1ἌνθρωπόςG444{N-NSM} τιςG5100{I-NSM} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ἐνG1722{PREP} χώρᾳG5561{N-DSF} τῇG3588{T-DSF} Αυσίτιδι{N-DSF}, ᾧG3739{R-DSM} ὄνομαG3686{N-NSN} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ὁG3588{T-NSM} ἄνθρωποςG444{N-NSM} ἐκεῖνοςG1565{D-NSM} ἀληθινόςG228{A-NSM}, ἄμεμπτοςG273{A-NSM}, δίκαιοςG1342{A-NSM}, θεοσεβήςG2318{A-NSM}, ἀπεχόμενοςG568{V-PMPNS} ἀπὸG575{PREP} παντὸςG3956{A-GSN} πονηροῦG4190{A-GSN} πράγματοςG4229{N-GSN}. 2ἐγένοντοG1096{V-AMI-3P} δὲG1161{PRT} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM} υἱοὶG5207{N-NPM} ἑπτὰG2033{N-NUI} καὶG2532{CONJ} θυγατέρεςG2364{N-NPF} τρεῖςG5140{A-NPF}. 3καὶG2532{CONJ} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} τὰG3588{T-NPN} κτήνηG2934{N-NPN} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} πρόβαταG4263{N-NPN} ἑπτακισχίλιαG2035{A-NPN}, κάμηλοιG2574{N-NPF} τρισχίλιαιG5153{A-NPF}, ζεύγηG2201{N-NPN} βοῶνG1016{N-GPF} πεντακόσιαG4001{A-APN}, ὄνοιG3688{N-NPF} θήλειαιG2338{A-NPF} νομάδες{N-NPF} πεντακόσιαιG4001{A-NPF}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ὑπηρεσία{N-NSF} πολλὴG4183{A-NSF} σφόδραG4970{ADV} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἔργαG2041{N-NPN} μεγάλαG3173{A-NPN} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} γῆςG1065{N-GSF}· καὶG2532{CONJ} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ὁG3588{T-NSM} ἄνθρωποςG444{N-NSM} ἐκεῖνοςG1565{D-NSM} εὐγενὴςG2104{A-NSM} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} ἀφ᾽G575{PREP} ἡλίουG2246{N-GSM} ἀνατολῶνG395{N-GPF}. 4συμπορευόμενοιG4848{V-PMPNP} δὲG1161{PRT} οἱG3588{T-NPM} υἱοὶG5207{N-NPM} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} πρὸςG4314{PREP} ἀλλήλουςG240{D-APM} ἐποιοῦσανG4160{V-AAI-3P} πότονG4224{N-ASM} καθ᾽G2596{PREP} ἑκάστηνG1538{A-ASF} ἡμέρανG2250{N-ASF} συμπαραλαμβάνοντεςG4838{V-PAPNP} ἅμαG260{ADV} καὶG2532{ADV} τὰςG3588{T-APF} τρεῖςG5140{A-APF} ἀδελφὰςG79{N-APF} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM} ἐσθίεινG2068{V-PAN} καὶG2532{CONJ} πίνεινG4095{V-PAN} μετ᾽G3326{PREP} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM}. 5καὶG2532{CONJ} ὡςG3739{CONJ} ἂνG302{PRT} συνετελέσθησανG4931{V-API-3P} αἱG3588{T-NPF} ἡμέραιG2250{N-NPF} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} πότουG4224{N-GSM}, ἀπέστελλενG649{V-IAI-3S} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐκαθάριζενG2511{V-IAI-3S} αὐτοὺςG846{D-APM} ἀνιστάμενοςG450{V-PMPNS} τὸG3588{T-ASN} πρωὶG4404{ADV} καὶG2532{CONJ} προσέφερενG4374{V-IAI-3S} περὶG4012{PREP} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM} θυσίαςG2378{N-APF} κατὰG2596{PREP} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} ἀριθμὸνG706{N-ASM} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM} καὶG2532{CONJ} μόσχονG3448{N-ASM} ἕναG1519{A-ASM} περὶG4012{PREP} ἁμαρτίαςG266{N-APF} περὶG4012{PREP} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} ψυχῶνG5590{N-GPF} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM}· ἔλεγενG3004{V-IAI-3S} γὰρG1063{PRT} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} ΜήποτεG3379{ADV} οἱG3588{T-NPM} υἱοίG5207{N-NPM} μουG1473{P-GS} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} διανοίᾳG1271{N-DSF} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM} κακὰG2556{A-APN} ἐνενόησαν{V-AAI-3P} πρὸςG4314{PREP} θεόνG2316{N-ASM}. οὕτωςG3778{ADV} οὖνG3767{PRT} ἐποίειG4160{V-IAI-3S} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} πάσαςG3956{A-APF} τὰςG3588{T-APF} ἡμέραςG2250{N-APF}. 