Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:26
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
26. a decree for the rain ] This “decree” comprises all the laws that regulate the rain, appointing its measure and its seasons as early and latter rain.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
26 27. The idea of the preceding verse taken up anew and expanded in creation God saw Wisdom and searched it out.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
When he made a decree for the rain – A statute or law ( choq) by which the rain is regulated. It is not sent by chance or hap-hazard. It is under the operation of regular and settled laws. We cannot suppose that those laws were understood in the time of Job, but the fact might be understood that the rain was regulated by laws, and that fact would show that God was qualified to impart wisdom. His kingdom was a kingdom of settled law and not of chance or caprice, and if the rain was regulated by statute, it was fair to presume that he did not deal with his people by chance, and that afflictions were not sent without rule; compare the notes at Job 5:6.
And a way – A path through which the rapid lightning should pass – referring, perhaps, to the apparent opening in the clouds in which the lightning seems to move along.
The lightning of the thunder – The word lightning here ( chazyz) properly means an arrow, from hazaz, obsolete, to pierce through, to transfix, to performate; and hence, the lightning – from the rapidity with which it passes – like an arrow. The word thunder ( qolot) means voices, and hence, thunder, as being by way of eminence the voice of God; compare Psa 29:3-5. The whole expression here means the thunder-flash. Coverdale renders this, when he gave the mighty floods a law; but it undoubtedly refers to the thunderstorm, and the idea is, that he who controls the rapid lightning, regulating its laws and directing its path through the heavens, is qualified to communicate truth to people, and can explain the great principles on which his government is administered.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 26. When he made a decree for the rain] When he determined how that should be generated, viz., By the heat of the sun evaporation is produced: the particles of vapour being lighter than the air on the surface, ascend into the atmosphere, till they come to a region where the air is of their own density; there they are formed into thin clouds, and become suspended. When, by the sudden passages of lightning, or by winds strongly agitating these clouds, the particles are driven together and condensed so as to be weightier than the air in which they float, then they fall down in the form of rain; the drops being greater or less according to the force or momentum, or suddenness, of the agitation by which they are driven together as well as to the degree of rarity in the lower regions of the atmosphere through which they fall.
A way for the lightning of the thunder] vederech lachaziz koloth. kol signifies voice of any kind; and koloth is the plural and is taken for the frequent claps or rattlings of thunder. chaz signifies to notch, indentate, or serrate, as in the edges of the leaves of trees; chaziz must refer to the zigzag form which lightning assumes in passing from one cloud into another. We are informed that “this is a frequent occurrence in hot countries.” Undoubtedly it is; for it is frequent in cold countries also. I have seen this phenomenon in England in the most distinct manner for hours together, with a few seconds of interval between each flash. Nothing can better express this appearance than the original word.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When he made; which was either from eternity, or at the first creation, when he settled that course and order which should afterwards be continued. Or, when he maketh: but our translation seems best to suit with the then in the next verse, where the sense is completed.
Decree for the rain; an appointment, and as it were a statute law, that it should fall upon the earth, and that in such times, and places, and proportions, and manner as he should think fit, either for correction or for mercy, as Elihu speaks, Job 37:13. A way, or path, how it should get out of the thick cloud, in which it was shut up, and as it were imprisoned; or, a course, which should for the future be observed, as to the time, and measure, and ends, and other circumstances belonging to it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. The decree regulating atwhat time and place, and in what quantity, the rain should fall.
a waythrough theparted clouds (Job 38:25;Zec 10:1).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder. Decreed within himself that he would give it; for rain is his gift alone, and which none of the vanities of the Gentiles can give, and a wonderful blessing to the earth it is; and which God bestows on all sorts of men, both good and bad, and causes it to fall sometimes on one place and sometimes on another, sometimes in greater, sometimes in lesser showers; and according to his sovereign pleasure he gives or withholds it; the effects of which are quickly seen. Mr. Broughton renders the clause, “he made a bound for the rain, and a way for the lightning of thunder”, or “the lightning and the thunder”, as Ben Gersom, who thinks the copulative , “and”, is wanting. Thunder is from God, it is his voice, and the word here used is in the plural number, “voices” m, signifying various claps of thunder; and lightning generally accompanies it, which, though first perceived, they are both at once the eye doing its office quicker than the ear; and a cloud also is usual; and so some render the word for lightning, as in Zec 10:1; it may signify the way of the lightning out of the thunder cloud, and attending claps of thunder; the thunder breaks the cloud and makes a path for the lightning: the Targum is,
“a path for the lightnings, which run with the voices or thunders;”
but, though the course or path the lightning steers is very quick and very extensive from east to west, and cannot be traced by us. God that made it knows it, and he knows the path and place of wisdom. Sephorno interprets this of the thunder and lightnings at the giving of the law, which he understands by wisdom, as do other Jewish writers: Pliny n speaks of thunder and lightning as chance matters; but Seneca o more truly ascribes them to divine power and Providence, as here.
m “vocum”, Piscator, Mercerus, Drusius. n Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 43. o Nat. Quaest. l. 2. c. 13. 31.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
26. A decree A law.
Thunder Hebrew, Voices. Thunder was the voice of God. Psa 29:3. The manifestation of the divine presence was frequently attested by thunder. The ancient Jews, according to Buxtorf, called an oracle of God The daughter of the voice, or thunder. See note, Job 38:25. The book of Proverbs enlarges upon the work of divine wisdom in the creation of the world. Pro 8:22-31.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
Ver. 26. When he made a decree for the rain ] And hence it is that it raineth upon one city, and not upon another, Amo 4:7 . See Trapp on “ Amo 4:7 “ The rise of rain out of vapours drawn up from the earth by the heat of the sun, and the generation of it in the clouds, is no less wonderful than the use of it is necessary for the refreshing and fattening of the earth; allaying the heat, and nourishing the herb and tree, &c. These showers may seem to arise and be carried up and down at random, and without a law; but Job assureth us that God maketh a decree, a statute, or a bound for them, and that he gives or withholds rain at his pleasure.
And a way for the lightning of the thunder
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
he made: Job 36:26, Job 36:32, Job 38:25, Psa 148:8, Jer 14:22, Amo 4:7, Zec 10:1
a way: Job 37:3, Psa 29:3-10
Reciprocal: Job 5:10 – giveth Psa 135:7 – he maketh lightnings
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 28:26. When At the first creation, he settled that course and order which should afterward be continued; he made a decree for the rain An appointment, and, as it were, a statute law, that it should fall upon the earth, and that in such times, and places, and proportions, and manner, as he should think fit, either for correction or mercy, as Elihu speaks, Job 37:13. And a way for the lightning of the thunder A path, or egress, for it out of the thick cloud in which it was shut up, and, as it were, imprisoned; and the course which it should take, and in which it should proceed, to accomplish the purposes intended by him.