1ανθρωποςG444{N-NSM} τιςG5100{I-NSM} ηνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ενG1722{PREP} χωραG5561{N-DSF} τηG3588{T-DSF} αυσιτιδι{N-DSF} ωG3739{R-DSM} ονομαG3686{N-NSN} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} ηνG1510{V-IAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} ανθρωποςG444{N-NSM} εκεινοςG1565{D-NSM} αληθινοςG228{A-NSM} αμεμπτοςG273{A-NSM} δικαιοςG1342{A-NSM} θεοσεβηςG2318{A-NSM} απεχομενοςG568{V-PMPNS} αποG575{PREP} παντοςG3956{A-GSN} πονηρουG4190{A-GSN} πραγματοςG4229{N-GSN} 2εγενοντοG1096{V-AMI-3P} δεG1161{PRT} αυτωG846{D-DSM} υιοιG5207{N-NPM} επταG2033{N-NUI} καιG2532{CONJ} θυγατερεςG2364{N-NPF} τρειςG5140{A-NPF} 3καιG2532{CONJ} ηνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ταG3588{T-NPN} κτηνηG2934{N-NPN} αυτουG846{D-GSM} προβαταG4263{N-NPN} επτακισχιλιαG2035{A-NPN} καμηλοιG2574{N-NPF} τρισχιλιαιG5153{A-NPF} ζευγηG2201{N-NPN} βοωνG1016{N-GPF} πεντακοσιαG4001{A-APN} ονοιG3688{N-NPF} θηλειαιG2338{A-NPF} νομαδες{N-NPF} πεντακοσιαιG4001{A-NPF} καιG2532{CONJ} υπηρεσια{N-NSF} πολληG4183{A-NSF} σφοδραG4970{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} εργαG2041{N-NPN} μεγαλαG3173{A-NPN} ηνG1510{V-IAI-3S} αυτωG846{D-DSM} επιG1909{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1065{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ηνG1510{V-IAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} ανθρωποςG444{N-NSM} εκεινοςG1565{D-NSM} ευγενηςG2104{A-NSM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} αφG575{PREP} ηλιουG2246{N-GSM} ανατολωνG395{N-GPF} 4συμπορευομενοιG4848{V-PMPNP} δεG1161{PRT} οιG3588{T-NPM} υιοιG5207{N-NPM} αυτουG846{D-GSM} προςG4314{PREP} αλληλους{D-APM} εποιουσανG4160{V-AAI-3P} ποτονG4224{N-ASM} καθG2596{PREP} εκαστηνG1538{A-ASF} ημερανG2250{N-ASF} συμπαραλαμβανοντεςG4838{V-PAPNP} αμαG260{ADV} καιG2532{ADV} ταςG3588{T-APF} τρειςG5140{A-APF} αδελφαςG79{N-APF} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} εσθιεινG2068{V-PAN} καιG2532{CONJ} πινεινG4095{V-PAN} μετG3326{PREP} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} 5καιG2532{CONJ} ωςG3739{CONJ} ανG302{PRT} συνετελεσθησανG4931{V-API-3P} αιG3588{T-NPF} ημεραιG2250{N-NPF} τουG3588{T-GSM} ποτουG4224{N-GSM} απεστελλενG649{V-IAI-3S} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} εκαθαριζενG2511{V-IAI-3S} αυτουςG846{D-APM} ανισταμενοςG450{V-PMPNS} τοG3588{T-ASN} πρωιG4404{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} προσεφερενG4374{V-IAI-3S} περιG4012{PREP} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} θυσιαςG2378{N-APF} καταG2596{PREP} τονG3588{T-ASM} αριθμονG706{N-ASM} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} καιG2532{CONJ} μοσχονG3448{N-ASM} εναG1519{A-ASM} περιG4012{PREP} αμαρτιαςG266{N-APF} περιG4012{PREP} τωνG3588{T-GPF} ψυχωνG5590{N-GPF} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} ελεγενG3004{V-IAI-3S} γαρG1063{PRT} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} μηποτεG3379{ADV} οιG3588{T-NPM} υιοιG5207{N-NPM} μουG1473{P-GS} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} διανοιαG1271{N-DSF} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} κακαG2556{A-APN} ενενοησαν{V-AAI-3P} προςG4314{PREP} θεονG2316{N-ASM} ουτωςG3778{ADV} ουνG3767{PRT} εποιειG4160{V-IAI-3S} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} πασαςG3956{A-APF} ταςG3588{T-APF} ημεραςG2250{N-APF} 