Job 2

Satan soliciteth God, that he may be permitted to plague Job in his own body, 1 etc. which is granted unto him, on certain conditions, 6. Satan smiteth Job with grievous boils, 7. his wife likewise mocketh him, and he doth reprove her, 9. three of his Friends, being come unto him, condole with him, yet for a time they hold their peace, 11.

1. Again there was a day when the children of God, [i.e. the holy Angels of God, see ab. ch. 1. v. 6.] came to present themselves before the LORD [see above in the aforesaid place] that Satan came likewise in the midst of them [see likewise above ch. 1. on v. 6.] to present himself before the LORD.

2. Then said the LORD to Satan: from whence comest thou? and Satan answered the LORD, and said; from circuiting upon the earth, and from walking it throw [See ab. ch. 1. on v. 7.]

3. And the LORD said to Satan: Hast thou (also) taken heed unto my Servant Job? [ab. ch. 1. v. 8.] for none is like him upon the Earth, a man, upright and honest, fearing God and withdrawing from the evil [See the signification of these words ab. ch. 1. on v. 1.] and he holdeth fast yet to his uprightness; although thou have incensed me against him [this is spoken of God, after the manner of men, who is not subject to be moved by any causes without him, for all his works are known unto him from eternity, Acts 15:18. and he doth all things according to the counsel of his will, Ephes. 1. 11. But this expression is used; to show, 1. that Satan is always ready to hurt and annoy the children of God. 2. That God maketh use of him for to try the same.] to swallow [i.e. to ruin, and destroy, and devour all at once; which in this Affair was the end of Satan; but Gods end was onely the trial of his servant.] him [understand withal his cattle and children.] without cause [i.e. not for any former sins of his, or, wicked living: For, that we are to understand it thus, God himself giveth testimony of his integrity in this book, ch. 1. v. 1. and 8. and here v. 3. Nevertheless, he was not freed from the remainders of sin, (which are found in all Saints) even by his own confession, see bel. ch. 7. v. 20, 21. and ch. 9. 2. and 13. 23, 26. The Hebrew word hinnam, is likewise taken in the same sense, as here it is rendered, 1 Samuel 19:5. and 25. 31. and Psalms 35:7, and c.]

4. Then answered Satan to the LORD, and said : Skin for skin [i.e. men value their own skin and body, far above the skin and body of another, therefore (would Satan infer) though Job have lost his children, it doth not affect his heart yet, as long as he may keep his own skin whole, and save his life still] and whatsoever any one hath he will give for his life, [Heb. for his soul, see Gen. 19. on v. 17. or, for himself, i.e. for his own person and welfare, see Gen. 12. on v. 5.]

5. Yet stretch out thy hand now, and touch, [i.e. hurt, plague, see Gen. 26. on v. 11.] his bores and his flesh; if he shall not bless thee in thy face [i.e. curse thee, see ab. ch. 1. on v. 5 as for the manner of the expression, see also ab. ch. 1. v. 11.]

6. And the LORD said to Satan; Behold, he be in thine hand [i.e. power and disposing, see Gen. 16. v. 6. viz. for to afflict, plague and torment him, comp. above ch. 1. v. 12.] yet spare [or, keep, preserve, or take heed, beware of] his life [Heb. soul, as ab. v. 4. the sense is, that he should not take away his life.]

7. Then Satan went forth from the face of the LORD, and smote Job with evil boils, from the sole of his foot unto his Crown.

8. And he [viz. Job] took a pot sheard [Heb. an earthen Vessel. Because doubtless his fingers also were sore, that he was not able to rub and scratch himself with his nails, he was glad to make shift with a potsheard, and therewith to scrape over his sores, and to squeeze and take out the raging matter of the same; whereby we may understand not only the greatness and grievousness of Jobs disease; but likewise, that he was destitute of the help of others, who did abhor the loathsomeness of his condition, see below ch. 19. ver. 13, 14, 15, & c.] to scratch himself therewith: and he sat down in the midst of the ashes [this was a token antiently of excessive grief, sadness, sorrow and humiliation, bel. ch. 40. 6. Jonah 3:6. Matthew 11:21. Luke 10:13.]

9. Then said his wife unto him; Holdest thou fast yet thy uprightness? bless God and die. [see ab. ch. 1. v. 5. or bless God and in all, that is, to give him praise and thanks for all; as thou didst but a little before (ch. 1. v. 21.) thou hadst best to hold on still, and see how well he will require thee; namely with such a tormenting death, as thou canst not escape. Thus she mocketh and scotteth at his trusting in God.]

10. But he said unto her, thou speakest, as one of the sottish (women) speaketh, yea, should we accept the good of God, and not accept the evil? in all this Job sinned not with his lips [i.e. with his words or speeches, as indeed afterwards, he was not altogether free or guiltless of this sin. The word Lip, is so taken, below ch. 11. 2. and 12. 20. Proverbs 7:21. and 12. 20. and 24. 28, and c. comp. Genesis 11:2. and the annot.]

11. Now when the three friends of Job [It is thought that these three friends of Job were of Arabia and Idumea, descended from Abraham] had heard all this evil, that was come upon him, they came each upon his place [i.e. out of their countries] Eliphaz the Temanite [so called for that he was of posterity of Teman the son of Eliphaz; who was the son of Esau the son of Jacob, Genesis 36:10, 11. who dwelt in Arabia the Desert] and Bildad the Suhite [one of the posterity Suah, the son of Abraham by Keturah, Genesis 25:1, 2. and he also inhabited some part of Arabia the Desert] and Zophar the Naamithite [it is uncertain whether this surname cometh from any of the Patriarchs family, or from the habitation. Some are of opinion, that he may be issued from Timma the son of Esau, of whom you may see Genesis 36:40. Others conjecture, that he was born in the City of Naema, whereof see Joshua 15:41.] and they had agreed [comp. Amos 3:3. oth. were gathered, or come, met together] that they came to bemoan him [or, to condole with, to be moved, or affected over him, and so bel. ch. 42. 11.] and to comfort him.

12. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, they knew him not; and lifted up their voice and wept: [Here and in the next verse there are five tokens set down of exceeding great sorrow, which these friends of Job did show here; 1. their weeping; 2. the renting of their Garments, 3. the strowing of dust upon their heads; 4. the sitting down upon the ground; 5. their silence. See of the like disconsolate behaviour Genesis 21:16. and 37. 34. Joshua 7:6. 2 Sam 12. 16, 17. Esther 4:1, 2. Isaiah 47:1. Lamentations 2:10. Ezekiel 27:30.] besides they rent every one his Cloak [see ab. ch. 1, on v. 20.] and strowed dust upon their heads towards the heaven [i.e. casting the earth or the dust upwards, they thereby strowed their heads with it.]

13. Thus they sat with him upon the earth seven days and seven nights; and none spake a word unto him; for they saw that his pain was very great.