Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends – Job 32
- Elihu, who has been listening to Job and his three friends, finally speaks. He is angry at all of them—Job because he has only justified himself, and the three friends because of the way they have accused Job. Elihu has remained quiet thus far because he is younger than the other men, but now he speaks, promising not to show partiality to any of them.
Elihu Rebukes Job – Job 33
- Elihu responds to Job's fear of God, stating that Job has nothing to fear because God's hand will not be heavy on him. He goes on to point out that Job is not righteous in attacking God and in seeing God as his equal, and implies that Job has become proud even though he sits in ashes.
- In response to Job's statement about having nightmares, Elihu points out that perhaps God is trying to teach Job something through his dreams—and that God's primary purpose in getting people's attention through dreams and suffering is to keep them from hell and give them a meaningful life.
Elihu Asserts God's Justice – Job 34
- Elihu defends God's impartiality according to the belief that God will justly punish the wicked (much like Bildad had claimed). He then asks two rhetorical questions: "Shall one who hates justice govern?" and "Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?" (v. 17). He goes on to assert that God does hear the cry of the poor and the afflicted. Although Elihu's conclusion includes sound analysis, it also is an unfair representation of Job's position.
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