Continuing my Bible study on the book of Job:
(Job 18:1) Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said, (2) "How long will it be till you make an end of words? Understand, and afterward we will speak."
The original word I have transcribed as "understand" above is "biyn", and the KJV translated it as "mark", but this verse is the only place in the entire Bible where that word is translated as "mark". Most of the time is means "understand" or something akin to it like "consider" or "discern". I believe the KJV translators were probably trying to give the sense of marking or targeting those words and really trying to understand them.
(3) "Why are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?"
Basically, Bildad wants to know why Job considers his friends as ignorant, stupid, and unclean or impious.
(4) "He tears himself in his anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? And shall the rock be removed from its place?"
Bildad speaks of Job here, tearing himself in anger. He is basically asking Job if the world revolves around him; should everything be made to give way for him?
(5) "Yea, the light of the wicked will be put out, and the spark of his fire will not shine. (6) The light will be dark in his tent, and his candle will be put out with him. (7) The steps of his strength will be straitened, and his own counsel will cast him down."
Straitened, as "in straits", distressed, narrowed. His own plans will be the means of his fall.
(8) "For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks into a snare. (9) The trap will take him by the heel, and the robber will prevail against him. (10) The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the pathway. (11) Terrors will make him afraid on every side, and will drive him to his feet."
Paraphrased, that last phrase means he will take to his heels.
(12) "His strength will be hunger bitten, and destruction will be ready at his side. (13) It will devour the strength of his skin; the firstborn of death will devour his strength."
The firstborn son held the chief place; the chief of death is the most strong and violent death.
(14) "His confidence will be rooted out of his tent, and it will bring him to the king of terrors. (15) It will dwell in his tent, because it is none of his; brimstone will be scattered upon his habitation."
"It" still refers to destruction that will be his constant companion, destroying his security and terrifying him, because nothing that he had gained was really his own, or at least, it is no longer his. Brimstone is the symbol of destruction and desolation.
(16) "His roots will be dried up beneath, and above will his branch be cut off. (17) The memory of him will perish from the earth, and he will have no name in the street. (18) He will be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world. (19) He will neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. (20) They who come after him will be astonished at his day, as they who went before were frightened. (21) Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him who does not know God."
In conclusion, Bildad seems to be saying that this is where Job finds himself, implying that Job is godless! Pretty rough treatment from people who are supposed to be godly friends of Job! Although his friends were religious men with head knowledge and book learning of the laws of God, they seemed to be totally ignorant of God's true nature. Their hearts were obviously not influenced by communion with God. Their arguments were an inaccurate and cold estimate of the exact justice of God. They acted like the Pharisees of the New Testament, so caught up in their laws that they missed the most important aspect of God.
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