THERE WAS A MAN - This has all the appearance of being a true history. Many have regarded the whole book as a fiction, and have supposed that no such person as Job ever lived. But the book opens with the appearance of reality; and the express declaration that there was such a man, the mention of his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WERE BORN UNTO HIM SEVEN SONS AND THREE DAUGHTERS - The same number was given to him again after these were lost, and his severe trials had been endured; see Job 42:13. Of his second family the names of the daughters are mentioned, Job 42:14. Of his first, it is remarkable that neither the... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SUBSTANCE - Margin, or “cattle.” The word used here מקנה _mı̂qneh_ is derived from קנה _qânâh_, to gain or acquire, to buy or purchase, and properly means anything acquired or purchased - property, possessions, riches. The wealth of nomadic tribes, however, consisted mostly in flocks and herds... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS SONS WENT AND FEASTED IN THEIR HOUSES - Dr. Good renders this, “and his sons went to hold a banquet house.” Tindal renders it, “made bankertea.” The Hebrew means, they went and made a “house-feast;” and the idea is, that they gave an entertainment in their dwellings, in the ordinary way in w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS SO, WHEN THE DAYS OF THEIR FEASTING WERE GONE ABOUT - Dr. Good renders this, “as the days of such banquets returned.” But this is not the idea intended. It is, when the banquets had gone round as in a circle through all the families, “then” Job sent and sanctified them. It was not from an... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THERE WAS A DAY - Dr. Good renders this, “And the day came.” Tindal.” Now upon a time.” The Chaldee paraphrasist has presumed to specify the time, and renders it, “Now it happened in the day of judgment (or scrutiny, דדינא ביומא), “in the beginning of the year,” that hosts of angels came to stan... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO SATAN, WHENCE COMEST THOU? - This inquiry does not appear to have been made as if it was improper that Satan should have appeared there, for no blame seems to have been attached to him for this. He came as a spirit that was subject to the control of yahweh; he came with others... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB? - Margin, “Set thine heart on.” The margin is a literal translation of the Hebrew. Schultens remarks on this, that it means more than merely to observe or to look at - since it is abundantly manifest from the following verses that Satan “had” attentively consider... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH JOB FEAR GOD FOR NOUGHT? - “Is his religion disinterested? Would not anyone be willing to worship God in such circumstances?” The idea is that there was nothing genuine about his piety; that religion could not be tried in prosperity; that Job had an abundant compensation for serving God, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU NOT MADE AN HEDGE ABOUT HIM? - Dr. Good remarks, that to give the original word here its full force, it should be derived from the science of engineering, and be rendered, “Hast thou not raised a “palisado” about him?” The Hebrew word used here (שׂוּך _śûk_) properly means “to hedge”; to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PUT FORTH THINE HAND NOW - That is, for the purpose of injuring him, and taking away his property. AND TOUCH ALL THAT HE HATH - Dr. Good renders this, “and smite.” The Vulgate and the Septuagint, “touch.” The Hebrew word used here נגע _nâga‛_ means properly to “touch;” then to touch anyone with... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THAT HE HATH IS IN THY POWER - Margin, as in Hebrew “hand.” That is, all this is now committed to thee, for it is manifest that hitherto Satan had no power to injure even his property. He complained that God had made a hedge around all that Job possessed. Now it was all entrusted to him in order... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS A DAY - That is, on the day on which the regular turn came for the banquet to be held in the house of the older brother; compare the notes at Job 1:4. AND DRINKING WINE - This circumstance is omitted in Job 1:4. It shows that wine was regarded as an essential part of the banquet, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE CAME A MESSENGER UNTO JOB - Hebrew מלאך _mal'âk_; the word usually rendered “angel,” appropriately rendered “messenger” here. The word properly means “one who is sent.” THE OXEN WERE PLOWING - Hebrew “the cattle” (בקר _bâqâr_) including not merely “oxen,” but probably also “cows;” see... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SABEANS - Hebrew שׁבא _sh__e__bâ'_, Vulgate, “Suboei.” The Septuagint gives a paraphrase, καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ αἰχμαλωτεύοντες ἠχμαλώτευσαν _kai_ _elthonia_ _hoi_ _aichmalōteuontes_ _ēchmalōteusan_, “And the plunderers coming, plundered them,” or made them captive. On the situation of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE HE WAS YET SPEAKING - All this indicates the rapidity of the movement of Satan, and his desire to “overwhelm” Job with the suddenness and greatness of his calamities. The. object seems to have been to give him no time to recover from the shock of one form of trial before another came upon him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHALDEANS - The Septuagint translates this, αἱ ἱππεῖς _hai_ _hippeis_), “the horsemen.” Why they thus expressed it is unknown. It may be possible that the Chaldeans were supposed to be distinguished as horsemen, and were principally known as such in their predatory excursions. But it is impos... [ Continue Reading ]
EATING AND DRINKING WINE - ; the notes at Job 1:4, Job 1:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE CAME A GREAT WIND - Such tornadoes are not less common in Oriental countries than in the United States. Indeed they abound more in regions near the equator than they do in those which are more remote; in hot countries than in those of higher latitude. FROM THE WILDERNESS - Margin, “From aside.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JOB AROSE - The phrase to arise, in the Scriptures is often used in the sense of beginning to do anything. It does not necessarily imply that the person had been previously sitting; see 2 Samuel 13:13. AND RENT HIS MANTLE - The word here rendered “mantle” מעיל _m__e__‛ı̂yl_ means an upper or ou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID, NAKED CAME I OUT - That is, destitute of property, for so the connection demands; compare 1 Timothy 6:7; “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” A similar expression also occurs in Pliny, “Hominem natura tanturn nudism.” Nat. Hist. proem. L. vi... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ALL THIS - In all his feelings and expressions on this occasion. JOB SINNED NOT - He expressed just the feelings and manifested just the submission which he ought to do. NOR CHARGED GOD FOOLISHLY - Margin, “Attributed folly to God.” Vulgate, “Neither did he speak any foolish thing against God.”... [ Continue Reading ]