איוב, פרק מ׳, פסוק ה׳

Standing entirely submissive and silent in the face of divine revelation, Job officially retreats from his previous arguments. He humbly admits that he has spoken out of turn, saying perhaps one thing too many. Accepting his place, he resolves to maintain total silence and refuses to argue any further [רש״י, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Beyond a simple admission of speaking too much, the numbering of his past statements serves as a hint to the core arguments he made throughout his trials. According to one perspective, these refer to specific past declarations. The first represents his harsh accusation that God destroys the innocent right alongside the wicked, while the second points to the various demands he issued to God during their debate [רש״י].

Taking a broader view, these statements can be seen as representing massive theological questions surrounding divine providence. In this light, the first refers to Job's initial belief that the world was simply left to the chaotic forces of nature and chance. He now completely retracts this idea, recognizing that everything is under God's careful watch. The second refers to his two most painful questions: why the righteous suffer, and why the wicked prosper. Even though he never receives a direct answer to these questions, his profound awe of God brings him to a point where he simply stops asking [מצודת דוד].

A similar approach focuses entirely on the issue of double divine justice. The first point refers to Job's deep frustration over the suffering of the righteous. He now accepts God's judgment on this matter and chooses silence. The second point addresses his outrage over the peaceful lives of the wicked who ruin the world. He resolves that he will no longer challenge the first issue, and he will stop complaining about the second [אלשיך]. Another way to understand this final stance is that Job is now only asking for an answer to that second issue regarding the success of the wicked. He promises that the moment he understands this single mystery, he will never speak another word [מלבי״ם].