily as we move on to the last part of this monologue.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.
