Job 15:28

Commentary on Job 15:28

Job 15:28 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's second discourse, where he continues to condemn Job and reiterate the traditional wisdom that God punishes the wicked. In this verse, Eliphaz vividly describes the ultimate fate of the wicked man, picturing him as dwelling in places of utter ruin and desolation. This imagery serves to underscore Eliphaz's flawed theology that Job's suffering must be a direct consequence of his hidden sins.

Context

Eliphaz, one of Job's three friends, is speaking in response to Job's lamentations and assertions of innocence. Throughout Job 15 (specifically from verse 20 onwards), Eliphaz paints a grim picture of the wicked man's life and end, characterized by torment, fear, and ultimate destruction. He believes that the wicked are cut off and their prosperity is fleeting. Verse 28 contributes to this description, suggesting that the wicked man, despite any temporary gain, will eventually inhabit places of utter abandonment and decay, symbolizing his complete downfall and rejection. This perspective aligns with the traditional wisdom of the ancient Near East, which often linked prosperity with righteousness and suffering with sin. However, the book of Job ultimately challenges this simplistic understanding of divine justice, as highlighted by God's eventual rebuke of Job's friends.

Key Themes

• Consequences of Wickedness: The primary theme is the severe and desolate end that Eliphaz believes awaits those who defy God. The "desolate cities" and "houses which no man inhabiteth" are powerful metaphors for ruin and abandonment.
• Divine Judgment (from Eliphaz's perspective): Eliphaz interprets such desolation as a direct act of divine judgment against the wicked, reinforcing his argument that Job must be secretly wicked to experience such suffering.
• Transience of Earthly Power: The verse implies that any earthly achievements or possessions of the wicked are ultimately ephemeral, leading to a state of complete collapse, symbolized by structures "ready to become heaps."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "desolate cities" (Hebrew: עָרִים נִדְחָה, ‘arim nidchah) suggests places that are not merely uninhabited but have been driven out or abandoned, often due to judgment or conquest. The term "heaps" (Hebrew: גַּלִּים, gallim) refers to mounds of ruins or rubble, commonly used in the Old Testament to describe cities that have been completely destroyed, such as when Isaiah prophesied about cities becoming heaps of ruin. This imagery powerfully conveys a state of utter and irreversible destruction.

Practical Application

While Eliphaz's application of this principle to Job was incorrect and lacked understanding of God's deeper purposes, the verse still carries a general truth about the ultimate futility of a life lived apart from God.

• The Impermanence of Worldly Gain: The verse reminds us that earthly possessions, power, and even physical structures are temporary and can easily crumble. True security and lasting inheritance are found in God, not in material wealth or status (Matthew 6:19-21).
• The End of a Godless Life: Although not always immediate or visible in this life, a life built on wickedness rather than righteousness often leads to spiritual desolation, isolation, and ultimately, eternal ruin.
• Discernment in Suffering: The book of Job as a whole teaches us to be cautious in attributing suffering solely to sin. God's ways are deeper than human understanding, and suffering can serve various purposes beyond direct punishment.