8:8 “For inquire now of the former 1 generation,
and pay attention 2 to the findings 3
of their ancestors; 4
For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song. 6
44:1 O God, we have clearly heard; 7
our ancestors 8 have told us
what you did 9 in their days,
in ancient times. 10
1:2 Listen to this, you elders; 11
pay attention, 12 all inhabitants of the land.
Has anything like this ever happened in your whole life 13
or in the lifetime 14 of your ancestors? 15
1 sn Bildad is not calling for Job to trace through the learning of antiquity, but of the most recent former generation. Hebrews were fond of recalling what the “fathers” had taught, for each generation recalled what their fathers had taught.
2 tn The verb כוֹנֵן (khonen, from כּוּן, kun) normally would indicate “prepare yourself” or “fix” one’s heart on something, i.e., give attention to it. The verb with the ל (lamed) preposition after it does mean “to think on” or “to meditate” (Isa 51:13). But some commentators wish to change the כּ (kaf) to a בּ (bet) in the verb to get “to consider” (from בִּין, bin). However, M. Dahood shows a connection between כּנן (knn) and שׁאל (sh’l) in Ugaritic (“Hebrew-Ugaritic Lexicography,” Bib 46 [1965]: 329).
3 tn The Hebrew has “the search of their fathers,” but the word is probably intended to mean what that observation or search yielded (so “search” is a metonymy of cause).
4 tn Heb “fathers.”
5 sn Psalm 44. The speakers in this psalm (the worshiping community within the nation Israel) were disappointed with God. The psalm begins on a positive note, praising God for leading Israel to past military victories. Verses 1-8 appear to be a song of confidence and petition which the people recited prior to battle. But suddenly the mood changes as the nation laments a recent defeat. The stark contrast between the present and the past only heightens the nation’s confusion. Israel trusted in God for victory, but the Lord rejected them and allowed them to be humiliated in battle. If Israel had been unfaithful to God, their defeat would make sense, but the nation was loyal to the Lord. Comparing the Lord to a careless shepherd, the nation urges God to wake up and to extend his compassion to his suffering people.
6 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 42.
7 tn Heb “with our ears we have heard.”
8 tn Heb “fathers” (also in v. 2; the same Hebrew word may be translated either “fathers” or “ancestors” depending on the context.
9 tn Heb “the work you worked.”
10 tn Heb “in the days of old.” This refers specifically to the days of Joshua, during Israel’s conquest of the land, as vv. 2-3 indicate.
11 sn Elders here refers not necessarily to men advanced in years, but to leaders within the community.
12 tn Heb “give ear.”
13 tn Heb “days.” The term “days” functions here as a synecdoche for one’s lifespan.
14 tn Heb “days.”
15 tn Heb “fathers.”