Job 1:1-3

Job 1:1 describes Job, his piety and good fortune. The literal translation of the opening words would be Once upon a time there was a man. The use of the perfect denotes that we are dealing not with history but saga. Its purpose is to call attention, not to the exact time of events, but to the individual typical case. It is uncertain what land is meant by Uz. Syria and Edom have been suggested; on the whole, Edom is perhaps the most likely. Job's name is introduced without the addition of his descent, as is usual in the case of a thoroughly historical personage (1 Samuel 1:1). The meaning of the name is not known it formed part of the original tradition. When it is said that Job was perfect and upright, this is from the point of view of civil morality it is not meant in a theological sense. Job's fear of God in the story of the Volksbuch is particularly evidenced by his scrupulousness and dread even of offending in word (Job 1:5; Job 1:22; Job 2:10).

The ideal character of the description of Job's family and wealth is noteworthy. The perfect numbers, seven and three, predominate. Moreover to complete Job's happiness, sons being more esteemed than daughters, he has the larger number of the superior sex. In a word, he is fortunate all round. As to the details of his wealth, as a great Eastern Emeer, he has oxen, asses, sheep, and camels. The oxen, being for ploughing, are counted by the yoke; Job's she-asses only are mentioned, as being more precious than he-asses, because of their milk and their foals the reader is expected to supply the necessary number of males. The camels were used for heavy burdens and distant journeys. All this implies that Job had very extensive lands. The amount of arable land is measured by the number of yoke of oxen. The seven thousand sheep require extensive pastures. Finally, of course, to such wealth in cattle and land corresponds a great household.