Job 18:1-4 Bildad asks why Job regards him and his friends as ignorant
18:5-21 Bildad's description of the wicked man
Ways Bildad's description of the wicked agrees with Eliphaz’ description of the wicked
18:5-6, 18 Darkness is the ultimate dwelling of the wicked 15:22-23, 30
18:16 A plant that is destroyed 15:30b, 32-33
18:15 Fire plays a part in his destruction 15:30, 34
18:7 His success will not last 15:27-31
18:11, 14 Anguish terrifies the wicked 15:21, 24
18:6, 14-15 The tent of the wicked is destroyed 15:34
18:21 The wicked does not know God 15:4, 13, 25-26
Ways Bildad’s words are especially directed against Job
18:11 Terrors hounded Job- 3:25-26
18:13 The word for skin, or, is used in Job 2:4; 7:5; 10:11; 19:20, 20, 20; 30:30; 41:7 elsewhere.
18:15b The fire of God consumed Job’s livestock (1:16).
18:19 Eliphaz stated the same kind of thing about the wicked in 15:34.These things match Job’s experience (1:18-19).
Bildad is describing the wicked man to say to Bildad that you are the man.
What is the essence of the disagreement between Job and his friends?
1. 18:4 Tear and anger are the same Hebrew words used in 16:9. Job said God is tearing me in His anger but Bildad says no Job, you are tearing yourself.
2. 18:5 The lamp of the wicked goes out. In 12:22, 25 Job emphasizes God making people grope in darkness but sin is never given as the reason for that in Job 12. In 21:17 Job questions how often the lamp of the wicked goes out.
3. In 18:6 the lamp in the tent of the wicked goes out but in 12:6 Job asserted that often the tent of destroyers prosper. The use of the word tent highlights the difference between the wicked in the thoughts of the friends and Job.
4. In 18:8-10 Bildad pictures the wicked laying traps and hunting devices for himself by his own sin. In 16:9 Job said God is hunting him and in 16:13 shooting arrows at him.
