Job 1:1-3. Job's name and abode; his piety, and consequent family felicity and worldly prosperity 1. _the land of Uz_ This word occurs several times in the Old Testament: (1) as the name of a son of Aram, Genesis 10:23; (2) as the name of the eldest son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, Genesis 22:2... [ Continue Reading ]
Job's family and wealth. A first principle in the Oriental Wisdom, which corresponds in part to our Ethics, was, that it is well with the righteous and ill with the wicked, Isaiah 3:10-11. This principle is set at the head of the Psalter in Psalms 1, and is reiterated in many shapes as an unalterabl... [ Continue Reading ]
A trait from Job's ordinary life, illustrating the happiness and unity of his children and the father's scrupulous piety 4. _in their houses, every one his day_ lit. _made a feast at the house of each on his day_, or, _at the house of him whose day it was_. The seven sons had homes of their own. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_sent and sanctified them_ that is, most likely, sent _for_them. The sanctification or purification consisted probably in washings and change of garments, Genesis 35:2, and similar rites, and was preparatory to the sacrifice or religious service immediately to be engaged in, as Samuel said to the fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now there was a day when_ lit. _now it fell on a day that the sons of God presented themselves … and Satan came_. The meaning is not that there was a set time for the sons of God presenting themselves, but that they did on a certain day convene and Satan came among them. He came because one of them... [ Continue Reading ]
The disinterestedness of Job's piety brought under suspicion by the Adversary in the Council of Heaven After the scene of happiness and piety presented by Job's home on earth, the Poet draws the veil aside and shews us a scene in heaven. The Council of the Most High convenes. Around the throne of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_From going to and fro_ As the word is used by the Satan of himself there is, naturally, no shade of self-condemnation in it: rather the reverse, he speaks with a certain consciousness of his assiduous faithfulness. The term is used of "the eyes of the Lord, that go to and fro," 2 Chronicles 16:9. W... [ Continue Reading ]
The integrity and godliness attributed to Job by the author of the Poem are confirmed by God Himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
_for nought_ Satan does not dispute Job's piety; only, the devotion of the rich landowner to the Bountiful Giver of all good is not ill to understand! A different estimate of what true religion is and of the things that are difficulties in the way of it was formed by Another, who said: "How hardly s... [ Continue Reading ]
_curse thee to thy face_ that is, renounce thee openly. See on Job 1:5. The phrase _and he will curse thee_has the form of an oath in the Heb. Satan so little believes in the sincerity of human religion that he is not afraid to take his oath that it is hollow.... [ Continue Reading ]
Satan receives permission to try Job, but the length he can go is rigidly bounded by the will of the Most High. Having received his commission he immediately "goes forth," glad to appearance in the opportunity of doing mischief and confident in the result.... [ Continue Reading ]
Job's first trial; and its issue: his reverence towards God remains unshaken Between Job 1:12 there is an interval, an ominous stillness like that which precedes the storm. The poet has drawn aside the curtain to us and we know what is impending. Job knows nothing. His children are about him and he... [ Continue Reading ]
The first stroke, the loss of the oxen and she-asses, with the slaughter of the servants. Job's servants were probably armed, as is usual in the East, and offered resistance, for the Bedawin do not usually shed blood unless opposed. The Sabeans were an Arab tribe, or possibly different tribes bore t... [ Continue Reading ]
The second stroke. The fire of God can hardly have been the sultry, poisonous Samoom, or hot wind of the desert, nor any rain of sulphur such as destroyed Sodom, but was most likely lightning; see 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
The third stroke. The name Chaldeans was perhaps given generally to the tribes that roamed between the cultivated land on the east of the Jordan and the Euphrates. Dividing an attacking force into several bands, so as to fall on the enemy on several sides, was a common piece of Oriental tactics, Jud... [ Continue Reading ]
The fourth stroke, the death of Job's children. The wind struck the four corners of the house, being a whirlwind. It came from the side or region of the desert.... [ Continue Reading ]
Job's demeanour under his sorrows. As became a man of his rank Job had received the messengers sitting. When the full extent of his misery came home to him he arose and gave way to the liveliest expressions of grief. He rent his mantle, in token that his heart was rent with sorrow, as Joel 2:13 says... [ Continue Reading ]
_naked shall I return thither_ The general sense is plain, though the precise idea is obscure. The words "my mother's womb" must be used literally, and _return thither_somewhat inexactly, to describe a condition similar to that which preceded entrance upon life and light. Or, as growth in the womb i... [ Continue Reading ]
The Writer's judgment on Job's demeanour. _In all this_ Both in what he suffered and in what he said and did. Job's expressions of grief were no sin. _charged God foolishly_ Rather as margin, ATTRIBUTED FOLLY TO GOD. The word "folly" hardly expresses the idea, though a better word is not easy to fi... [ Continue Reading ]