Who was Elihu?

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Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#21
The fourth friend, and probably the best...
With friends like these, who needs enemies?

{Elihu accusingly said] What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men...But now, because it is not so, He [God] hath visited in His anger; yet he [Job] knoweth it not in great extremity: Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge. (Job 34:7,8; 35:15,26)

How would you like to have your friends automatically assume that you are a wicked person, since you lost everything that mattered?
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#22
How would you like to have your friends automatically assume that you are a wicked person, since you lost everything that mattered?
Your question runs to deep for such a simple oyster. It is true that we were all born with sin nature and that vain flattery is not helpful. I have always been single. I have often wondered what it would be like to have a wife who always told the truth. Losing everything might be the best medicine for the soul?
 

UnoiAmarah

Junior Member
Jul 28, 2017
908
142
43
#25
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

The scriptures are given to edify the Torah, being the word of the LORD manifested in writing.


Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. Job 2:11

So where did Elihu come from?

"Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge. Elihu also proceeded, and said,..."

So when Elihu had spoken all his thoughts, the Holy Ghost appeared before them and spoke to Job, asking who that was about me that doesn't even know me. As written in Matthew 7:23, "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:"

The LORD then tells Elihu to stand up before him like a man and answer him. So what does darkness do when confronted by the light? The word in Deuteronomy 28:7 is " the enemy of those who are perfect comes in one way flees from before thee seven ways."
 

iamsoandso

Senior Member
Oct 6, 2011
8,048
1,609
113
#26
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

The scriptures are given to edify the Torah, being the word of the LORD manifested in writing.


Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. Job 2:11

So where did Elihu come from?

"Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge. Elihu also proceeded, and said,..."

So when Elihu had spoken all his thoughts, the Holy Ghost appeared before them and spoke to Job, asking who that was about me that doesn't even know me. As written in Matthew 7:23, "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:"

The LORD then tells Elihu to stand up before him like a man and answer him. So what does darkness do when confronted by the light? The word in Deuteronomy 28:7 is " the enemy of those who are perfect comes in one way flees from before thee seven ways."

If you start with "Eliphaz the Temanite" and look at their genealogies then looking at the friends,place names ect.it will be apparent that Moses had not been born yet and Genesis,Exodus,,,ect. had not been given at the time of the events in the book of Job. For instance Eliphaz the Temanite was the son of Esau https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliphaz so Abraham,Isaac(Esau,Jacob) then Eliphaz(so Abraham is his ggGrandfather) Moses is Abraham's GGGGG grandson( if I did this correct,lol) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amram
 

iamsoandso

Senior Member
Oct 6, 2011
8,048
1,609
113
#27
If anyone see's a mistake in this please correct it I'll be offline awhile.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,954
13,615
113
#28
With friends like these, who needs enemies?

{Elihu accusingly said] What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men...But now, because it is not so, He [God] hath visited in His anger; yet he [Job] knoweth it not in great extremity: Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge. (Job 34:7,8; 35:15,26)

How would you like to have your friends automatically assume that you are a wicked person, since you lost everything that mattered?
in re: 34:7-8, when Elihu says this, Job is sitting there keeping company with men God later calls wicked, drinking up their scorn.

in re: 35:15-16, you're missing context. Job has said that God won't listen to him, and Elihu is saying God will -- and then Elihu says exactly the same thing about Job that God Himself appears and says to Job, and that Job himself confesses after God has rebuked him: that he multiplies words without knowledge.

so i mean, if you're faulting Elihu for saying Job is speaking without knowledge, you are accusing God of being false, and Job of being false, because all three of them make this statement. why do you disagree with God in order to accuse Elihu?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,954
13,615
113
#29
The LORD then tells Elihu to stand up before him like a man and answer him.
rubbish.

God is speaking to Job, not Elihu. have a look at chapter 42

heck see ch. 38 verse 1 "the LORD answered Job and said.."
 

