Job 2:1-10. Job's second trial and its issue: he sinned not with his lips How long time intervened between Job's first trial and the second is not stated. The Targum seems to conjecture a year. The new trial is introduced like the first by a scene in heaven. The Council of God convenes. His ministe... [ Continue Reading ]
_still he holdeth fast his integrity_ Or, HIS PERFECTNESS, see on Job 1:1. Satan had insinuated that Job's religiousness was interested, he served God for the benefits He conferred. That he maintained his godly fear when the benefits were taken away refuted the suspicion, and shewed that his trials... [ Continue Reading ]
The Satan's reply is that the trial was not sufficiently close, it left the man himself untouched. _Skin for skin, yea, all_ Rather, SKIN FOR SKIN, AND ALL THAT A MAN HATH WILL HE GIVE FOR HIMSELF. The second half of the sentence is an application to the subject in hand of the general truth expresse... [ Continue Reading ]
_with sore boils_ It is generally agreed that the disease of Job was the leprosy called Elephantiasis, so named because the swollen limbs and the black and corrugated skin of those afflicted by it resemble those of the elephant. It is said by ancient authors, as Pliny, to be peculiar to Egypt, but i... [ Continue Reading ]
_and he sat down among the ashes_ Rather, AS HE SAT AMONG. By the "ashes" is possibly meant (as the Sept. already understands, which translates ἐ π ὶ τ ῆ ς κοπρίας) the Mázbalah, the place outside the Arabic towns where the _zibl_, that is, dung and other rubbish of the place is thrown. "The dung wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said his wife_ The incident related of Job's wife is not introduced for her sake, but for the purpose of exhibiting through it the condition of Job's mind, around which the drama turns. The author did not indicate the impression which Job's personal affliction produced upon him. What thoughts... [ Continue Reading ]
_one of the foolish women_ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. "Wise" is less an intellectual than a moral term; and its opposite "foolish" means godless, Psalms 14:1. To "work folly in Israel" is to infringe any of the sacred laws of natural or consuetudinary morals, Jdg 19:23; 2 Samue... [ Continue Reading ]
_for they had made an appointment_ Or, _and they met together_. They came each from his own place and met at one point to go to visit Job together. _to mourn with him_ Or, condole with him, and shew their sympathy with him in his sufferings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Job's three friends, having heard of his misfortunes, come to condole with him How long time intervened between Job's second affliction and the arrival of his friends cannot be accurately ascertained. From the allusions in chaps. 7, 19, and 30, it is probable that a considerable time elapsed. A man... [ Continue Reading ]
_knew him not_ He was so altered and disfigured by the disease. As Job perhaps lay outside the town they may have seen him at a distance. _sprinkled dust upon their heads_ that is, they threw dust upwards towards heaven, which fell upon their heads, the gesture intimating perhaps that they were lai... [ Continue Reading ]
_none spake a word_ Being overwhelmed by the affecting sight before them; as the Author adds: they saw that the _grief_, i. e. the pain or affliction, was very great. Comp. Ezekiel 3:15. The length of time during which they sat in silence, seven days and seven nights (the time of mourning for the de... [ Continue Reading ]