_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._ Satan moves for another trial of Job, which God permits, Job 2:1. Satan smites him with biles from head to foot, Job 2:7; Job 2:8. He is tempted by his wife, but resists the temptation, Job 2:9; Job 2:10. His friends come to comfort him, Job 2:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again there was a day_ Another appointed season, some convenient time after the former calamities. Heath translates ויהי הוים, _vajehi hajom, Again it was the day._ Of this and the two next verses, see notes on Job 1:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hast thou considered_, &c. Hebrew, השׁמת לבךְ, _hashamta libbecha, Hast thou set thy heart on my servant?_ &c. _And still he holdeth fast his integrity_ Notwithstanding all his trials and tribulations, and thy malicious suggestion to the contrary, he continues to be the same perfect and upright man... [ Continue Reading ]
_Skin for skin_, &c. The design of these words is plain, which was to detract from Job, and to diminish that honour and praise which God gave him, by pretending that he had done no more than the meanest men commonly do by the law of self-preservation. And it is equally clear that this was a proverbi... [ Continue Reading ]
_But touch his bone and his flesh_ That is, smite him, not slightly, but to the quick, to the bones and marrow, so that he may feel pain and anguish indeed: _and he will curse thee to thy face_ Will openly and daringly _blaspheme_ thy perfections, and reproach the dispensations of thy providence, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord said, Behold, he is in thy hand_ I give thee permission to try him even in this way: do thy worst at him; afflict him to the uttermost of thy power. _But save his life_ Do not attempt to take that away which I will not suffer thee to do. God had mercy in store for Job, after this trial, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord_ Or, _from the Lord_, απο του Κυριου, as the LXX. render it. Compare Acts 5:41, _They departed_, απο προσωπου του συνεδριου, _from the presence of the council_ that is, _from the council. And smote Job with sore biles_ Ελκει πονηρω, _with a foul ulcer_... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he took a potsherd_, &c. His children and servants were all dead, his wife unkind, and none of those whom he had formerly befriended had so much sense of honour and gratitude as to minister to him in his distress, to furnish him with linen clothes, or lend a hand to cleanse or dress his running... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said his wife_ Whom Satan had spared, that she might be a troubler and tempter to him. For it is his policy to send his temptations by those that are dear to us. We ought, therefore, carefully to watch, that we be not drawn to any evil by them whom we love and value the most. _Dost thou still... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he said, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh_ That is, like a rash, inconsiderate, and weak woman, that does not understand nor mind what she says: or rather, like a wicked and profane person, for such are frequently called _fools_ in the Scriptures. _Shall we receive good, &c.,... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Job's three friends heard of all this_, &c. Who were persons eminent for birth and quality, for wisdom and knowledge, and for the profession of the true religion, being probably, as has been observed on Job 1:1, of the posterity of Abraham, akin to Job, and living in the same country with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they lifted up their eyes afar off_ Namely, at some convenient distance from him; whom they found sitting upon the ground, probably in the open air. _And knew him not_ His countenance being so dreadfully changed and disfigured by the ulcers. _They lifted up their voice and wept_ Through their... [ Continue Reading ]
_So they sat down with him upon the ground_ In the same mournful posture wherein they found him, which indeed was the usual posture of mourners, condoling with him. _Sitting on the ground_, in the language of the eastern people, signifies their passing the time in the deepest mourning. _Seven days a... [ Continue Reading ]