Job 1 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Job 1

Job’s Character and Wealth

1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed¹ God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Satan Allowed to Test Job

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan² also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants³ with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Footnotes

[1] 1:5 The Hebrew word bless is used euphemistically for curse in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9
[2] 1:6 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary; so throughout chapters 1–2
[3] 1:15 Hebrew the young men; also verses 16, 17

Commentary

v1-5: Introducing the book and its main character.

Job is a blameless man, upright, who shunned evil, all because he feared God. Those who fear God life lives of practical obedience and godliness.

Like Enoch (Gen 5), this godly man had sons and daughters; it is a lie that only the celibate are godly.

His wealth indicates that he is the greatest man in the East. Thus, the events recorded would have become known throughout a wide area.

Like Abraham, Job was father and priest, making his offerings for his family. He prayed for his family; his conscience was tender.

There is no reference to Israel, therefore we may date the book before Moses brought the people out of Egypt. Job lived in the land of Uz, perhaps the land belonging to Abraham’s wider family; see Gen 22.21; and also Lam 4.21. We do not even need to assume that Job belonged to the family of Abraham.

v6-12: There is activity in the 'spiritual realm', which is unseen by Job. It is in the wisdom of God that such things are kept from His people, see Deut 29.29, and Gen 18.17.

v6: Satan, the adversary, is given access to God; he came with his accusations. In the N.T., he is the accuser of the brethren. We presume Satan continues to have access to God, and continues to accuse God's people.

v7: Satan was and is the enemy of all that belongs to God. He walks to and fro in the earth, for he cannot be in more than one place at one time. He can only speak when the Lord God gives him permission.

v8: The Lord takes evident delight in His servant Job; "my servant...there is no-one on earth like him."

v9-10: Satan's accusation is that Job is godly because of material prosperity. The indication is that he was prosperous because of his godliness.

The N.T. indicates that prosperity may hinder spiritual blessing; the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. There is a distinction between wealth and covetousness.

v11: Satan's plan is that God stretch out His hand and touch all that belongs to Job, i.e: to destroy all that he had. God's answer is to permit Satan to attack Job, see 2 Sam 24.1; 1 Chr 21.1; God effectively allowed Satan to tempt His people.

v12: The suffering is permitted but limited; God is ultimately in control; He decides how far the enemy can go.

Whilst this meeting is something of a mystery, our confidence is in God who is in final control of all things. Our destiny is in His hands, not in our own hands!

v13-19: The catalogue of disasters; oxen and donkeys, sheep and camels, sons and daughters. All Job's materials blessings are removed at a stroke. Four witnesses tell Job of the disasters; later there were four lepers witnessing to a time of plenty (2 Kings 7), and there are four witnesses of the life of Jesus Christ; Matthew, Mark, Luke, John..

Note too that Satan heeded God's command, not to lay a hand on Job's person. The attacks were on "everything he has."

v20-22: Job's reaction is in trust and worship, although tinged with sorrow. The Lord's 'opinion' of Job is proved right; He is not ashamed to call them brethren (Heb 2.11). The Lord knows His people, He knows what He can put us through, and He gives grace to enable us to endure.