1Job's uprightness, family, wealth, and religious concern for his children. 6Satan appeareth before God, falsely accuseth Job, and obtaineth leave to tempt him. 13Job, receiving successive accounts of the calamities that deprived him of all his substance and his children, in his mourning blesseth God.
1THERE was a man in the land of 1Uz, whose name was 2Job; and that man was 3perfecta and 4upright, and 5one that feared God, and eschewedb6evil.
1 Hebr. Uts or Huts. Understand a region so called from a man by that name. The Holy Scripture makes mention of three who did bear this name: I. the son of Aram, the son of Shem, Gen. 10:23; II. the first born son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, Gen. 22:21; III. one of Esau’s posterity, Gen. 36:28. The first was the father of the inhabitants of the land Thrachonitis, otherwise called after him Ausitis, as if one said Usitis. Of this land, which was a portion of the land of the Israelites, some interpreters do hold of which the text here mentions. Yet others perceive that here is to be understood a region which was situated in Syria, having its name from the second Uz. There are likewise some who take this place for a region in Idumea, where the third Uz had his habitation; see Lam. 4:21.
2 Hebr. Ijob. See Ezek. 14:14, 20; James 5:11.
3 Or, plain, simple; that is, unfeigned in the faith and trusting in God, and sincere in love towards his neighbor. See of this word Gen. 6 on verse 9.
a Job 2:3.
4 Hebr. right, or righteous, namely, towards his neighbor. The word refers here mostly to the commandments of the second table. Although it is much used in a general sense, signifying one that swerves neither to the right hand nor to the left from the right way, but remains therein, eschewing all crooked ways that might turn him out of the right. Thus Job 4:7; 8:6; 17:8. See also Psalm 7 on verse 10.
5 The true fear of God is the beginning of all virtues, Prov. 8:13; 15:33. Yet this commendation has its chief regard unto godliness and the commandments of the first table.
b avoid, shun
6 Namely, of sin, forbidden in the first and the second table of the Ten Commandments.
2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3His 7substance also was seven thousand 8sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great 9household; so that this man was the greatest of all the 10men of the east.
7 See of the Hebrew word mikneh Gen. 4 on verse 20.
8 The Hebrew word not only signifies sheep, but goats also, that is, all kinds of small cattle, especially being contrasted to large animals. See Gen. 12 on verse 16; Lev. 1 on verse 2.
9 Or, serving-work, husbandry.
10 Or, the people or men of the east. Hebr. sons of the east, that is, those who dwelt eastward in regard of Judea. Compare Gen. 29:1; Judges 6:3, and see the annotations.
4And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one 11his day; and 12sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
11 That is, at his turn to keep his feast; for, it went orderly about among them. And peradventure the order came to each one, upon his own birthday, for, Job calls it his day, Job 3:1.
12 Namely, messengers, to bid their sisters to the feast. Also in the next verse.
5And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and 13sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job 14said, It may be that my sons have 15sinned, and 16cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job 17continually.
13 That is, took care and charged them that they would sacrifice themselves, to be well prepared for the offering at hand. Also Exod. 19:10. This sanctification consisted indeed principally in the forsaking of, or, abstaining from all spiritual defilement of sin, but yet therewithal in the observation of certain bodily or outward ceremonies, as signs of the inward sanctification, which took place at that time among the godly. Compare Gen. 35:2 (where is the word be clean) and thereupon the annotation.
14 Namely, within himself, that is, he thought. See Gen. 20:11.
15 Namely, by excess of mirth, frivolous behavior, wasting of God’s good gifts, forgetting the poor, and other similar sins of carnal thoughtlessness.
16 That is, not blessed, hallowed, nor honored, as it became them, but slighted the commandments of the Lord in their jollity and abundance, as casting to the winds. Thus the word blessing, which otherwise signifies lauding and praising, is taken here in the contrary signification for cursing, dispraising, profaning. For, here it implies the sins for which Job made the offering. This word is also used in verse 11; Job 2:9. See also 1 Kings 21:10 and thereupon the annotation.
17 Namely, when his children had kept their feasts.
6¶Now there was a day when the 18sons of God 19came to present themselves before the LORD, and 20Satan came also among them.
18 Or, children. Hebr. sons, that is, the angels of God, as Job 38:7, not that they are the sons or children of God by nature as the only begotten Son of the Father, but because they have this dignity by the gift of creation, being made after the image and likeness of God, to behold His face continually, to serve Him and His Church, and to live with Him forever.
19 This is said by a comparison taken from worldly princes, who summon their servants to appear and render an account of what they have given them in charge. Compare 1 Kings 22:19, and the annotation.
20 That is, adversary. See 1 Chron. 21:1. Thus the evil spirit is called by reason of the implacable enmity and hatred he bears to the believers, accusing them before God, Rev. 12:10, and walking about them as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, 1 Peter 5:8.
7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From 21going to and fro in the earth,c and from walking up and down in it.