6καιG2532{CONJ} ωςG3739{CONJ} εγενετοG1096{V-AMI-3S} ηG3588{T-NSF} ημεραG2250{N-NSF} αυτηG3778{D-NSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ιδουG2400{INJ} ηλθονG2064{V-AAI-3P} οιG3588{T-NPM} αγγελοιG32{N-NPM} τουG3588{T-GSM} θεουG2316{N-GSM} παραστηναιG3936{V-AAN} ενωπιονG1799{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} οG3588{T-NSM} διαβολοςG1228{N-NSM} ηλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} μετG3326{PREP} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} 7καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} τωG3588{T-DSM} διαβολωG1228{N-DSM} ποθενG4159{ADV} παραγεγοναςG3854{V-RMI-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} αποκριθεις{V-APPNS} οG3588{T-NSM} διαβολοςG1228{N-NSM} τωG3588{T-DSM} יהוהH3068{N-DSM} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} περιελθωνG4022{V-AAPNS} τηνG3588{T-ASF} γηνG1065{N-ASF} καιG2532{CONJ} εμπεριπατησαςG1704{V-AAPNS} τηνG3588{T-ASF} υπG5259{PREP} ουρανονG3772{N-ASM} παρειμιG3918{V-PAI-1S} 8καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} αυτωG846{D-DSM} οG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} προσεσχεςG4337{V-AAI-2S} τηG3588{T-DSF} διανοιαG1271{N-DSF} σουG4771{P-GS} καταG2596{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} παιδοςG3816{N-GSM} μουG1473{P-GS} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} οτιG3754{CONJ} ουκG3364{ADV} εστινG1510{V-PAI-3S} κατG2596{PREP} αυτονG846{D-ASM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} επιG1909{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1065{N-GSF} ανθρωποςG444{N-NSM} αμεμπτοςG273{A-NSM} αληθινοςG228{A-NSM} θεοσεβηςG2318{A-NSM} απεχομενοςG568{V-PMPNS} αποG575{PREP} παντοςG3956{A-GSN} πονηρουG4190{A-GSN} πραγματοςG4229{N-GSN} 9απεκριθη{V-API-3S} δεG1161{PRT} οG3588{T-NSM} διαβολοςG1228{N-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} εναντιονG1726{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} μηG3165{ADV} δωρεανG1431{N-ASF} σεβεταιG4576{V-PMI-3S} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} τονG3588{T-ASM} θεονG2316{N-ASM} 10ουG3364{ADV} συG4771{P-NS} περιεφραξας{V-AAI-2S} ταG3588{T-APN} εξωG1854{ADV} αυτουG846{D-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} εσωG2080{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} οικιαςG3614{N-GSF} αυτουG846{D-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} εξωG1854{PREP} παντωνG3956{A-GPM} τωνG3588{T-GPM} οντωνG1510{V-PAPGP} αυτωG846{D-DSM} κυκλω{N-DSM} ταG3588{T-APN} εργαG2041{N-APN} τωνG3588{T-GPF} χειρωνG5495{N-GPF} αυτουG846{D-GSM} ευλογησαςG2127{V-AAI-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} ταG3588{T-APN} κτηνηG2934{N-APN} αυτουG846{D-GSM} πολλαG4183{A-APN} εποιησαςG4160{V-AAI-2S} επιG1909{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} γηςG1065{N-GSF} 