Job 1:20

_THEN JOB AROSE, AND RENT HIS MANTLE, AND SHAVED HIS HEAD, AND FELL DOWN UPON THE GROUND, AND WORSHIPPED,_ Job arose - not necessarily from sitting. Inward excitement is implied, and the beginning to do anything. He had heard the other messages calmly, but on hearing of the death of his children, then he arose; or, as Eichhorn translates, 'he started up' (2 Samuel 13:31). The rending of the mantle, was the conventional mark of deep grief (Genesis 37:34). Orientals wear a tunic or shirt, and loose pantaloons, and over these a flowing mantle (especially great persons and women). Shaving the head was also usual in grief (Jeremiah 41:5;...

20-22 Job humbled himself under the hand of God. He reasons from the common state of human life, which he describes. We brought nothing of this world's goods into the world, but have them from others; and it is certain we can carry nothing out, but must leave them to others. Job, under all his losses, is but reduced to his first state. He is but where he must have been at last, and is only unclothed, or unloaded rather, a little sooner than he expected. If we put off our clothes before we go to bed, it is some inconvenience, but it may be the better borne when it is near bed-time. The same who gave hath taken away. See how Job looks above instruments, and keeps his eye upon the First Cause. Afflictions must not divert us from, but quicken us to religion. If in all our troubles we look to the Lord, he will support us. The Lord is righteous. All we have is from his gift; we have forfeited...

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 the loss of all his _property_, he was deprived of his _ten children_ by a violent death. Had he not felt this most poignantly, he would have been unworthy of the name of _man_. _WORSHIPPED_] _Prostrated himself_; lay all along upon the ground, with his face in the dust....

THEN JOB AROSE - The phrase to arise, in the Scriptures is often used in the sense of beginning to do anything. It does not necessarily imply that the person had been previously sitting; see 2 Samuel 13:13. AND RENT HIS MANTLE - The word here rendered “mantle” מעיל _m__e__‛ı̂yl_ means an upper or outer garment. The dress of Orientals consists principally of an under garment or tunic - not materially differing from the “shirt” with us - except that the sleeves are wider, and under this large and loose pantaloons. Niebuhr, Reisebescreib. 1. 157. Over these garments they often throw a full and flowing mantle or robe. This is made without sleeves; it reaches down to the ankles; and when they walk or exercise it is bound around the middle with a girdle or sash. When

EXPOSITION The "Historical Introduction" to Job extends to two chapters. In the first we are given an account, firstly, of his outward circumstances—his abode, wealth, family, etc; and of his character (Job 1:1); secondly, of the circumstances under which God allowed him to be tried by afflictions (Job 1:6); thirdly, of the earlier afflictions themselves (Job 1:13); and, fourthly, of his behaviour under them (Job 1:20-18). The second chapter gives, firstly, the ground of his further trial (Job 2:1); secondly, the nature of it, and his behaviour under it ...

THEN JOB AROSE,.... Either from table, being at dinner, as some think, in his own house; it being the time that his children were feasting in their eldest brother's house; or from the business in which he was employed, which he stopped on hearing this news; or from his seat, or chair of state in which he sat; or rather the phrase only signifies, that he at once, with strength of body, and rigour of mind, which were not lost, as often they are in such cases, went about the following things with great composure and sedateness. It is indeed generally observed, that there is an emphasis to be put on the word "then", which may be as well rendered "and", as if Job sat and heard very sedately, without any perturbation of mind, the loss of his substance; but when tidings were brought him of the death of his children, "then" he arose, as being greatly moved and distressed; but it should be observ...

Job 1:1. _There was a man in the land of Uz,_ Job was a man indeed; a true man, a man of the highest type, for he was a man of God. Job 1:1. _Whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright,--_ Job was thoroughly true and sincere, and in this sense he «was perfect and upright,»- Job 1:1. _And one that feared God, and eschewed evil._ He had both sides of a godly character, a love of God and a hatred of sin. Job 1:2. _And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters._ Job was highly favoured in having such a family of sons and daughters....

II. THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN JEHOVAH AND SATAN AND THE RESULTS CHAPTER 1:6-22 _ 1. A scene in heaven, Jehovah's challenge and Satan's, accusation (Job 1:6)_ 2. Satan's power manifested (Job 1:13) 3. Job's great grief and great victory (Job 1:20) Job 1:6. Suddenly the scene changeth. We are no longer on earth but heaven is opened and we read what is going on before the throne of God. While Job on earth with his loved ones is enjoying himself something takes place in heaven in which he is prominently concerned and yet he is ignorant of all. The whole scene is intensely interesting. It is not fiction but revelation, and what is h

In the preceding section the narrative surged forward, depicting the unbridled rage of the Satan. Here on the contrary we have a beautiful picture of complete rest and resignation, and are taught how a truly pious man bears trials. Job rises: as a man of rank he had received the messengers sitting. He rends his mantle and shaves his head, making himself like a beggar or a slave in token of his humiliation. Then he abases himself to the ground in silent prayer, acknowledging his submission to the decree of God. Job's words (Job 1:21) are not to God, but to man. This sentence and the related Job 2:10 may well be described as the creed of all Oriental piety (Duhm). Observe, however, that in the poem the attitude of resignation is not that of Job, but of the friends, especially Eliphaz ...

SHAVED HIS HEAD. Symbolic of mourning (Leviticus 21:5.Jeremiah 7:29; Jeremiah 16:6; Micah 1:16)....