Job 2 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Job 2

Satan Attacks Job’s Health

2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And 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.” 3 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? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” 4 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” 6 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”¹ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job’s Three Friends

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Footnotes

[1] 2:10 Or disaster; also verse 11

Commentary

v1-2: Another opportunity for Satan to accuse Job before God.

v3: Since the previous attack, Job maintained his integrity. He continued to enjoy the divine commendation, he did not sin (1.22), and God's 'opinion' of him remained.

v4-5: The fresh attack, to threaten his very life. Satan, frustrated in his first attack, was confident of victory this time. If the attack hit Job in his "flesh and bones", thought Satan, then he would curse God.

v6: Again, the Lord God set a limit for Satan, he could not take his life.

v7-8: Job endured real pain. The effect on his body is such that his friends could scarcely recognise him, see v12.

John Calvin gives Job these words; "I am not worthy that earth should sustain me, but it ought to be on top of me; and God should cast me down so low that I should be as it were trodden under foot." (Sermons from Job, translated by Leroy Nixon)

v9-10: Sadly, Job's wife is of no help. She tempts Job to turn against God, which he refuses (see James 5.11). We must learn to act wisely in the face of affliction; acting in emotion is not wise. Job does regret his life, and seeks death, but he does not curse God.

v11-13: The concern of Job's friends; they sensitively share his grief by remaining silent. Eventually Job speaks, and his friends answer; the long dialogue and debate (chapters 3-37) may well have lasted for many days.