I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Here is, I. A humbling challenge which God gave to Job. After he had heaped up many hard questions upon him, to show him, by his manifest ignorance in the works of nature, what an incompetent judge he was of the methods and designs of Providence, he clenches the nail with one demand more, which stands by itself here as the application of the whole.
Commenting on Job 40:1-5
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer,.... Some think this refers to what he had just now said of his vileness, he had owned that, and that was all he had to say, or would say, he would give no other answer; Jarchi says, some suppose he has respect to his words in Job 9:22; yea, twice; but I will proceed no further...
Once . . . twice--oftentimes, more than once (Job 33:14, compare with Job 33:29; Psa 62:11): I have spoken--namely, against God. not answer--not plead against Thee.