Bildad Appeals to Ancestral Wisdom and Fragile Plants

Bildad sends Job to the fathers as if age could close the case

For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: for we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow. Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Plant images then describe those who forget God as reeds without water

Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand. He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden; his roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones. If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee. Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

Ancestral wisdom and a vivid analogy can carry real insight about fragile trust. They still do not establish that Job has forgotten God. Tradition used as a trap is not wisdom.