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Job's piety, children, substance, ver. 1 - 5.
Satan obtains leave to try him, ver. 6 - 12.
His oxen, sheep, camels and servants destroyed, ver. 13 - 17.
His sons and daughters killed, ver. 18, 19.
His patience and piety, ver. 20 - 22.
1: Uz - Part of Arabia. Perfect - Not legally or exactly, but
as to his sincere intentions, hearty affections, and diligent endeavours
to perform all his duties to God and men. Upright - Heb. right, exact
and regular in all his dealings, with men; one of an unblameable
conversation. Feared - One truly pious, and devoted to God.
Eschewed - Carefully avoiding all sin against God or men.
3: Camels - Camels in these parts were very numerous, and very
useful, both for carrying burdens in these hot and dry countries, as
being able to endure thirst much better than other creatures, and for
service in war. Asses - He - asses also may be included in this expression,
because the greatest part of them (from which the denomination is usually
taken) were she asses. The greatest - That lived in those parts.
The account of his piety and prosperity comes before the account of
his afflictions, to shew that neither of these will secure us from
the common, no, nor from the uncommon calamities of human life.
4: Feasted - To testify and maintain their brotherly love.
His day - Each his appointed day, perhaps his birth - day, or the
first day of the month.
5: When - When each of them had had his turn. Satisfied - He
exhorted them to examine their own consciences, to repent of any
thing, which had been amiss in their feasting, and compose their
minds for employments of a more solemn nature. Early - Thereby shewing
his ardent zeal in God's service. May be - His zeal for God's glory,
and his true love to his children, made him jealous. Cursed - Not in
a gross manner, which it is not probable either that they should do,
or that Job should suspect it concerning them, but despised or
dishonoured God; for both Hebrew and Greek words signifies
cursing, are sometimes used to note only, reviling or setting
light by a person. Hearts - By slight and low thoughts of God, or by
neglecting to give God the praise for the mercies which they enjoyed.
Thus - It was his constant course at the end of every feasting time, to
offer a sacrifice for each. Parents should be particular in their
addresses to God, for the several branches of their family; praying for
each child, according to his particular temper, genius and disposition.
6: A day - A certain time appointed by God. The sons - The holy
angels, so called, (Job 38:7,Da 3:25,28), because of their creation
by God, for their resemblance of him in power, and dignity, and holiness,
and for their filial affection and obedience, to him. Before - Before his
throne, to receive his commands, and to give him an account of their
negotiations. But you must not think that these things are to be
understood literally; it is only a parabolical representation of that
great truth, that God by his wise and holy providence governs all the
actions of men and devils: It being usual with the great God to condescend
to our shallow capacities, and to express himself, as the Jews phrase it,
in the language of the sons of men. And it is likewise intimated, that
the affairs of earth are much the subject of the counsels of the unseen
world. That world is dark to us: but we lie open to it.
9: For nought - Out of pure love and respect to thee? No. It is
policy, not piety, that makes him good; he doth not serve thee, but
serveth himself of thee, serving thee for his own ends.
12: Behold, &c. - It seems strange, that, God should give Satan
such a permission as this. But he did it for his own glory, for the
honour of Job, for the explanation of providence, and the encouragement
of his afflicted people in all ages.
14: Messenger, &c. - One messenger immediately followed another;
Satan so ordering by God's permission, that there might seem to be
more than ordinary displeasure of God against him in his troubles, and
that he might not have leisure to recollect himself, but be overwhelmed
by a complication of calamities.
15: Sabeans - A people of Arabia, who led a wandering life, and
lived by robbery and spoil. I - Whom Satan spared, that Job might
have speedy and certain intelligence of his calamity.
16: The fire of God - As thunder is the voice of God, so lightning
is his fire. How terrible then were the tidings of this destruction, which
came immediately from the hand of God! And seemed to shew, that God was
angry at his very offerings, and would receive no more from his hands.
17: Chaldeans - Who also lived upon spoil, as Xenephon and others
observe.
19: The young men - This was the greatest of Job's losses, and
therefore Satan reserved it to the last, that if the other provocations
failed, this might make him curse God. They died by a wind of the devils
raising, but which seemed to be the immediate hand of God. And they were
taken away, when he had the most need of them, to comfort him under all
his other losses. Such miserable comforters are creatures: in God we have
a constant and sufficient help.
20: Shaved - Caused his hair to be shaved or cut off, which was then
an usual ceremony in mourning. Worshipped - Instead of cursing God, which
Satan said he would do, he adored him, and gave him the glory of his
sovereignty, of his justice, and of his goodness also, in this most severe
dispensation.
21: Naked - I brought none of these things with me, when I came out
of my mother's womb into the world, but I received them from the hand of
God, who hath now required his own again. Return thither - I shall be as
rich when I die as I was when I was born, and therefore have reason to be
contented with my condition, which also is the common lot of all men.
Into the lap of our common mother, the earth, as the weary child lays its
head in its mother's bosom. We go out of the world naked; the body doth,
tho' the sanctified soul goes clothed. ((2Co 5:3).) Death strips us of
all our enjoyments: clothing can neither warm nor adorn a dead body.
Taken - He hath taken away nothing but his own, and what he so gave that
he reserved the supreme disposal of in his own hand. And what is it to me,
by what hand he that gives, resumes what he gave?
22: Charged - Heb. not imputed folly to God; so far was he from
blaspheming God, that he did not entertain any dishonourable thought
of God, as if he had done anything unworthy of his infinite wisdom, or
justice, or goodness, but heartily acquiesced in his good pleasure, and
in his righteous though sharp proceedings against him. Discontent and
impatience do in effect impute folly to God. Against the workings of
these we should carefully watch, acknowledging that God has done well,
but we have done foolishly.