6ΚαὶG2532{CONJ} ὡςG3739{CONJ} ἐγένετοG1096{V-ANI-3S} ἡG3588{T-NSF} ἡμέραG2250{N-NSF} αὕτηG3778{D-NSF}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἰδοὺG2400{INJ} ἦλθονG2064{V-AAI-3P} οἱG3588{T-NPM} ἄγγελοιG32{N-NPM} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} θεοῦG2316{N-GSM} παραστῆναιG3936{V-AAN} ἐνώπιονG1799{PREP} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ὁG3588{T-NSM} διάβολοςG1228{N-NSM} ἦλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} μετ᾽G3326{PREP} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM}. 7καὶG2532{CONJ} εἶπενG2036{V-AAI-3S} ὁG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} τῷG3588{T-DSM} διαβόλῳG1228{N-DSM} ΠόθενG4159{ADV} παραγέγοναςG3854{V-RMI-2S}; καὶG2532{CONJ} ἀποκριθεὶςG611{V-APPNS} ὁG3588{T-NSM} διάβολοςG1228{N-NSM} τῷG3588{T-DSM} יהוהH3068{N-DSM} εἶπενG2036{V-AAI-3S} ΠεριελθὼνG4022{V-AAPNS} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} γῆνG1065{N-ASF} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐμπεριπατήσαςG1704{V-AAPNS} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} ὑπ᾽G5259{PREP} οὐρανὸνG3772{N-ASM} πάρειμιG3918{V-PAI-1S}. 8καὶG2532{CONJ} εἶπενG2036{V-AAI-3S} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM} ὁG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} ΠροσέσχεςG4337{V-AAI-2S} τῇG3588{T-DSF} διανοίᾳG1271{N-DSF} σουG4771{P-GS} κατὰG2596{PREP} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} παιδόςG3816{N-GSM} μουG1473{P-GS} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI}, ὅτιG3754{CONJ} οὐκG3364{ADV} ἔστινG1510{V-PAI-3S} κατ᾽G2596{PREP} αὐτὸνG846{D-ASM} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} γῆςG1065{N-GSF} ἄνθρωποςG444{N-NSM} ἄμεμπτοςG273{A-NSM}, ἀληθινόςG228{A-NSM}, θεοσεβήςG2318{A-NSM}, ἀπεχόμενοςG568{V-PMPNS} ἀπὸG575{PREP} παντὸςG3956{A-GSN} πονηροῦG4190{A-GSN} πράγματοςG4229{N-GSN}; 9ἀπεκρίθηG611{V-API-3S} δὲG1161{PRT} ὁG3588{T-NSM} διάβολοςG1228{N-NSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} εἶπενG2036{V-AAI-3S} ἐναντίονG1726{PREP} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} ΜὴG3165{ADV} δωρεὰνG1431{N-ASF} σέβεταιG4576{V-PMI-3S} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} τὸνG3588{T-ASM} θεόνG2316{N-ASM}; 10οὐG3364{ADV} σὺG4771{P-NS} περιέφραξας{V-AAI-2S} τὰG3588{T-APN} ἔξωG1854{ADV} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-APN} ἔσωG2080{PREP} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} οἰκίαςG3614{N-GSF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-APN} ἔξωG1854{PREP} πάντωνG3956{A-GPM} τῶνG3588{T-GPM} ὄντωνG1510{V-PAPGP} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM} κύκλῳG2945{N-DSM}; τὰG3588{T-APN} ἔργαG2041{N-APN} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} χειρῶνG5495{N-GPF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} εὐλόγησαςG2127{V-AAI-2S} καὶG2532{CONJ} τὰG3588{T-APN} κτήνηG2934{N-APN} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} πολλὰG4183{A-APN} ἐποίησαςG4160{V-AAI-2S} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} γῆςG1065{N-GSF}. 