In Job, chapter thirty-two, verse two, a new counselor, Elihu, is introduced here into the narrative. He refrained from expressing his opinion earlier because of his youth than the others, as in verse four. He believed, however, that he had an insight into Job’s suffering and could instruct him in the correct attitude he should have before God. Elihu’s speech differs from the first three in its emphasis that suffering can be God’s merciful chastisement to enlighten the soul, as in chapter thirty-three, verse thirty, and to bring about a more intimate relationship with God, as in chapter thirty-six, verses seven through ten. However, like the other counselors, Elihu assumed Job had sinned and deserved his suffering.
Elihu, a new personage, here makes his appearance. Attentive, all the while, to the debate between Job and his friends, he utters not a word till both sides have done speaking. Then shows, that a stander-by may sometimes see further into a dispute than those who are eagerly engaged, and who, by having their passions raised to an undue height, are very apt to carry things to an extreme.
The word Elihu signifies, My God is he. They had all tried vainly to convince Job, but My God is he, who both can and will persuade him. Elihu was not a little provoked at the behavior of Job for attempting so to vindicate himself as to leave an imputation of injustice on God’s providence. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled for charging Job with such atrocious crimes, and falling so miserably short, when they should have come to the proof, as not to be able to convict him of one of them. Now Elihu had waited. With patience and expectation, till Job had spoken. And his three friends; because they were older than he: Old age in those days was so highly honored, that a young man scarcely dared to open his mouth before his elders. Elihu therefore begins with a very modest apology for his engaging in the dispute at all, drawn from his youth. He tells them he had waited a long while to hear what they would offer; but, finding they did not design to reply, he desired their leave to speak his opinion. A liberty, however, which he would not indulge himself in, if they were willing to make an answer, or could any way convict Job of what they had laid to his charge. He intimates that he intended to attack him in a quite different manner from what they had done, for which reason thinks of himself obliged to answer the same arguments he had urged against them. But, at the same time, he declares it was not his intention to speak partially in his favor since accepting persons was a crime which he was sensible would be severely punished by the Almighty.