Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 18 is BILDAD'S SECOND speech — entirely devoted to the catalog-of-the-fate-of-the-wicked (vv. 5–21). The image of the wicked-man's-light extinguished (v. 5) parallels Proverbs 13:9 and 24:20.
Notable Variants
18:5 'the light of the wicked is put out' — wicked-light extinction theology; 18:14 'king of terrors' (death personified) → Heb 2:14 'him who has the power of death'; 18:18 'driven from light into darkness' eschatological reversal.
Structural Notes
MT Job 18 = LXX Job 18. 21 verses. Bildad's second speech.
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
'Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said' tracks MT.
How long will you keep setting traps with words? Think first, and then we can talk.
'How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak' tracks MT.
Why are we treated like cattle, regarded as stupid in your eyes?
'Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight?' tracks MT.
You who tear yourself apart in your rage — should the earth be abandoned for your sake? Should the rock be moved from its place?
'You who tear yourself in your anger — shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place?' tracks MT.
Indeed, the light of the wicked is extinguished, and the flame of his fire gives no light.
'Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine' tracks MT. WICKED-LIGHT-PUT-OUT. Proverbs 13:9, 24:20 echo. Matthew 25:8 (foolish-virgins' lamps going out) extends Christologically.
The light in his tent grows dark; his lamp above him is snuffed out.
'The light is dark in his tent, and his lamp above him is put out' tracks MT.
His powerful stride is cut short; his own schemes bring him down.
'His strong steps are shortened, and his own counsel casts him down' tracks MT.
For he is driven into a net by his own feet; he walks over a mesh trap.
'For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks on its mesh' tracks MT.
A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare grips him tight.
'A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare lays hold of him' tracks MT.
A rope lies hidden for him in the ground; a trap waits for him on the path.
'A rope is hidden for him in the ground, a trap for him in the path' tracks MT.
Terrors surround him on every side and chase at his heels.
'Terrors frighten him on every side and chase him at his heels' tracks MT.
His strength is starved away; disaster stands ready at his side.
'His strength is famished, and calamity is ready for his stumbling' tracks MT.
Disease devours his skin piece by piece; the firstborn of Death feeds on his limbs.
'It consumes the parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs' tracks MT. FIRSTBORN-OF-DEATH — disease-as-death's-emissary, possibly plague-personification.
He is torn from the safety of his tent and marched before the King of Terrors.
'He is torn from the tent in which he trusted and is brought to the king of terrors' tracks MT. KING-OF-TERRORS — Death personified. Hebrews 2:14 ('that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil') Christologically extends. Revelation 1:18 ('I have the keys of Death and Hades') answers Christologically.
Strangers dwell in his tent — it is no longer his. Sulfur is scattered over his home.
'In his tent dwells what is none of his; sulfur is scattered over his habitation' tracks MT.
Below, his roots dry up; above, his branches wither.
'His roots dry up beneath, and his branches wither above' tracks MT.
His memory perishes from the earth; his name vanishes from the land.
'His memory perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the street' tracks MT. MEMORY-PERISHES — the worst-of-ancient-curses (cf. Ps 9:6, 109:13).
He is driven from light into darkness, chased out of the inhabited world.
'He is thrust from light into darkness, and driven out of the world' tracks MT. LIGHT-INTO-DARKNESS thrusting. Matthew 8:12, 22:13 ('outer darkness') extend eschatologically.
He has no son or grandson among his people, no survivor where he once lived.
'He has no posterity or progeny among his people, and no survivor where he used to live' tracks MT.
Those in the west shudder at his fate; those in the east are seized with horror.
'They of the west are appalled at his day, and horror seizes those of the east' tracks MT.
Surely — this is the home of the unjust. This is the fate of one who does not know God.
'Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous; such is the place of him who knows not God' tracks MT. CLOSES Bildad's second-speech — knows-not-God indictment.