11ἀλλὰG235{CONJ} ἀπόστειλονG649{V-AAD-2S} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} χεῖράG5495{N-ASF} σουG4771{P-GS} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἅψαιG680{V-AMD-2S} πάντωνG3956{A-GPN}, ὧνG3739{R-GPN} ἔχειG2192{V-PAI-3S}· εἰG1487{CONJ} μὴνG3303{PRT} εἰςG1519{PREP} πρόσωπόνG4383{N-ASN} σεG4771{P-AS} εὐλογήσειG2127{V-FAI-3S}. 12τότεG5119{ADV} εἶπενG2036{V-AAI-3S} ὁG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} τῷG3588{T-DSM} διαβόλῳG1228{N-DSM} ἸδοὺG2400{INJ} πάνταG3956{A-ASN}, ὅσαG3745{A-NPN} ἔστινG1510{V-PAI-3S} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM}, δίδωμιG1325{V-PAI-1S} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} χειρίG5495{N-DSF} σουG4771{P-GS}, ἀλλὰG235{CONJ} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} μὴG3165{ADV} ἅψῃG680{V-FMI-2S}. καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐξῆλθενG1831{V-AAI-3S} ὁG3588{T-NSM} διάβολοςG1228{N-NSM} παρὰG3844{PREP} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM}. 13ΚαὶG2532{CONJ} ἦνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ὡςG3739{CONJ} ἡG3588{T-NSF} ἡμέραG2250{N-NSF} αὕτηG3778{D-NSF}, οἱG3588{T-NPM} υἱοὶG5207{N-NPM} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} αἱG3588{T-NPF} θυγατέρεςG2364{N-NPF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} ἔπινονG4095{V-IAI-3P} οἶνονG3631{N-ASM} ἐνG1722{PREP} τῇG3588{T-DSF} οἰκίᾳG3614{N-DSF} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} ἀδελφοῦG80{N-GSM} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} πρεσβυτέρουG4245{A-GSM}. 14καὶG2532{CONJ} ἰδοὺG2400{INJ} ἄγγελοςG32{N-NSM} ἦλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} πρὸςG4314{PREP} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} καὶG2532{CONJ} εἶπενG2036{V-AAI-3S} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM} ΤὰG3588{T-NPN} ζεύγηG2201{N-NPN} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} βοῶνG1016{N-GPF} ἠροτρίαG722{V-IAI-3S}, καὶG2532{CONJ} αἱG3588{T-NPF} θήλειαιG2338{A-NPF} ὄνοιG3688{N-NPF} ἐβόσκοντοG1006{V-IMI-3P} ἐχόμεναιG2192{V-PMPNP} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPF}· 15καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐλθόντεςG2064{V-AAPNP} οἱG3588{T-NPM} αἰχμαλωτεύοντεςG162{V-PAPNP} ᾐχμαλώτευσανG162{V-AAI-3P} αὐτὰςG846{D-APF} καὶG2532{CONJ} τοὺςG3588{T-APM} παῖδαςG3816{N-APM} ἀπέκτεινανG615{V-AAI-3P} ἐνG1722{PREP} μαχαίραιςG3162{N-DPF}· σωθεὶςG4982{V-APPNS} δὲG1161{PRT} ἐγὼG1473{P-NS} μόνοςG3441{A-NSM} ἦλθονG2064{V-AAI-1S} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ἀπαγγεῖλαίG518{V-AAN} σοιG4771{P-DS}. 16ἜτιG2089{ADV} τούτουG3778{D-GSM} λαλοῦντοςG2980{V-PAPGS} ἦλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} ἕτεροςG2087{A-NSM} ἄγγελοςG32{N-NSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} εἶπενG3004{V-AAI-3S} πρὸςG4314{PREP} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} ΠῦρG4442{N-NSN} ἔπεσενG4098{V-AAI-3S} ἐκG1537{PREP} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} οὐρανοῦG3772{N-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} κατέκαυσενG2618{V-AAI-3S} τὰG3588{T-APN} πρόβαταG4263{N-APN} καὶG2532{CONJ} τοὺςG3588{T-APM} ποιμέναςG4166{N-APM} κατέφαγενG2719{V-AAI-3S} ὁμοίωςG3664{ADV}· καὶG2532{CONJ} σωθεὶςG4982{V-APPNS} ἐγὼG1473{P-NS} μόνοςG3441{A-NSM} ἦλθονG2064{V-AAI-1S} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ἀπαγγεῖλαίG518{V-AAN} σοιG4771{P-DS}. 