THE BOOK OF JOB As the time in which Job lived is so very uncertain, (see the _preface_, and the _observations_ at the end of the notes on the first chapter,) Job 1:22 the date found in our common English Bibles, which is upon the supposition that Moses wrote the book while among the Midianites, ab... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:3. _HIS SUBSTANCE ALSO WAS SEVEN THOUSAND SHEEP_] _A_ _thousand_, says the Chaldee, _for each of his sons_. _Three thousand_ _camels: a thousand for each of his daughters_. _Five hundred yoke of_ _oxen for himself_. _And five hundred she-asses_ for his _wife_. Thus the _Targum_ divides t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:4. _FEASTED IN THEIR HOUSES, EVERY ONE HIS DAY_] It is likely that a _birthday festival_ is here intended. When the birthday of one arrived, he invited his brothers and sisters to feast with _him_; and each observed the same custom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:5. _WHEN THE DAYS OF_ THEIR _FEASTING WERE GONE ABOUT_] At the conclusion of the year, when the birthday of each had been celebrated, the pious father appears to have gathered them all together, that the whole family might hold a _feast to the Lord_, offering burnt-offerings in order to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:6. _THERE WAS A DAY WHEN THE SONS OF GOD_] All the _versions_, and indeed all the critics, are puzzled with the phrase _sons of_ _God _; בני האלהים beney haelohim, literally, _sons of the God_, or _sons of the gods_. The _Vulgate_ has simply _filii dei, sons of_ _God_. The _Septuagint_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:7. _FROM GOING TO AND FRO IN THE EARTH_] The translation of the _Septuagint_ is curious: Περιελθων την γην και εμπεριπατησας την ὑπ' ουρανον, παρειμι; "Having gone round the earth, and walked over all that is under heaven, I am come hither." The _Chaldee_ says, "I am come from going rou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:8. _HAST THOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB_] Literally, _Hast_ _thou placed thy heart on my servant Job_? Hast thou viewed his conduct with attention, whilst thou wert roaming about, seeking whom thou mightest devour? viz., the careless, prayerless, and profligate in general.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:9. _DOTH JOB FEAR GOD FOR NAUGHT?_] Thou hast made it his interest to be exemplary in his conduct: for this assertion Satan gives his reasons in what immediately follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:10. _HAST NOT THOU MADE A HEDGE ABOUT HIM_] Thou hast _fortified_ him with _spikes_ and _spears_. Thou hast defended him as by an unapproachable hedge. He is an object of thy peculiar care; and is not exposed to the common trials of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:11. _BUT PUT FORTH THINE HAND_] Shoot the dart of poverty and affliction against him. _AND HE WILL CURSE THEE TO THY FACE._] אם לא על פניך יברכך _im lo_ _al paneycha yebarechecca_, "If he will not bless thee to thy appearances." He will bless thee only in proportion to the temporal goo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:12. _ALL THAT HE HATH_ IS _IN THY POWER_] Satan cannot deprive a man even of an _ass_, a _sheep_, or a _pig_, but by especial permission of God. His power and malice are ever bounded, and under control. _SO SATAN WENT FORTH_] The Targum adds, _with authority from the_ _presence of the L... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:13. _THERE WAS A DAY_] _The first day of the week_, says the _Targum_. It no doubt refers to one of those _birthday festivals_ mentioned before.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:14. _THE ASSES FEEDING BESIDE THEM_] אתנות _athonoth_, the _she-asses_, which appear to have been more domesticated, as of more worth and use than the others, both for their milk and their work.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:15. _AND THE SABEANS FELL_] The _Vulgate_ alone understands this of a _people_. The _Septuagint, Syriac_, and _Arabic_, understand it as implying a _marauding party_. The _Chaldee_ says, "Lilith, queen of Zamargad, rushed suddenly upon them, and carried them away." The _Sabeans_ mention... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:16. _THE FIRE OF GOD IS FALLEN_] Though _the fire of God_ may mean a _great_, a _tremendous_ fire, yet it is most natural to suppose _lightning_ is meant; for as _thunder_ was considered to be the _voice_ _of God_, so _lightning_ was the _fire of God_. And as the _prince of_ _the power o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:17. _THE CHALDEANS MADE OUT THREE BANDS_] The _Chaldeans_ inhabited each side of the Euphrates near to Babylon, which was their capital. They were also mixed with the wandering _Arabs_, and lived like them on _rapine_. They were the descendants of _Chesed_, son of Nahor and brother of Hu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:19. _A GREAT WIND FROM THE WILDERNESS_] Here was another proof of the influence of _the prince of the power of the air_. What mischief might he not do with this tremendous agent, were he not constantly under the control of the Almighty! He seems to have directed four different currents,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:20. _RENT HIS MANTLE_] Tearing the garments, shaving or pulling off the hair of the head, throwing dust or ashes on the head, and fitting on the ground, were acts by which immoderate grief was expressed. Job must have felt the bitterness of anguish when he was told that, in addition to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:21. _NAKED CAME I OUT OF MY MOTHER'S WOMB_] I had no earthly possessions when I came into the world; I cannot have less going out of it. What I have the _Lord gave_: as it was his _free gift_, he has a right to resume it when he pleases; and I owe him _gratitude_ for the time he has perm... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 1:22. _IN ALL THIS JOB SINNED NOT_] He did not give way to any action, passion, or expression, offensive to his Maker. He did not charge God with acting unkindly towards him, but felt as perfectly satisfied with the _privation_ which the hand of God had occasioned, as he was with the _aff... [ Continue Reading ]