Job 1

• The phrase "There once was a man" can begin a parable (symbolic story with asocial meanings) or a historical account (2 Samuel 12:1; 1 Samuel 25:2).

• Ezekiel 14:14, 20 and James 5:11 also mention Job.

• Uz is east of the Jordan River, either in Edom to the south or in Aram to the north (Genesis 36:28; 1 Chronicles 1:42; Jeremiah 25:19–20; Lamentations 4:21; Genesis 10:23; 22:21; 1 Chronicles 1:17, 42). Job was not from Israel. He lived before the nation of Israel existed and outside its later territory.

• Job had no moral faults, he was a man of complete integrity (Job 1:8; 2:3; see Psalms 25:21; 37:37; Proverbs 2:7; 20:11; 29:10). He did not claim to be perfect or without sin (Job 6:24; 7:21; see also Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). But he was righteous (in a right relationship with God) so his suffering was not because of guilt. Here, fearing God probably means he did not worship any Ancient Near Eastern gods (see Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Job 9:8; 23:13; 31:26–28).

God and Satan agree to test Job, which causes his troubles and confirms his integrity (1:20–21; 2:10). None of the book's characters ever learn of this council in heaven.

• God gave Job prosperity with many sons, daughters, cattle and other domestic animals, and servants (compare Genesis 30:43; Deuteronomy 7:13; Psalm 107:38).

• Numbers like seven and three (and 7,000 and 3,000) show the full extent of God's blessings for Job (see Job 42:13; also see Psalms 127:3–5; 128:3).

• Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East: The numbers describing Job’s wealth might not be exact, but they are realistic for a wealthy man of that time (compare Nabal’s wealth in 1 Samuel 25:2).

• People often washed and changed clothes to purify themselves before making a sacrifice (Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:10, 14).

• The usual time for sincere religious dedication was early morning (see Genesis 22:3; Psalm 5:3; Mark 1:35).

• cursed: The Hebrew verb barak (usually meaning blessed) used here is a polite way to say "cursed" (compare Job 1:11; 2:5, 9; 1 Kings 21:10, 13; Psalm 10:3). Job worried that his children might have committed this serious crime (Leviticus 24:10–16; 1 Kings 21:9–13; compare Job 1:11; 2:5, 9). Job knew that God regards wrong attitudes as sin (Jeremiah 17:9–10; Mark 7:21–23).

• These sons of God are spiritual beings and members of the court of heaven. They are probably either holy angels or demons (Genesis 6:2, 4). They join God in his discussions, including during creation and in his rule over creation (Genesis 1:26; Job 1:6; Genesis 3:22; 2:1; 1 Kings 22:19–22; Psalms 82:1; 89:5, 7–8; Daniel 3:13, 17, 23, 25; 7:9–14).

• It is uncertain in the account if Satan usually came with other court members of heaven to report or if he forced his way in as Job’s opponent.

• "Where have you come from?": This question was God’s command for a report from one of his subjects (see Genesis 3:9).

• Satan was not roaming through the earth to do God’s will (compare 1 Chronicles 21:1–14; 2 Kings 19:35 is equivalent to Isaiah 37:36; Ezekiel 1:5–9). Instead, he opposes God’s plans (2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Peter 5:8).

My servant:

People used this title for:

1. The patriarchs ("first fathers") of Israel (Genesis 26:24; Exodus 32:13).

2. The prophets (2 Kings 17:13; Jeremiah 7:25; Zechariah 1:6).

3. King David (for example, 2 Samuel 7:1–29; Psalms 18:1; 36:1).

Job has a good reason (Hebrew khinnam; see study note on 2:3) to fear God. The wisdom tradition connects being religious with prosperity. Satan suggested that Job's dedication to God depended on his wealth.

a hedge on every side: See 1 Samuel 25:16; Psalms 5:12; 34:7; Zechariah 2:5; compare Isaiah 5:5.

• Stretch out … and strike all he has … Everything he has is in your hands: Satan was God's agent. The hand he used was both the Lord's and Satan's. They acted against everything Job owned and later against Job himself (2:5–6).

• Job later cursed the day of his birth, but he did not curse God (3:1, 8; 31:30). This was even true when his upset wife urged him to do so (2:9).

• God allowed Satan to test Job to show that Satan's negative view of Job was wrong (1 Corinthians 10:11; see James 1:13; compare Luke 22:31–32; John 19:11).

• These attacks took away the blessings listed in 1:2–3. Job was left with four messengers who came to report terrible news and a wife who gave poor advice.

• The phrase "While he was still speaking" emphasizes the repeated nature of the attacks (see Jeremiah 51:31). The phrase "I alone have escaped to tell you" emphasizes the complete destruction of Job’s resources.

The Sabeans were tribes who raided from the desert (compare Judges 6:3). By the 700s BC, the southern Sabeans became a powerful nation. They traded in gold, precious stones, sweet smelling liquids, and slaves (see Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 43:3; 45:14; 60:6; Jeremiah 6:20).

The fire of God … from heaven: This might have been lightning, fire in the desert, or the activity of a volcano (20:26; Leviticus 10:2; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10–14; Numbers 11:1–3; Genesis 19:24).

a mighty wind …struck the four corners of the house: This suggests that Job and his children were farmers settled and living in houses, not people wandering about and living in tents (nomads).

• Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head: These were common ceremonies in the Ancient Near East to show grief. People sometimes responded this way instead of harming themselves when shocked, in horror, or after hearing bad news (2:12; Genesis 37:29, 34; Judges 11:35; Jeremiah 16:6; Ezekiel 7:18; Amos 8:10).

• He fell to the ground and worshiped: Then in an unexpected move, Job did not give a desperate cry, but had hope (1 Peter 5:6).