Having expounded the whole eleventh chapter of the book of Job and the first five verses of the twelfth, he closes the second part of this work. 1. The fortitude of Job, who is not overcome even by the successive change of his adversaries.—As often as a strong athlete has descended into the arena of the spectacle, they who are of unequal strength subject themselves by turns to his overthrowing: and when one is conquered, straightway another rises up against him; and this one being subdued, another is substituted; that they may sometimes find the strength of the wrestler softer, which its own oft-repeated victory fatigues; to the end that, as each new opponent engages, he who cannot be conquered by the quality of strength, may at least be overcome by the change of persons.
Thus, thus in this spectacle of men and angels did blessed Job come forth as a strong athlete, and showed how much he prevails against the changes of his adversaries by the continuation of unwearied strength. Against him first Eliphaz sets himself, and secondly Baldad, and at the last Sophar puts himself forward in assailing him: who, to inflict their blows, raise themselves up with all their efforts, yet nevertheless do not reach to strike the height of his robust breast. For their very words plainly suggest that they cast their blows into the air, because, when they do not rightly refute the holy man, they lose the express words of their percussion into the void. This is clearly shown, when the reply of Sophar the Naamathite is begun from insults, who says: