Job 1

Job an uprightly godly man, 1. is blessed of God with children, riches and honour, 2. commeth, though the instigation of Satan, 6. and Gods permission, 12. to be tempted for his trials sake, with the loss of all his goods, 13. and children, 18. whereat he showeth some signs of grief, yet comforteth himself, and thanketh God for all, 20.

1. There was a man in the Land of Uz, [Heb. Uts, or Huts. Understand a Country so called from a man of that Name. The holy Scripture maketh mention of three that beareth this name, 1. the Son of Aram the son of Sem, Genesis 10:23. 2. the first-born son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, Genesis 21:21. 3. one of Esau posterity. Genesis 36:28. The first was the father of the inhabitants of the Country of the Trachonites, otherwise called Ausitis, or Uzitis: and of this Land (it being a portion of the Land of the Israelites) some interpreters do hold, the text here speaks off. Yet others conceive that here is to be understood a Country, which lay in Syria, having its name from the second Uz. Yea there are likewise some, which take this place for a Country of Idumca, where the third Uz had his habitation; see lam. 4. 21.] and his name was Job: [Heb. Ijob, see Ezek, 14. 14, 20. James 5:11.] and the same man was upright, [or plain, (simplex) i.e. unfeigned in his faith , and trusting in God, and sincere in his love towards his neighbour. The word looketh most here upon the commandments of the second Table; although it be much used in a general sense, signifying one that swarveth neither to the right hand nor to the left, from the right way, but holdeth on in the same, eschewing all crooked ways that might turn him out of the right; so below, ch. 4. 7. & 8. 6. & 17. 8.] and fearing God, [see also Psalm 7. on v. 11. the true fear of God is the beginning of all virtues, Proverbs 8:13. and 15. 33. yet this commendation hath its chief regard unto Godliness, and the commandments of the first Table] and turning away from the evil [viz. of sin, forbidden in the first and second Table of the ten commandments]

2. And to him were born seven Sons and three daughters.

3. Besides, his Cattle [See of the Hebrew Word Mikneh, Gen. 4. on v. 20.] was seven thousand sheep [the Hebrew word doth not onely signify sheep, but goats also, that is to say, all kind of small cattle, especially being set opposite to the greater sort, see Gen. 12. on v. 16. & Lev. 1. on v. 2.] and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoak of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, also his serving-people [or, serving-work, country-tillage, (husbandry)] were very many. So that this man was greater that all those of the East [or, the people, or, men of the East, Heb. children of the East, i.e. those that dwelt Eastwards in regard of Judea, comp. Genesis 29:1. Judges 6:3. and see the Annot. there]

4. And his sons went, and made Feasts in every one’s house upon his day: [i.e. at his turn to keep his Feast; for it went orderly about among them. And peradventure the order came to each one, upon his own birthday; for Job also calleth that same, his day: below ch. 3. 1.] and they sent, [messengers namely, to bid their Sisters to the Feast, and so in the next verse] and invited their three Sisters, to eat and to drink with them.

5. It came to pass then, when the days of the Feast were gone about, that Job sent and hallowed them, [i.e. took care, and charged them, that thy should sanctify themselves, to be well prepared for the offering at hand. So also Exodus 19:10. This hallowing, or sanctifying, consisted indeed principally in the forsaking of, or. abstaining from all spiritual defilement of sin; but yet therewithal in the observation of certain bodily, or outward ceremonies, as tokens of the inward sanctification; such namely as were then in use and practise among the godly, compare Genesis 35:2. (where ye have the word, to cleanse, or purify) and the annot. thereupon.] and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings (according to) all their number; for Job said, [viz. by himself, that is, he thought; see Genesis 20:11.] Peradventure my children have sinned [viz. by excess of mirth and jollity, light behaviour, wasting of Gods good gifts, forgetting of the poor, and other the like sins of carnal unadvisedness] and blessed God in their hearts: [i.e. not blessed, hallowed and honoured God, as it became them, lightly setting by, and making but small account of the commandments of the LORD, in their jollity and abundance. Thus the word blessing, which otherwise signifieth lauding and praising, is taken here in the contrary signification, for cursing, dispraising, profaning; for here it implyeth the sins, for which Job made the offering, and thus this word is also used, below v. 11. and ch. 2. v. 9. see likewise 1 King 21. 10. and the annot. thereupon] thus did Job all those days [viz. when, or, at what time his children, had kept their Feasts.]

6. Now there was a day, when the children of God [Heb. Sons, i.e. the Angels of God, as bel. ch. 38. 7. not that they are the Sons, or, children of God by nature, so as only is the only begotten Son of the Father, but as having received this dignity by the gift of the creation, being made after the image or likeness of God, for to behold his face continually, to serve him, and his Church, and to live with him for ever.] came, for to present themselves before the LORD [this is said, by a comparison taken from worldly Princes, who summon their Servants to appear and render an account, of what they have given them in charge, comp. 1 Kings 22:19. and annotation] that Satan [i.e. the adversary. See 1 Chronicles 21:1. Thus the evil spirit is called by reason of the implacable enmity and hatred he beareth to the faithful, accusing them before God, Revelation 12:10. and ranging round about them like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he might swallow up, 1 Pet. 5. 8.] also came in the midst of them.

7. Then said the LORD to Satan; from whence cometh thou? and Satan answered the Lord and said; from circuiting upon the Earth, and from walking through the same [( a perambullindo illam) This is the Devils practise, to haunt and range every where about still, for to lay hold on these, that are not upon their guard, and trouble and assault that in some measure are.]

8. And the LORD said unto Satan; hast thou (also) taken heed [Heb. laid, or set thine heart, i.e. haste thou marked, taken notice of; the same manner of expression we find likewise, 2 Sam. 18. 3. & bel. 2. 3. & 7. 17. & 23. 6.] unto my Servant Job? for there is [or, that there is] none like him upon the Earth, a man upright, and honest, fearing God, and withdrawing from evil.

9. Then answered Satan to the LORD, and said: Is it for nought that job fearth God?

10. Hast thou not made a fence for him, and for his house, and for all that he hath round about? [i.e. dost not thou protect and free him from all manner of evil, by thine every where present providence, and almighty power ?] the work of his hands thou hast blessed, [see of this word blessing, Gen. 12. on v. 2.] and his cattle is broken out (in multitude) [See Genesis 30:30. The Hebrew word is likewise used elsewhere, for multiplying exceedingly, as Genesis 28:14. and chapter 30. 34. Exodus 1:12.] in the Land.

11. But yet stretch out thine hand now. and touch all what he hath: [viz. to hurt and damnify it, and thereby to plague him. See Gen. 26. on v. 11.] if he shall not bless thee [See above on v. 5.] in thy face [i.e. daringly, without awe or shame. The speech is abrupt here, according to the Hebrew manner of swearing, where commonly, as here, the penalty of swearing falsely, is concealed. See Gen. 14. on v. 23.]

12. And the LORD said to Satan: behold all what he hath, be in thy hand; [i.e. in thy power and disposing See Gen. 16. on v. 6.] only on him [i.e. on his person; understand his body and soul] do not stretch out thy hand, and Satan went out from the face of the LORD.

13. Now there was a day, when his sons and his Daughters did eat and drank wine, in the house of their brother the first-born.

14. That a Messenger came to Job, and said, the oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses feeding by their sides. [i.e. beside, about, near hand these Oxen, Heb. at their hands. See the word hand, used for side, 2 Chron. 21. 16, & c. others, on their places, i.e. where they used to feed. This word is sometimes taken for places, as Numbers 2:17. Jerem. 6. 3.]

15. But the Sabeans [Heb. Sheba, i.e. the host of the Sabeans: These were the posterity of Sheba, the Son of Joksam the son of Abraham by Ketura. Genesis 25:1, 2, 3. They had their habitation in Arabia the Desert. See of them Ezekiel 27:23. This Sheba ii to be distinguished from another of that name, which was the Son of Raema, the son of Cus, the son of the Genesis 10:7. whose posterity inhabited Ethiopia. See the annot. on the place, and on v. 28.] made an invasion, smote the youths with the edge of the sword [Heb. mouth of the sword, and so in the sequel] and but I alone escaped to relate it to thee.

16. While this spake yet, there came another, and said: The fire of God fell out of Heaven [i.e. a great, fierce and terrible fire, comp, Gen. 13. the notes on v. 10. or, which God sent down out of heaven, as they conceived.] and kindled among the sheep [see ab. on v. 3.] and among the youths, and devoured them; and but I alone escaped for to relate it to thee.

17. While they yet spake, there came another and said, The Caldeans put [disposed] three Troops [Heb. heads, But the Hebrew word doth sometimes signify a Band, or Company, or Troop, or gathering of people, as here, and Judges 7:17. 1 Samuel 11:11.] and fell on upon the Camels, and took them, and smote the youths with the edge of the Sword; and but I alone escaped, to relate it to thee.

18. While this yet [the Hebrew word rendered yet, is taken thus Proverbs 8:26. and Jonas 4. 2.] spake, there came another and said, Thy sons and thy Daughters did eat, and drank wine, in the house of their brother the first born.

19. And behold a great wind came, from over the Desert, and smote [Hebr. touched, i.e. hit] on the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the youths, [the sons of Job. See Gen. 22. on v. 5.] that they died, and but I alone escaped to relate it to thee.

20. Then Job arose, and rent [See Gen. 37. on v. 29.] his Cloak [this was an upper garment, which the chief among the people used to wear] and shaved his head [i.e. caused his head to be shaved or polled. So Genesis 41:14. 2 Sam 14. 26. and see Gen. 40. on v. 22. now the shaving was a token of grief and sorrow, Levit. 21. 5. Jerem. 41. 5. and 48. 37. Mich. 1. 16. Otherwise they used shaving too when they were to purify their bodies, which when it was done against a time of Joyfulness, then it was likewise a token of joy and cheerfulness, Genesis 41:14. and the omitting of it at such a time was a token of distemper, grief and sadness, 2 Sam. 19. 24.] and fell upon the Earth and bowed himself down. [The Hebrew word doth signify, to bow down one’s self, either before God, to exhibit divine worship unto him; of which signification see Gen. 24. on v. 26. or before men, by way of civil respect and obeisance; of which signification see Gen. 18. on v. 2. The first sort is meant here, as appeareth by the words following, whereby he giveth God thanks for all that he gave and sent him.]

21. And he said: Naked am I come out of my mothers Belly, and naked shall I return thither again; [this he saith, it should seem, in respect of the earth, unto which he had bowed himself down:] The LORD hath given, and evil men are ascribed to God, see Gen. 45. on v. 5. and 1 Kings 12. on v. 15.] the Name of the LORD be praised [Hebrew, blessed, see Genesis 14:20. and the Annot.]

22. In all this Job sinned not [neither in word nor indeed] and ascribed [or attributed, Heb. gave] God nought tribe seeming [Heb. unsavoury, i.e. unbefitting, unreasonable, viz. as might stand in opposition to the nature and attributes of God, and the honour of his name.]