UnoiAmarah

Junior Member
Jul 28, 2017
908
142
43
#30
rubbish.

God is speaking to Job, not Elihu. have a look at chapter 42

heck see ch. 38 verse 1 "the LORD answered Job and said.."
Yeah, the LORD spoke to Job and said who is this that darkens counsel with words without knowledge. You think the LORD didn't know Job? The LORD tells Elihu to gird his loins like a man and answer him, or it would be required.

But it is understandable that you can't believe what Elihu said were words without knowledge, but let me ask you if you believe that Job was perfect and upright?
 

UnoiAmarah

Junior Member
Jul 28, 2017
908
142
43
#31
If you start with "Eliphaz the Temanite" and look at their genealogies then looking at the friends,place names ect.it will be apparent that Moses had not been born yet and Genesis,Exodus,,,ect. had not been given at the time of the events in the book of Job. For instance Eliphaz the Temanite was the son of Esau https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliphaz so Abraham,Isaac(Esau,Jacob) then Eliphaz(so Abraham is his ggGrandfather) Moses is Abraham's GGGGG grandson( if I did this correct,lol) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amram
It is written, "Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!"

So of course the Book of Job was not written until after the time of Moses since the Torah was the first usage of written spoken word by man. Since the written spoken word didn't evolve from hieroglyphics, the fact that the events in the Book of Job occurred before the time of Moses doesn't negate that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God.

So wouldn't Eliphaz be a Hebrew if he was the son of Esau?
 

iamsoandso

Senior Member
Oct 6, 2011
8,048
1,609
113
#32
It is written, "Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!"

So of course the Book of Job was not written until after the time of Moses since the Torah was the first usage of written spoken word by man. Since the written spoken word didn't evolve from hieroglyphics, the fact that the events in the Book of Job occurred before the time of Moses doesn't negate that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God.

So wouldn't Eliphaz be a Hebrew if he was the son of Esau?

Yes he was a descendant of Abraham through Esau but he was not a descendant of "Jacob/Israel" and so the same as Esau,Lot ect. was not given the Law after they came out of Egypt with Moses. In John 8:33 https://biblehub.com/kjv/john/8-33.htm are a similar group who were probably children of Esau who were children of Abraham but who were never in bondage(Egypt,Babylon ect.) so they descended from Abraham but were probably(Edomites/Esau) who were forced to convert to Judaism https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/edom ,,,This is where Esau and Lot's children dwelt(not in bondage) while Israel/Jacobs children "were in bondage" https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy 2&version=KJV
 

UnoiAmarah

Junior Member
Jul 28, 2017
908
142
43
#33
Yes he was a descendant of Abraham through Esau but he was not a descendant of "Jacob/Israel" and so the same as Esau,Lot ect. was not given the Law after they came out of Egypt with Moses. In John 8:33 https://biblehub.com/kjv/john/8-33.htm are a similar group who were probably children of Esau who were children of Abraham but who were never in bondage(Egypt,Babylon ect.) so they descended from Abraham but were probably(Edomites/Esau) who were forced to convert to Judaism https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/edom ,,,This is where Esau and Lot's children dwelt(not in bondage) while Israel/Jacobs children "were in bondage" https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy 2&version=KJV

Sure sounds like the Hebrews were Israel in Exodus 4:22, since the LORD told Moses to tell Pharaoh that "Israel is my son, even my firstborn:"

And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
Ex 5:1-3

Anyways I will aver to your expertise in genealogies.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,954
13,615
113
#34
Yeah, the LORD spoke to Job and said who is this that darkens counsel with words without knowledge. You think the LORD didn't know Job? The LORD tells Elihu to gird his loins like a man and answer him, or it would be required.

