8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
8 "Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned,
8 "For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.
8 "Put the question to our ancestors, study what they learned from their ancestors.
8 "For inquire, please, of the former age, And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
8 "Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 8:8
Commentary on Job 8:8-19
(Read Job 8:8-19)
Bildad discourses well of hypocrites and evil-doers, and the fatal end of all their hopes and joys. He proves this truth of the destruction of the hopes and joys of hypocrites, by an appeal to former times. Bildad refers to the testimony of the ancients. Those teach best that utter words out of their heart, that speak from an experience of spiritual and divine things. A rush growing in fenny ground, looking very green, but withering in dry weather, represents the hypocrite's profession, which is maintained only in times of prosperity. The spider's web, spun with great skill, but easily swept away, represents a man's pretensions to religion when without the grace of God in his heart. A formal professor flatters himself in his own eyes, doubts not of his salvation, is secure, and cheats the world with his vain confidences. The flourishing of the tree, planted in the garden, striking root to the rock, yet after a time cut down and thrown aside, represents wicked men, when most firmly established, suddenly thrown down and forgotten. This doctrine of the vanity of a hypocrite's confidence, or the prosperity of a wicked man, is sound; but it was not applicable to the case of Job, if confined to the present world.