Explanation: In Job 13 Job continues his answer to Zophar, telling him and the others that their words are worthless and that he will be vindicated. He therefore calls upon them to hear him, as suggested by the painting above.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Job 11. Job 12. Job 14. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

     Job asserted, as he had in the previous chapter, that he knew all of the things which Zophar and the others were telling him and that he was not inferior to them. He then expressed his desire to speak to the Almighty (not them) and to reason with God. His accusers, said Job, were forgers of lies and physicians of no value. He said that they could demonstrate their wisdom by holding their peace. So he asked them to listen to him. He asked them if they would speak wickedly and deceitfully for God. He asked them if they would accept God's person and contend for God, meaning that they would court his favor and be his spokesmen. He asked them if they could stand if God searched them out; and, in answer to this question, he warned them that they were mocking God and he would reprove them; and his fear and dread would fall upon them (1-11). Job's next statement is a bit hard to understand. The KJV translates it this way: "Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay." A number of commentators (such as the JFB Commentary, linked above) state that "remembrance" is better translated as "maxims" (or "memorable sayings"); and the word "bodies" is better translated as "bulwarks" or "defenses". In similar fashion, the ESV translates the verse as follows: "Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay." This fits the context quite well (12).
     Therefore Job tells his accusers to hold their peace, leave him alone, and allow him to speak regardless of what comes upon him because he is not venturing his life upon what he says, (regardless of how it may seem to his accusers). Rather, he is putting his trust in God; and he therefore maintains his ways before him. He trusts God for his salvation, because a hypocrite (which he is not) will not come before God (13-16). Therefore he tells his accusers to hearken diligently to his words because he knows that he will be justified because no one can plead successfully against him. Moreover, he must speak, because, if he held his tongue, the strain would kill him (17-19). And, having asked indulgence from his accusers, Job then asks two favors from God: release from pressure and an invitation to state his case before God. He also asks God to declare his iniquities, sins, and transgressions to him and not to continue to hide his face and treat him as an enemy. He asks him if he will break and pursue one like him who is as helpless as a leaf driven before the wind or as dry stubble before the fire. He reminds God that God has written bitter things against him, has punished him for the iniquities of his youth, has put him in bondage, has set a watch over him, and has made him waste away like a rotten thing (20-28).

     ¹³ Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. ¹⁴ Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? ¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. ¹⁶ He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. ¹⁷ Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. ¹⁸ Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. ¹⁹ Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. ²⁰ Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. ²¹ Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. ²² Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. ²³ How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. ²⁴ Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? ²⁵ Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? ²⁶ For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. ²⁷ Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. ²⁸ And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

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