Job 1

Job 1:1

IN the land of Ʋz] That is, of the countrey of Idumaea, as Lamentations 4:21. or bordering thereupon, for the land was called by the name of Uz, the son of Dishan, the son of Seir, Genesis 36:28. Jerem. 25. 20.

perfect and upright] Chap. 2. 3. Ezekiel 14:14. James 5:11.

that man was perfect and upright] God pronounceth him perfect and upright; that is, without hypocrisie, though he were a gentile, which declareth that amongst tho heathen God hath his, Acts 10:35.

one that feared God] Hereby is declared what is meant by a perfect and upright man.

Job 1:3

His substance also was seven thousand] His children and riches are declared to commend his vertue in his prosperity, and his patience and constancy when God had taken them from him. By substance is meant cattel, which were their greatest riches.

substance] Or, cattel, as Exodus 12:38. Genesis 26:14.

sheep] The word signifies lesser cattel, as sheep and goats, Leviticus 1:10.

five hundred she-asses] The he-asses are included, for the holy Ghost shews all his riches, and distinguisheth not between sexes in his other cattel.

she-asses] Or, asses, as vers. 14. Genesis 45:23. Judges 5:10.

and a very great houshold] Or, husbandry. He had many servants and much husbandry, Genesis 26:14.

this man was the greatest] By greatest, is meant, the richest, as Genesis 24:35. Or, of greatest authority, 2 Kings 4:8.

men of the east] Heb. sons of the east, Genesis 25:6.

of the east] In respect of Canaan, as Judges 6:3. 1 Kings 4:30. Such were the Arabians, Chaldeans, Idumeans, &c.

Job 1:4

his sons went and feasted] At certain times of the yeer they met in banquets of love, and brotherly conversation.

Job 1:5

Job sent and sanctified them] He bid them prepare themselves by outward purifications, as fasting, abstinence, washing, Exodus 19:10. and above all, by internall and spirituall means, as prayer, mortification, good meditations, Genesis 35:2. repentance of their errours in their feasts, reconcilement to one another; that without uncleannesse they might be partakers of the action, and benefit of their fathers sacrifice offered for them.

offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all] He offered for every one of his children an offering of reconciliation, which declared his religion toward God, and care of his children. See Leviticus 1:10.

Job said] He thought in his heart.

cursed God] In Hebrew it is, blessed God, which is here taken for cursing, as 1 King. 21. 10, 13. For in detestation of cursing, it is covered under the name of the contrary. He feared his sons had some irreverent thoughts concerning God in the heat and liberty of their feasting.

continually] Heb. all the dayes. To wit, when the dayes of feasting at one of their houses were done, as in the beginning, of the verse appeareth.

Job 1:6

the sons of God] The angels, Job 38:7. Luke 20. 36. They are Gods children by creation according to Gods image, as Adam was, Luke 3. 38.

before the Lord] Because our infirmity cannot comprehend God in his Majestie, he is set forth unto us as a king, that our capacity may be able to understand that which is spoken of him. And his angels are likened to great officers, that at certain times appear before kings, to give an account of their imployment, 1 Kings 22:19.

and Satan] Heb. the adversary. As he is an adversary, which his name here signifies; so also he is the accuser of the brethren, Revelation 12:10. He presents himself impudently, not called, that he may get a commission to hurt Gods people, 1 Kings 22:21.

among them] Heb. in the midst of them.

Job 1:7

Whence comest thou?] This question is asked for our infirmity: for God knew whence he came.

From going to and fro in the earth] 1 Peter 5:8. Herein is described the nature of Satan, who is ever ranging for his prey, as one unquiet, seeking alwayes to do mischief, Matthew 12:43.

from walking up and down in it] He sets a good face on it, as if the earth were the place of his delight, and full liberty, which is the place of his banishment and restraint, till he receive his lasting damnation, Luke 10:18. Revelation 12:12. John 14:30.

Job 1:8

Hast thou considered] Heb. Hast thou set thy heart on?

Job 1:9

Doth Job fear God for nought?] He feareth thee not for thine own sake, but for the commodity he receiveth by thee, as appeareth, vers. 10. or like a mercenary, Job 14:6.

Job 1:10

Hast not thou made an hedge about him] By thy providence thou keepest him safe, and all he hath, Isaiah 5:2.

his substance is increased] Or, cattel. See the notes on vers. 3.

Job 1:11

touch all that he hath] To take away, or, destroy that he hath, as chap. 19. 21. So that Satan is not able to touch us, without Gods leave.

all] Or, ought.

and he will curse thee to thy face] Heb. if he curse thee not to thy face.

and he will] In Hebrew it is, if he do not curse thee, &c. there is understood; Then say, I am a lyar, or, Let me perish. So the Jews in earnest speeches leave out the imprecation to be added by others, as 1 King. 20. 23, 25.

curse thee] See notes on vers. 5.

to thy face] Satan noteth the vice whereunto men are commonly subject, that is, to hide their rebellion, and to be content with God in time of prosperitie, which vice is disclosed in time of adversity, for then they curse God openly without fear, Isaiah 8:21.

Job 1:12

all that he hath is in thy power] God giveth not Satan power over man to gratifie him, but to declare, that he hath no power over man, but that which God giveth him, Matthew 8:31.

power] Heb. hand.

from the presence of the Lord] That is, went to execute that which God commanded him: for he can never go simply out of Gods presence.

Job 1:15

the Sabeans fell upon them] A people of Arabia alwayes given to thee very.

Job 1:16

The fire of God] Or, A great fire. A great lightning: for great things are called, things of God, Genesis 30:8. Psalms 36:6.

is fallen from heaven] This thing was done by the craft of Satan, to tempt Job the more grievously, that he might think God his enemy, as well as men, Romans 1:18.

Job 1:17

fell] Heb. rushed.

Job 1:18

Thy sons and thy daughters] The last plague declareth, that when one plague is past, which seemeth hard to be born, God can send us another far more grievous, to try, his and teach them obedience.

Job 1:19

from] Heb from aside, or, from beyond.

Job 1:20

rent his mantle] Or, robe. Which came not of impatience, but declareth that the children of God ae not insenlible like blocks, but that in their patience they feel affliction, and grief of minde: yet they keep a mean herein, and rebell not against God, as the wicked do. Renting clothes is a sign of great sorrow, Gen. 37. 29, 34.

shaved his head] In great sorrows men used to shave their heads, Isaiah 15. 2. and 22. 12. Jerem. 7. 29. Micah 1:16.

worshipped] He threw himself all along before God, to give him glory with reverence and humility in his incomprehensible judgements.

Job 1:21

Naked came I out of my mothers womb] Ecclesiastes 5:15. 1 Timothy 6:7. He comforts himself from the course of nature and Gods providence.

naked shall I return thither] That is, into the belly of the earth, which is the mother of all or, which he lay on, vers. 20. and might point to with his finger. the Lord gave] The cattell and children which I had, Genesis 35:5. 11. Joshua 24:3-4.

blessed be the name of the Lord] Hereby he confesseth that God is just and good, although his hand be sore upon him, Psalms 73:1. Isaiah 39:8.

Job 1:22

nor charged God foolishly] Or, attributed folly to God. In the Hebrew it is, Nor attributed unsavourinesse to God. For as unsavoury meats offend the stomack, so do unjust accusations of God offend him. Job not onely murmured not, but also declared that God did all things according to justice and equity. By this it appears how he sinned not: to wit, as Satan had charged him, vers. 11.