11αλλαG235{CONJ} αποστειλονG649{V-AAD-2S} τηνG3588{T-ASF} χειραG5495{N-ASF} σουG4771{P-GS} καιG2532{CONJ} αψαιG680{V-AMD-2S} παντωνG3956{A-GPN} ωνG3739{R-GPN} εχειG2192{V-PAI-3S} ειG1487{CONJ} μηνG3303{PRT} ειςG1519{PREP} προσωπονG4383{N-ASN} σεG4771{P-AS} ευλογησειG2127{V-FAI-3S} 12τοτεG5119{ADV} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} τωG3588{T-DSM} διαβολωG1228{N-DSM} ιδουG2400{INJ} πανταG3956{A-ASN} οσαG3745{A-NPN} εστινG1510{V-PAI-3S} αυτωG846{D-DSM} διδωμιG1325{V-PAI-1S} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} χειριG5495{N-DSF} σουG4771{P-GS} αλλαG235{CONJ} αυτουG846{D-GSM} μηG3165{ADV} αψηG680{V-FMI-2S} καιG2532{CONJ} εξηλθενG1831{V-AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} διαβολοςG1228{N-NSM} παραG3844{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} 13καιG2532{CONJ} ηνG1510{V-IAI-3S} ωςG3739{CONJ} ηG3588{T-NSF} ημεραG2250{N-NSF} αυτηG3778{D-NSF} οιG3588{T-NPM} υιοιG5207{N-NPM} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} αιG3588{T-NPF} θυγατερεςG2364{N-NPF} αυτουG846{D-GSM} επινονG4095{V-IAI-3P} οινονG3631{N-ASM} ενG1722{PREP} τηG3588{T-DSF} οικιαG3614{N-DSF} τουG3588{T-GSM} αδελφουG80{N-GSM} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} τουG3588{T-GSM} πρεσβυτερουG4245{A-GSM} 14καιG2532{CONJ} ιδουG2400{INJ} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} ηλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} προςG4314{PREP} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} αυτωG846{D-DSM} ταG3588{T-NPN} ζευγηG2201{N-NPN} τωνG3588{T-GPF} βοωνG1016{N-GPF} ηροτρια{V-IAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} αιG3588{T-NPF} θηλειαιG2338{A-NPF} ονοιG3688{N-NPF} εβοσκοντοG1006{V-IMI-3P} εχομεναιG2192{V-PMPNP} αυτωνG846{D-GPF} 15καιG2532{CONJ} ελθοντεςG2064{V-AAPNP} οιG3588{T-NPM} αιχμαλωτευοντεςG162{V-PAPNP} ηχμαλωτευσανG162{V-AAI-3P} αυταςG846{D-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} τουςG3588{T-APM} παιδαςG3816{N-APM} απεκτεινανG615{V-AAI-3P} ενG1722{PREP} μαχαιραιςG3162{N-DPF} σωθειςG4982{V-APPNS} δεG1161{PRT} εγωG1473{P-NS} μονοςG3441{A-NSM} ηλθονG2064{V-AAI-1S} τουG3588{T-GSN} απαγγειλαι{V-AAN} σοιG4771{P-DS} 16ετιG2089{ADV} τουτουG3778{D-GSM} λαλουντοςG2980{V-PAPGS} ηλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} ετεροςG2087{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} προςG4314{PREP} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} πυρG4442{N-NSN} επεσενG4098{V-AAI-3S} εκG1537{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} ουρανουG3772{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} κατεκαυσενG2618{V-AAI-3S} ταG3588{T-APN} προβαταG4263{N-APN} καιG2532{CONJ} τουςG3588{T-APM} ποιμεναςG4166{N-APM} κατεφαγενG2719{V-AAI-3S} ομοιωςG3664{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} σωθειςG4982{V-APPNS} εγωG1473{P-NS} μονοςG3441{A-NSM} ηλθονG2064{V-AAI-1S} τουG3588{T-GSN} απαγγειλαι{V-AAN} σοιG4771{P-DS} 