Welcome to NachDaily with Iyov, Perek 25. This is Bildad’s third and final response to Iyov on why good things happen to bad people.

The Malbim explains that Bildad’s original argument was that the righteous suffer in this world in exchange for reward in the world to come. Bildad also maintained that the success of reshaim in this world isn’t really success. They often die horrible deaths, while leaving their children with nothing, and receive their main punishment in the world to come.

Bildad ramps up his argument by explaining that God will not change the natural order of events or change nature just for one person. Sometimes the natural order of things results in a benefit for the rasha and may be bad for the tzaddik.

For example: If an entire city needs rain, Hashem will provide it even though it might cause grief or have a negative outcome for the tzaddik and may be beneficial for the rasha.

Another example is light, which benefits people, yet an evil-doer may use it to kill. Similarly, darkness allows people to rest at night, but also provides cover for thieves.

No one would suggest that God should change the order of nature for the sake of one person even if it allows a good thing to happen to a bad person and vice-versa. Bildad therefore reasons that the main reward and punishment one receives is in the next world.

The Malbim continues to explain that there is a certain level of “fate” and predestination in the world. Perhaps a person is born under a mazel to be successful, rich or poor. This would explain why the wicked succeed and the tzaddikim can suffer, but the mazel or circumstance into which they are born cannot determine the amount of reward and punishment they receive in the next world.

Verse 2 says, “Ham’shel v’fachad imo oseh shalom bim’romav – Dominion and fear are His. He establishes harmony on high.” The Malbim explains Bildad as saying that all though God allows many forces to rule over the world, He alone ensures that they do their job and govern the world in an appropriate manner.

Verse 4 says, “U’ma yitzdak enosh im El u’ma yizkeh y’lud isha – Can mortal man justify himself before God? Can man born of a woman be so meritorious?”

The Ralbag and Metsudos relate Bildad as saying that compared to God’s greatness how is it possible for man to say he didn’t sin?

Asks the Malbim, can man who’s born under certain spiritual influences convince God to change those constellations? Should God create a different configuration of stars just for one person?

The perek ends in passuk 6 saying, “For man is but a maggot.” His physical body will ultimately decompose and disintegrate, while the soul lives on for all of eternity. Hashem’s reward and punishment applies to one’s neshama in the next world.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily for Iyov’s response.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.