Asbury Bible Commentary – 3. Bildad (18:1-21)
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3. Bildad (18:1-21)

3. Bildad (18:1-21)

While Bildad has nothing significantly new to say, he becomes more direct. He addresses Job in the plural (“you” of v.2 is plural), thereby including him with the wicked. Bildad accuses Job of wanting the moral order changed so as to accommodate him (v.4). For one who was such a traditionalist as Bildad, this was tantamount to overturning the order of nature.

The moral order is indeed fixed. The fate of the wicked is clear and certain. Job will experience darkness as his lamp will be snuffed out, a certain indication of disaster (vv.5-6). He will be caught in a trap. Six different terms for traps and snares are used here (vv.8-10). Terrors will pursue him, and he will not be able to avoid them (vv.11-13). His tent will be destroyed (vv.14-15) and he will have no descendants (v.19). Bildad concludes with the claim that his representation of the fate of the wicked is certain (v.21).