17ετιG2089{ADV} τουτουG3778{D-GSM} λαλουντοςG2980{V-PAPGS} ηλθενG2064{V-AAI-3S} ετεροςG2087{A-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} προςG4314{PREP} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} οιG3588{T-NPM} ιππειςG2460{N-NPM} εποιησανG4160{V-AAI-3P} ημινG1473{P-DP} κεφαλαςG2776{N-APF} τρειςG5140{A-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} εκυκλωσανG2944{V-AAI-3P} ταςG3588{T-APF} καμηλουςG2574{N-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} ηχμαλωτευσανG162{V-AAI-3P} αυταςG846{D-APF} καιG2532{CONJ} τουςG3588{T-APM} παιδαςG3816{N-APM} απεκτεινανG615{V-AAI-3P} ενG1722{PREP} μαχαιραιςG3162{N-DPF} εσωθηνG4982{V-API-1S} δεG1161{PRT} εγωG1473{P-NS} μονοςG3441{A-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ηλθονG2064{V-AAI-1S} τουG3588{T-GSN} απαγγειλαι{V-AAN} σοιG4771{P-DS} 18ετιG2089{ADV} τουτουG3778{D-GSM} λαλουντοςG2980{V-PAPGS} αλλοςG243{D-NSM} αγγελοςG32{N-NSM} ερχεταιG2064{V-PMI-3S} λεγωνG3004{V-PAPNS} τωG3588{T-DSM} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} τωνG3588{T-GPM} υιωνG5207{N-GPM} σουG4771{P-GS} καιG2532{CONJ} τωνG3588{T-GPF} θυγατερωνG2364{N-GPF} σουG4771{P-GS} εσθιοντωνG2068{V-PAPGP} καιG2532{CONJ} πινοντωνG4095{V-PAPGP} παραG3844{PREP} τωG3588{T-DSM} αδελφωG80{N-DSM} αυτωνG846{D-GPM} τωG3588{T-DSM} πρεσβυτερωG4245{A-DSM} 19εξαιφνηςG1810{ADV} πνευμαG4151{N-NSN} μεγαG3173{A-NSN} επηλθεν{V-AAI-3S} εκG1537{PREP} τηςG3588{T-GSF} ερημουG2048{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} ηψατοG680{V-AMI-3S} τωνG3588{T-GPF} τεσσαρωνG5064{A-GPF} γωνιωνG1137{N-GPF} τηςG3588{T-GSF} οικιαςG3614{N-GSF} καιG2532{CONJ} επεσενG4098{V-AAI-3S} ηG3588{T-NSF} οικιαG3614{N-NSF} επιG1909{PREP} ταG3588{T-APN} παιδιαG3813{N-APN} σουG4771{P-GS} καιG2532{CONJ} ετελευτησανG5053{V-AAI-3P} εσωθηνG4982{V-API-1S} δεG1161{PRT} εγωG1473{P-NS} μονοςG3441{A-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ηλθονG2064{V-AAI-1S} τουG3588{T-GSN} απαγγειλαι{V-AAN} σοιG4771{P-DS} 20ουτωςG3778{ADV} ανασταςG450{V-AAPNS} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} διερρηξεν{V-AAI-3S} ταG3588{T-APN} ιματιαG2440{N-APN} αυτουG846{D-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} εκειρατοG2751{V-AMI-3S} τηνG3588{T-ASF} κομηνG2864{N-ASF} τηςG3588{T-GSF} κεφαληςG2776{N-GSF} αυτουG846{D-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} πεσωνG4098{V-AAPNS} χαμαιG5476{ADV} προσεκυνησενG4352{V-AAI-3S} καιG2532{CONJ} ειπεν{V-AAI-3S} 21αυτοςG846{D-NSM} γυμνοςG1131{A-NSM} εξηλθονG1831{V-AAI-1S} εκG1537{PREP} κοιλιαςG2836{N-GSF} μητροςG3384{N-GSF} μουG1473{P-GS} γυμνοςG1131{A-NSM} καιG2532{CONJ} απελευσομαιG565{V-FMI-1S} εκειG1563{ADV} οG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} εδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S} οG3588{T-NSM} יהוהH3068{N-NSM} αφειλατο{V-AMI-3S} ωςG3739{CONJ} τωG3588{T-DSM} יהוהH3068{N-DSM} εδοξενG1380{V-AAI-3S} ουτωςG3778{ADV} καιG2532{CONJ} εγενετοG1096{V-AMI-3S} ειηG1510{V-PAO-3S} τοG3588{T-NSN} ονομαG3686{N-NSN} יהוהH3068{N-GSM} ευλογημενονG2127{V-RMPNS} 22ενG1722{PREP} τουτοιςG3778{D-DPN} πασινG3956{A-DPN} τοιςG3588{T-DPN} συμβεβηκοσινG4819{V-RAPDP} αυτωG846{D-DSM} ουδενG3762{A-ASN} ημαρτενG264{V-AAI-3S} ιωβG2492{N-PRI} εναντιονG1726{PREP} τουG3588{T-GSM} κυριουG2962{N-GSM} καιG2532{CONJ} ουκG3364{ADV} εδωκενG1325{V-AAI-3S} αφροσυνηνG877{N-ASF} τωG3588{T-DSM} θεωG2316{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.