21 This is the devil’s practice to haunt and to rummage everywhere about, to catch those who are not upon their guard, and to trouble and to assault them who still in some measure keep watch.
c 1 Peter 5:8.
8And the LORD said unto Satan, 22Hast thou considered my servant Job, 23that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and eschewethd evil?
22 Hebr. Hast thou laid or set thine heart, that is, hast thou marked, or taken notice? The same manner of expression is to be found 2 Sam. 18:3; Job 2:3; 7:17; 23:6.
23 Or, that no one is his equal on the earth, etc.
d avoid, shun
9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10Hast not thou made 24an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast 25blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is 26increased in the land.
24 That is, dost Thou not protect and deliver him from all manner of evil by Thine everywhere present Providence and almighty power?
25 See of this word blessed Gen. 12 on verse 2.
26 See Gen. 30:30. The Hebrew word is likewise used elsewhere for multiplying exceedingly, as Gen. 28:14; 30:43; Exod. 1:12.
11But put forth thine hand now, and 27touch all that he hath, and he will 28curse thee to thy 29face.30
27 Namely, to damage it, and thereby to vex him. See Gen. 26 on verse 11.
28 See on verse 5.
29 That is, daringly, without awe and shame.
30 In the Hebrew manner of making an oath, the punishment, to which one subjects himself if one swears falsely, is commonly concealed, as here. See Gen. 14:23.
12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is 31in thy power; only 32upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
31 Hebr. in thy hand; that is, in thy power and disposing. See Gen. 16:6.
32 That is, in his person. Understand his body and soul.
13¶And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding 33beside them:
33 That is, beside these oxen. Hebr. at their hands. See the word hand used for side in 2 Chron. 21:16, etc. Other, on their places, that is, where they used to feed. This word is sometimes taken for places as Num. 2:17; Jer. 6:3.
15And the 34Sabeans 35fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the 36edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
34 Hebr. Sheba, that is, the host of the Sabeans. These were the posterity of Sheba, the son of Jokshan, the son of Abraham by Keturah, Gen. 25:1, 2, 3. They had their habitation in Arabia Desert. See of them Ezek. 27:23. This Sheba is to be distinguished from another by that name, who was the son of Raamah, the son of Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah, Gen. 10:7, whose posterity inhabited Ethiopia. See the 30th annotation at Gen. 10 on verse 7, and on verse 28.
35 Or, made an invasion. Hebr. Sheba fell.
36 Hebr. mouth. Also in the sequel.
16While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, 37The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up 38the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
37 That is, a great, fierce and terrible fire. Compare the 45th annotation at Gen. 19 on verse 24. Or, which God sent down out of heaven, as they perceived.
38 See on verse 3.
17While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three 39bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
39 Hebr. heads; but the Hebrew word sometimes signifies a crowd or troop or a gathering of people, as here. Judges 7:16; 1 Sam. 11:11.
18While he was 40yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
40 The Hebrew word rendered yet, is taken thus in Prov. 8:26; Jonah 4:2.
19And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and 41smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the 42young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
41 Hebr. properly, touched, that is, struck.
42 The sons of Job. See Gen. 22 on verse 5.
20Then Job arose, and 43rent his 44mantle, and 45shaved his head, and 46fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
43 See Gen. 37 on verse 29.
44 This has been an upper garment, which the most important persons used to wear among the people.
45 That is, caused his head to be shaven. Also Gen. 41:14; 2 Sam. 14:26, and see Gen. 40 on verse 22. The shaving at that time was a sign of grief and sorrow, Lev. 21:5; Jer. 41:5; 48:37; Micah 1:16. Else they used also shaving when they were to purify their bodies; which, whereas it was commonly done close to the time of joyfulness, then it has been likewise a sign of refreshment and cheerfulness, Gen. 41:14, and the omitting of it was a sign of dismay, grief and sadness, 2 Sam. 19:24.
46 The Hebrew word signifies to bow down oneself, either before God, to exhibit divine worship unto Him, see Gen. 24 on verse 26 of this signification; or, before men, by way of civil respect, of which signification see Gen. 18 on verse 2. The first type is meant here, as appears by the words following, whereby he does thank God for everything He gave and sent him.
21And said, Nakede came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return 47thither: the LORD gave, and 48the LORD hath taken away; 49blessed be the name of the LORD.
e Eccl. 5:14; 1 Tim. 6:7.
47 This he says, it would seem, in respect of the earth, unto which he had bowed himself down.
48 How the bad works of Satan and evil men are ascribed to God, see Gen. 45 on verse 5; 1 Kings 12 on verse 15.
49 Or, praised. Hebr. blessed. See Gen. 14:20, and the annotation.
22In all this Job 50sinned not, nor 51charged God 52foolishly.
50 Neither in word or in deed.
51 Or, attributed. Hebr. gave.
52 Hebr. unsavory, that is, unbefitting, unreasonable, namely, as might stand in opposition to the nature and attributes of God and the honor of His Name.