Job's Character and Wealth
Study note
The book opens by describing Job as a man who was blameless and upright. He lived in the land of Uz, which was likely in the area east of Israel. Job had seven sons and three daughters, along with enormous herds and flocks. He was considered the greatest man among all the people of the East. Job was so careful about sin that he would offer sacrifices on behalf of his children, just in case they had sinned during their feasts.
1 In the land of Uz, there lived a man named Job. He was a good and honest person who respected God and refused to do anything wrong. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 Job had seven sons and three daughters. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys. On top of that, he had many servants working for him. Out of everyone in the entire East, Job was the richest. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 Each of his sons would take turns hosting a big dinner at his house. They always invited their three sisters to come eat with them. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
Satan Challenges God
Study note
The scene shifts to heaven, where angelic beings present themselves before God. Satan, whose name means 'accuser' or 'adversary,' appears among them. God points out Job's faithfulness, but Satan argues that Job only serves God because God has protected and blessed him. Satan claims that if everything were taken away, Job would curse God to his face. God gives Satan permission to test Job but forbids him from harming Job physically.
6 There came a day when the angels gathered before the Lord, and Satan appeared among them. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7 The Lord asked Satan, 'Where have you been?' Satan replied, 'I have been traveling around the whole earth, going here and there across it.' And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 Then the Lord asked Satan, 'Have you paid any attention to my servant Job? There is nobody else on earth like him. He is good and honest, he respects me, and he stays far away from doing evil.' And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Satan shot back, 'Does Job respect God because he feels like it?' Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 'You have built a wall of safety around him, around his family, and around everything he owns. You have made everything he does succeed, and his animals have spread all over the land.' Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 'But if you reached out and took everything away from him, he would curse you right to your face.' But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 The Lord told Satan, 'All then. Everything Job has is now in your control. Do not touch Job himself.' After that, Satan walked away from the Lord's presence. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Job Loses Everything
Study note
In rapid succession, four messengers arrive with devastating news. Raiders steal Job's oxen and donkeys and kill the servants. Fire falls from the sky and destroys the sheep and shepherds. Another group of raiders takes the camels. Finally, a powerful wind collapses the house where Job's children are feasting, killing all ten of them. Each messenger says the same haunting words: 'I alone escaped to tell you.'
13 One day, while Job's sons and daughters were having dinner and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 a messenger rushed to Job and said, 'Your oxen were out plowing and the donkeys were eating grass nearby,' And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 'when the Sabeans raided us and stole them all! They murdered the servants with their swords. I am the only one who got away to bring you the news!' And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God has fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only have escaped alone to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 Before he even finished, yet another messenger arrived and said, 'Three groups of Chaldeans attacked, stole all the camels, and killed the servants with their swords. I am the only one who got away to bring you the news!' While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 That one was still talking when one more runner came. He said, 'Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking. They were at the oldest brother's house.' While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19 'when out of nowhere, a mighty wind blew in from the desert and slammed into all four corners of the house. The whole building fell down on the young people inside, and every one of them is dead. I am the only one who got away to bring you the news!' And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Job Worships in His Grief
Study note
Despite losing everything in a single day, Job tears his robe, shaves his head as a sign of mourning, and falls to the ground. Instead of cursing God, he worships. He speaks some of the most famous words in Scripture: 'The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.' The narrator tells us that through all of this, Job did not sin or blame God.
20 When Job heard this, he got up, ripped his robe apart, and shaved his head. Then he dropped to the ground and bowed low in worship. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And he said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there: the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 Through all of this, Job never once sinned or put any blame on God. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.