Job Compares Failed Friendship to Seasonal Streams

Loyalty is named as what an afflicted person is owed

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. Job's charge is that kindness has failed at the point where fear of God should have produced it.

The friends are compared to wadis that look full until the caravan arrives

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: what time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

Seasonal streams fail travelers who counted on water. Job's accusation targets unreliable comfort. It does not authorize abandoning every imperfect friend, and the friends' fear does not excuse their failure to see him.