17ἜτιG2089{ADV} τούτουG3778{D-GSM} λαλοῦντοςG2980{V-PAPGS} ἦλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} ἕτεροςG2087{A-NSM} ἄγγελοςG32{N-NSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} εἶπενG3004{V-AAI-3S} πρὸςG4314{PREP} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} ΟἱG3588{T-NPM} ἱππεῖςG2460{N-NPM} ἐποίησανG4160{V-AAI-3P} ἡμῖνG1473{P-DP} κεφαλὰςG2776{N-APF} τρεῖςG5140{A-APF} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐκύκλωσανG2944{V-AAI-3P} τὰςG3588{T-APF} καμήλουςG2574{N-APF} καὶG2532{CONJ} ᾐχμαλώτευσανG162{V-AAI-3P} αὐτὰςG846{D-APF} καὶG2532{CONJ} τοὺςG3588{T-APM} παῖδαςG3816{N-APM} ἀπέκτεινανG615{V-AAI-3P} ἐνG1722{PREP} μαχαίραιςG3162{N-DPF}· ἐσώθηνG4982{V-API-1S} δὲG1161{PRT} ἐγὼG1473{P-NS} μόνοςG3441{A-NSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἦλθονG2064{V-AAI-1S} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ἀπαγγεῖλαίG518{V-AAN} σοιG4771{P-DS}. 18ἜτιG2089{ADV} τούτουG3778{D-GSM} λαλοῦντοςG2980{V-PAPGS} ἄλλοςG243{D-NSM} ἄγγελοςG32{N-NSM} ἔρχεταιG2064{V-PMI-3S} λέγωνG3004{V-PAPNS} τῷG3588{T-DSM} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} ΤῶνG3588{T-GPM} υἱῶνG5207{N-GPM} σουG4771{P-GS} καὶG2532{CONJ} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} θυγατέρωνG2364{N-GPF} σουG4771{P-GS} ἐσθιόντωνG2068{V-PAPGP} καὶG2532{CONJ} πινόντωνG4095{V-PAPGP} παρὰG3844{PREP} τῷG3588{T-DSM} ἀδελφῷG80{N-DSM} αὐτῶνG846{D-GPM} τῷG3588{T-DSM} πρεσβυτέρῳG4245{A-DSM} 19ἐξαίφνηςG1810{ADV} πνεῦμαG4151{N-NSN} μέγαG3173{A-NSN} ἐπῆλθενG1904{V-AAI-3S} ἐκG1537{PREP} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} ἐρήμουG2048{N-GSF} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἥψατοG680{V-ANI-3S} τῶνG3588{T-GPF} τεσσάρωνG5064{A-GPF} γωνιῶνG1137{N-GPF} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} οἰκίαςG3614{N-GSF}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἔπεσενG4098{V-AAI-3S} ἡG3588{T-NSF} οἰκίαG3614{N-NSF} ἐπὶG1909{PREP} τὰG3588{T-APN} παιδίαG3813{N-APN} σουG4771{P-GS}, καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐτελεύτησανG5053{V-AAI-3P}· ἐσώθηνG4982{V-API-1S} δὲG1161{PRT} ἐγὼG1473{P-NS} μόνοςG3441{A-NSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἦλθονG2064{V-AAI-1S} τοῦG3588{T-GSN} ἀπαγγεῖλαίG518{V-AAN} σοιG4771{P-DS}. 20ΟὕτωςG3778{ADV} ἀναστὰςG450{V-AAPNS} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} διέρρηξενG1284{V-AAI-3S} τὰG3588{T-APN} ἱμάτιαG2440{N-APN} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐκείρατοG2751{V-ANI-3S} τὴνG3588{T-ASF} κόμηνG2864{N-ASF} τῆςG3588{T-GSF} κεφαλῆςG2776{N-GSF} αὐτοῦG846{D-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} πεσὼνG4098{V-AAPNS} χαμαὶG5476{ADV} προσεκύνησενG4352{V-AAI-3S} καὶG2532{CONJ} εἶπενG2036{V-AAI-3S} 