Welcome to NachDaily with Iyov, Perek 28. This is the second part of Iyov’s response to Bildad.

Rav Shwab explains this very poetic chapter in which Iyov praises man’s wisdom while simultaneously showing the limitations of human understanding. Hashem gave man the ability to understand many secrets of the way things work, to use our minds to create inventions and deeply understand nature. At the same time, our minds cannot discover chochma, wisdom, which is truly Divine in nature and origin. It is only when Hashem grants us insight into His pure and rarified wisdom that we even begin to have a glimpse into the Creator. We cannot fathom the Divine mind. As it’s often said, the more we understand, the more we understand that we don’t really understand.

The Malbim explains that Iyov claims that God has hidden wisdom from those who want to understand it. We are truly incapable of grasping Hashem’s hashgacha pratis and governance of the world. Instead of being allowed to see how Hashem runs the world, we are told to have Emunah, and complete faith in God. In Iyov’s world view, Hashem has thus caused people to rely on Emunah rather than true understanding.

In a similar vein, one of my Rebbes asked why Hashem would create a question that the human mind can understand but can’t answer. How does Hashem create everything at every second yet we still have free choice? This question is well documented and we’re all aware of it, but can’t fathom the answer. This speaks to the heart of Iyov’s point in this perek, which is the limitation of the human mind.

In verses 1 through 11, Iyov speaks to the fragile nature of this world. He lists things that are found in the natural world to show that no matter how great they may be, they are ultimately limited and finite, giving examples such as silver, iron, copper, darkness, streams of water, land that produces bread, precious stones, wild birds and lions, mountains, rocks, and rivers.

In verses 12 through 18, Iyov explains that Wisdom is in a category all by itself. It’s not found in this world, but is Divine in nature.

Verse 12 Iyov brings the famous passuk of “V’hachochma mei’ayin timatsei, v’ei zeh m’kom bina – But where can wisdom be found? Where is there understanding?” What do we have to do to find it? Iyov is speaking to the limitations of the human mind.

The Ba’al Shem Tov asks, Chochma mei’ayin timtseh? Where can wisdom be found? Chochma can be found in the place of ‘Ayin,’ from the deepest depths of Hashem’s never ending light called Ein -Sof. Hashem’s endless wisdom is beyond our intelligence.

From verses 20 through 28, Iyov continues to explain how precious is wisdom, wondering how it can be acquired and lamenting its concealment.

Verse 28 says, “Then He said to man, ‘Indeed, fear of God is wisdom, and avoiding evil is understanding.”

The Ralbag and Metsudos explain that fear of God is a prerequisite to wisdom. Hashem allows those who have this trait to understand beyond their limited capabilities.

The Living Nach notes that Iyov advocates living a righteous life even though he denies providence in this world.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily and part 3 of Iyov’s response.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.