Welcome to NachDaily with Iyov, perek 19. This is Iyov’s second response to Bildad.
The Malbim explains that Iyov again avoids answering his friends directly. Later in the sefer, he will answer all of them at once.
In this perek, however, Iyov expresses scorn and exasperation with the way his friends continue to hurt him with their words. Keep in mind that Iyov is suffering with intense boils all over his entire body. His friends should know better than to add to his troubles with derision and shame.
The Yalkut Shemoni 920 and 928 tell us that Rava said, “A person should not be censured for words uttered when in pain.” Iyov’s friends should have been more understanding. They added insult to injury and turned from friends to enemies. Iyov warns his friends to fear God’s punishment.
There’s a lesson here for us: not to censure or judge our friends and family when they are in pain, spilling the woes of their hearts. We need to listen deeply, and be present, to hear them without judgment. Don’t try to explain everything that you think...just be a good friend.
In the second passuk Iyov says “Ad ana togyun nafshi usidakunani b’milim - How long will you distress my soul and oppress me with words? Iyov rebukes his friends for their coldness towards him. He tells his friends that they have shamed him 10 times over and pretend to not even know him!
Iyov continues to lament that he feels treated as an enemy by God.
In verse 11 he says, “Vayichar a’lai apo v’yachshvenie lo k’tsarav - His anger burns against me; He considers me like one of His enemies.”
Verse 15 tells us that he feels alienated from those who used to care about him, including friends, neighbors, relatives, and old employees. He feels “foreign in their eyes.”
This is something we often see. When people are in medical or emotional pain, many people begin to distance themselves from them.
In verse 21, Iyov pleads in desperation, “Take pity on me! Take pity on me, O my friends, for the hand of God has afflicted me.”
From verses 23 until the end of the perek, Iyov subtly switches gears. He pines for his words to be written down so that future generations can judge him. Iyov reiterates that it’s not his friends’ place to judge him. If his words will be read at a later time, people will understand how badly he was suffering.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily when we’ll learn Tozfar’s second response to Iyov.