21ΑὐτὸςG846{D-NSM} γυμνὸςG1131{A-NSM} ἐξῆλθονG1831{V-AAI-1S} ἐκG1537{PREP} κοιλίαςG2836{N-GSF} μητρόςG3384{N-GSF} μουG1473{P-GS}, γυμνὸςG1131{A-NSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἀπελεύσομαιG565{V-FMI-1S} ἐκεῖG1563{ADV}· ὁG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} ἔδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S}, ὁG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} ἀφείλατοG851{V-ANI-3S}· ὡςG3739{CONJ} τῷG3588{T-DSM} יהוהH3068{N-DSM} ἔδοξενG1380{V-AAI-3S}, οὕτωςG3778{ADV} καὶG2532{CONJ} ἐγένετοG1096{V-ANI-3S}· εἴηG1510{V-PAO-3S} τὸG3588{T-NSN} ὄνομαG3686{N-NSN} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} εὐλογημένονG2127{V-RMPNS}. 22ἘνG1722{PREP} τούτοιςG3778{D-DPN} πᾶσινG3956{A-DPN} τοῖςG3588{T-DPN} συμβεβηκόσινG4819{V-RAPDP} αὐτῷG846{D-DSM} οὐδὲνG3762{A-ASN} ἥμαρτενG264{V-AAI-3S} ΙωβG2492{N-PRI} ἐναντίονG1726{PREP} τοῦG3588{T-GSM} κυρίουG2962{N-GSM} καὶG2532{CONJ} οὐκG3364{ADV} ἔδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S} ἀφροσύνηνG877{N-ASF} τῷG3588{T-DSM} θεῷG2316{N-DSM}.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE HOLINESS OF JOB, HIS WEALTH, &c. (
Job 1:1-
Job 1:5)
Uz--north of Arabia-Deserta, lying towards the Euphrates. It was in this neighborhood, and not in that of Idumea, that the Chaldeans and Sabeans who plundered him dwell. The Arabs divide their country into the north, called Sham, or "the left"; and the south, called Yemen, or "the right"; for they faced east; and so the west was on their left, and the south on their right. Arabia-Deserta was on the east, Arabia-Petrća on the west, and Arabia-Felix on the south.
Job--The name comes from an Arabic word meaning "to return," namely, to God, "to repent," referring to his end [EICHORN]; or rather from a Hebrew word signifying one to whom enmity was shown, "greatly tried" [GESENIUS]. Significant names were often given among the Hebrews, from some event of later life (compare
Gen 4:2, Abel--a "feeder" of sheep). So the emir of Uz was by general consent called Job, on account of his "trials." The only other person so called was a son of Issachar (
Gen 46:13).
perfect--not absolute or faultless perfection (compare
Job 9:20;
Eccl 7:20), but integrity, sincerity, and consistency on the whole, in all relations of life (
Gen 6:9;
Gen 17:1;
Pro 10:9;
Matt 5:48). It was the fear of God that kept Job from evil (
Pro 8:13).
3 she-asses--prized on account of their milk, and for riding (
Judg 5:10). Houses and lands are not mentioned among the emir's wealth, as nomadic tribes dwell in movable tents and live chiefly by pasture, the right to the soil not being appropriated by individuals. The "five hundred yoke of oxen" imply, however, that Job tilled the soil. He seems also to have had a dwelling in a town, in which respect he differed from the patriarchs. Camels are well called "ships of the desert," especially valuable for caravans, as being able to lay in a store of water that suffices them for days, and to sustain life on a very few thistles or thorns.
household-- (
Gen 26:14). The other rendering which the Hebrew admits, "husbandry," is not so probable.
men of the east--denoting in Scripture those living east of Palestine; as the people of North Arabia-Deserta (
Judg 6:3;
Ezek 25:4).
