“Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,”
Answered. He directs his attack against Job’s desiring to plead before God, and gives a wrong statement of his request, which he also attempts to refute, by urging the same inconclusive arguments as before. (Calmet) — Blind and obstinate disputers still repeat the same objections; (Worthington) as Protestants do against the Catholic doctrines, which have been so often and so ably defended. (Haydock)
“Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.”
Places. Directing all the heavenly bodies with perfect harmony. (Calmet)
“Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?”
Soldiers. The works of the whole creation, particularly the stars and angels. (Menochius)
“How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?”
Clean. Job had used a similar expression, as well as Eliphaz, chap. iv. 17., and xiv. 4., and xv. 15. The holy man did not assert that he was free from sin, but only that God did not punish him (Calmet) so dreadfully (Haydock) on that account, and that he has just reasons for afflicting his servants, if it were only to manifest his own power and glory. (Calmet)
“Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.”
Sight, compared with him. The most beautiful things in nature are nothing; and of course, the most just are all imperfection, when left to themselves. (Calmet)