But it is understandable that you can't believe what Elihu said were words without knowledge, but let me ask you if you believe that Job was perfect and upright?
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
(Job 38:1-3)
please notice the scripture says God answered Job and spoke to Job.
please notice Elihu's name is not here at all.
please notice that throughout the previous 37 chapters every speaker addresses who they are speaking to.
please notice that God says to the one He is speaking to, "I will question you and you shall answer Me"


Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said:
"Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it.
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.
Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
(Job 40:1-7)

please notice that it is Job who replies and Job definitely knows it is Job that God has been speaking to
please notice that Elihu is not mentioned here at all and neither Job nor God seem to be speaking to him.
please notice that Job responds exactly as though God is speaking directly to him, as the scripture itself explicitly says multiple times.
please notice the scripture does not give any indication whatsoever that God is speaking either to or about Elihu.
please notice you are the only one adding this to His word.


Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose can be withheld from You.
‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
(Job 42:1-3)
please notice that Job explicitly confesses that he, Job, is the one who has been speaking without knowledge.
please notice Job gives absolutely no indication that God has been speaking to or about anyone but him.
please notice that God gives every indication He has been speaking to and about Job.
please notice that you are the only one saying God wasn't talking about Job.
please notice the complete lack of credibility your interpretation here has.


And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite,
My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me right, as My servant Job
(Job 42:7)
please notice that the scripture 100% clearly says God has been speaking to Job, not Elihu.
please notice Job has taken all of the things God said to Him to be with reference to him, not Elihu.
please notice that God specifically rebukes Job's three friends, addressing Eliphaz, and that God does not rebuke Elihu.
please notice that the view you've given has no support in the scripture at all.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,954
13,615
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#35
let me ask you if you believe that Job was perfect and upright?
let me ask you if God says to Job that he should not have been justifying himself rather than God?
((**hint** see 40:8 and compare it to 32:3; compare 33:12-13 with 40:2))
let me ask you if Job agrees with that?
((**hint** see 40:4-5 & 42:5-6 and ask why Job despises himself, acknowledges that he is vile, and repents?))
i will tell you, it is Job's refusing to answer back to Elihu, and his acknowledgement that he himself has spoken without knowledge, and his abhorrence of his own self, his clapping his hand over his mouth, that is the righteousness of Job. it is Job's humility in reply to right rebuke that is Job's uprightness.
 

UnoiAmarah

Junior Member
Jul 28, 2017
908
142
43
#36
i will tell you, it is Job's refusing to answer back to Elihu, and his acknowledgement that he himself has spoken without knowledge,
And your opinion is just a good as Elihu's opinion ( words without knowledge)

We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; why do you need to look in the spoiler to answer the question. LOL

So what did the LORD say to Eliphaz the Temanite and his two friends, "for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath."
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,954
13,615
113
#37
And your opinion is just a good as Elihu's opinion ( words without knowledge)

We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; why do you need to look in the spoiler to answer the question. LOL

So what did the LORD say to Eliphaz the Temanite and his two friends, "for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath."
i take this as you conceding that your previous argument was bogus. cool.

so why is one seventh of the book of Job Elihu's words, if the point is that no one should listen to Elihu?
 

ewq1938

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2018
5,074
1,279
113
#38
i take this as you conceding that your previous argument was bogus. cool.

so why is one seventh of the book of Job Elihu's words, if the point is that no one should listen to Elihu?
Maybe they should quote the unwise things Elihu said? I'd like to see them find anything unwise from him.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,954
13,615
113
#39
Maybe they should quote the unwise things Elihu said? I'd like to see them find anything unwise from him.
that would certainly profit the discussion more than quoting things clearly said to & about Job by God, and declaring their opinion that it was really about Elihu
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
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#40
that would certainly profit the discussion more than quoting things clearly said to & about Job by God, and declaring their opinion that it was really about Elihu
Elihu may have been less culpable than the other three friends of Job (against whom God was wrathful) but he had the same problem as the others -- assuming that Job was guilty as hell because he was made to suffer exceedingly.

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. (Job 42:7).