4 every one his day--namely, the birthday (
Job 3:1). Implying the love and harmony of the members of the family, as contrasted with the ruin which soon broke up such a scene of happiness. The sisters are specified, as these feasts were not for revelry, which would be inconsistent with the presence of sisters. These latter were invited by the brothers, though they gave no invitations in return.
5 when the days of their feasting were gone about--that is, at the end of all the birthdays collectively, when the banquets had gone round through all the families.
cursed God--The same Hebrew word means to "curse," and to "bless"; GESENIUS says, the original sense is to "kneel," and thus it came to mean bending the knee in order to invoke either a blessing or a curse. Cursing is a perversion of blessing, as all sin is of goodness. Sin is a degeneracy, not a generation. It is not, however, likely that Job should fear the possibility of his sons cursing God. The sense "bid farewell to," derived from the blessing customary at parting, seems sufficient (
Gen 47:10). Thus UMBREIT translates "may have dismissed God from their hearts"; namely, amid the intoxication of pleasure (
Pro 20:1). This act illustrates Job's "fear of God" (
Job 1:1).
6 SATAN, APPEARING BEFORE GOD, FALSELY ACCUSES JOB. (
Job 1:6-
Job 1:12)
sons of God--angels (
Job 38:7;
1Kgs 22:19). They present themselves to render account of their "ministry" in other parts of the universe (
Heb 1:14).
the Lord--Hebrew, JEHOVAH, the self-existing God, faithful to His promises. God says (
Exod 6:3) that He was not known to the patriarchs by this name. But, as the name occurs previously in
Gen 2:7-
Gen 2:9, &c., what must be meant is, not until the time of delivering Israel by Moses was He known peculiarly and publicly in the character which the name means; namely, "making things to be," fulfilling the promises made to their forefathers. This name, therefore, here, is no objection against the antiquity of the Book of Job.
Satan--The tradition was widely spread that he had been the agent in Adam's temptation. Hence his name is given without comment. The feeling with which he looks on Job is similar to that with which he looked on Adam in Paradise: emboldened by his success in the case of one not yet fallen, he is confident that the piety of Job, one of a fallen race, will not stand the test. He had fallen himself (
Job 4:19;
Job 15:15;
Jude 1:6). In the Book of Job, Satan is first designated by name: "Satan," Hebrew, "one who lies in wait"; an "adversary" in a court of justice (
1Chr 21:1;
Ps 109:6;
Zech 3:1); "accuser" (
Rev 12:10). He has the law of God on his side by man's sin, and against man. But Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law for us; justice is once more on man's side against Satan (
Isa 42:21); and so Jesus Christ can plead as our Advocate against the adversary. "Devil" is the Greek name--the "slanderer," or "accuser." He is subject to God, who uses his ministry for chastising man. In Arabic, Satan is often applied to a serpent (
Gen 3:1). He is called prince of this world (
John 12:31); the god of this world (
2Cor 4:4); prince of the power of the air (
Eph 2:2). God here questions him, in order to vindicate His own ways before angels.
7 going to and fro--rather, "hurrying rapidly to and fro." The original idea in Arabic is the heat of haste (
Matt 12:43;
1Pet 5:8). Satan seems to have had some peculiar connection with this earth. Perhaps he was formerly its ruler under God. Man succeeded to the vice royalty (
Gen 1:26;
Ps 8:6). Man then lost it and Satan became prince of this world. The Son of man (
Ps 8:4) --the representative man, regains the forfeited inheritance (
Rev 11:15). Satan's replies are characteristically curt and short. When the angels appear before God, Satan is among them, even as there was a Judas among the apostles.
8 considered--Margin, "set thine heart on"; that is, considered attentively. No true servant of God escapes the eye of the adversary of God.
9 fear God for naught--It is a mark of the children of Satan to sneer and not give credit to any for disinterested piety. Not so much God's gifts, as God Himself is "the reward" of His people (
Gen 15:1).
10 his substance is increased--literally, "spread out like a flood"; Job's herds covered the face of the country.
11 curse thee to thy face--in antithesis to God's praise of him (
Job 1:8), "one that feareth God." Satan's words are too true of many. Take away their prosperity and you take away their religion (
Mal 3:14).
