Commentary on Job, part 19

Returning to the commentary on Job after a long time away, I have a translation of the next fragment, on Job 28:9-10:

He stretched out his hand on the sharp rock, and overturned mountains from their foundation. He interrupted the whirlpool of rivers. (28:9-10)

One should take this sharp rock allegorically as referring to the fruitless sacrament of the heathens. Mountain refers to the pride of demons in service to idols. And river refers to the carnal thought of the rational arts. It is a whirlpool because their wild spinning obscures their sayings. When the Lord came, he brought an end to this fanatical wisdom and caused the teaching of gentleness to flow from the Holy Spirit, as David wrote: “You caused the spring and streams to flow, and you made the violent rivers dry up.” (Psalm 73:15)