12 in thy power--Satan has no power against man till God gives it. God would not touch Job with His own hand, though Satan asks this (
Job 1:11, "thine"), but He allows the enemy to do so.
13 JOB, IN AFFLICTION, BLESSES GOD, &c. (
Job 1:13-
Job 1:22)
wine--not specified in
Job 1:4. The mirth inspired by the "wine" here contrasts the more sadly with the alarm which interrupted it.
14 the asses feeding beside them--Hebrew, "she asses." A graphic picture of rural repose and peace; the more dreadful, therefore, by contrast is the sudden attack of the plundering Arabs.
15 Sabeans--not those of Arabia-Felix, but those of Arabia-Deserta, descending from Sheba, grandson of Abraham and Keturah (
Gen 25:3). The Bedouin Arabs of the present day resemble, in marauding habits, these Sabeans (compare
Gen 16:12).
I alone am escaped--cunningly contrived by Satan. One in each case escapes (
Job 1:16-
Job 1:17,
Job 1:19), and brings the same kind of message. This was to overwhelm Job, and leave him no time to recover from the rapid succession of calamities--"misfortunes seldom come single."
16 fire of God--Hebraism for "a mighty fire"; as "cedars of God"--"lofty cedars" [
Ps 80:10]. Not lightning, which would not consume all the sheep and servants. UMBREIT understands it of the burning wind of Arabia, called by the Turks "wind of poison." "The prince of the power of the air" [
Eph 2:2] is permitted to have control over such destructive agents.
17 Chaldeans--not merely robbers as the Sabeans; but experienced in war, as is implied by "they set in array three bands" (
Hab 1:6-
Hab 1:8). RAWLINSON distinguishes three periods: 1. When their seat of empire was in the south, towards the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates. The Chaldean period, from 2300 B.C. to 1500 B.C. In this period was Chedorlaomer (
Gen 14:1), the Kudur of Hur or Ur of the Chaldees, in the Assyrian inscriptions, and the conqueror of Syria. 2. From 1500 to 625 B.C., the Assyrian period. 3. From 625 to 538 B.C. (when Cyrus the Persian took Babylon), the Babylonian period. "Chaldees" in Hebrew--Chasaim. They were akin, perhaps, to the Hebrews, as Abraham's sojourn in Ur, and the name "Chesed," a nephew of Abraham, imply. The three bands were probably in order to attack the three separate thousands of Job's camels (
Job 1:3).
19 a great wind from the wilderness--south of Job's house. The tornado came the more violently over the desert, being uninterrupted (
Isa 21:1;
Hos 13:15).
the young men--rather, "the young people"; including the daughters (so in
Ruth 2:21).
20 Job arose--not necessarily from sitting. Inward excitement is implied, and the beginning to do anything. He had heard the other messages calmly, but on hearing of the death of his children, then he arose; or, as EICHORN translates, he started up (
2Sam 13:31). The rending of the mantle was the conventional mark of deep grief (
Gen 37:34). Orientals wear a tunic or shirt, and loose pantaloons; and over these a flowing mantle (especially great persons and women). Shaving the head was also usual in grief (
Jer 41:5;
Mic 1:16).
21 Naked-- (
1Tim 6:7). "Mother's womb" is poetically the earth, the universal mother (
Eccl 5:15;
Eccl 12:7;
Ps 139:15). Job herein realizes God's assertion (
Job 1:8) against Satan's (
Job 1:11). Instead of cursing, he blesses the name of JEHOVAH (Hebrew). The name of Jehovah, is Jehovah Himself, as manifested to us in His attributes (
Isa 9:6).
22 nor charged God foolishly--rather, "allowed himself to commit no folly against God" [UMBREIT].
Job 2:10 proves that this is the meaning. Not as Margin "attributed no folly to God." Hasty words against God, though natural in the bitterness of grief, are folly; literally, an "insipid, unsavory" thing (
Job 6:6;
Jer 23:13, Margin). Folly in Scripture is continually equivalent to wickedness. For when man sins, it is himself, not God, whom he injures (
Pro 8:36). We are to submit to trials, not because we see the reasons for them, nor yet as though they were matters of chance, but because God wills them, and has a right to send them, and has His own good reasons in sending them.