Job 1:15-16 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:15

And the Sabeans (literally, Sheba) fell upon them, and took them away . The Sabeans were the principal people of Arabia in ancient times, and the name seems to be used sometimes in the general sense of "Arabs" (see Psalms 72:10 , Psalms 72:15 ; Jeremiah 6:20 ). We may suppose that hem, either the general sense is intended, or, if the specific one, then that, at the date whereto the story of Job belongs, there were Sabeans in Eastern as well as in Southern Arabia, in the neighbourhood... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:16

While he was yet speaking ; literally, he yet speaking ; ἔτι τούτον λαλοῦντος , LXX . The writer hurries his words to express the rapidity with which one announcement followed another (see Job 1:17 , Job 1:18 ). There came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven. "The fire of God" is undoubtedly lightning (comp. Numbers 11:1-3 ; 2 Kings 1:10 , 2 Kings 1:14 ; Psalms 78:21 ). This Satan, under permission, might wield, as being "the prince of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 1:15

And the Sabeans - Hebrew שׁבא shebâ', Vulgate, “Suboei.” The Septuagint gives a paraphrase, καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ αἰχμαλωτεύοντες ἠχμαλώτευσαν kai elthonia hoi aichmalōteuontes ēchmalōteusan, “And the plunderers coming, plundered them,” or made them captive. On the situation of Sheba and Seba, see Isaiah 43:3, note; Isaiah 45:14, note; Isaiah 9:6, note. The people here referred to were, undoubtedly, inhabitants of some part of Arabia Felix. There are three persons of the name of Sheba... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 1:16

While he was yet speaking - All this indicates the rapidity of the movement of Satan, and his desire to “overwhelm” Job with the suddenness and greatness of his calamities. The. object seems to have been to give him no time to recover from the shock of one form of trial before another came upon him. If an interval had been given him he might have rallied his strength to bear his trials; but afflictions are much more difficult to be borne when they come in rapid succession. - It is not a very... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 1:14-15

Job 1:14-15. And the asses feeding beside them That is, beside the oxen. And the Sabeans fell upon them A people of Arabia, who led a wandering life, and lived by robbery and plunder, as Strabo and other heathen writers observe. They were the descendants of Abraham by Keturah, whose son Jokshan begat Sheba, their progenitor. Indeed, the Hebrew here is, Sheba fell upon them; and took them away The whole five hundred yoke of oxen, and the five hundred asses which he had. Yea, they have... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 1:16

Job 1:16. While he was yet speaking Before the former had done speaking, or Job could have time to compose his disturbed mind, and to digest his former loss; there came also another Another messenger of evil tidings; and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven Not ordinary lightning, which could scarcely have destroyed seven thousand sheep at once; but an extraordinary, terrible, and widely-spreading flame or fire, issuing from the air, accompanied, probably, by a dreadful storm of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 1:1-22

1:1-2:13 SATAN TESTS JOBFrom prosperity to ruin (1:1-22)A popular belief in ancient times was that prosperity and well-being were proofs of godliness, but poverty and suffering were proofs of ungodliness. They were signs that God was either rewarding or punishing a person, according to whether that person’s life was good or bad. The book of Job contradicts this belief. Yet the prosperous and contented Job was indeed a godly person who was blameless in all that he did. He was concerned also for... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 1:15

the Sabeans. Hebrew Sheba. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Subject), for the people of Sheba. Compare Job 6:19 . Isaiah 60:6 . servants = young men. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 1:16

While he was yet speaking. Repeated three times to show the rapidity and vehemence of Satan's assault. The fire of God = A fire of Elohim. Figure of speech Enallage ( App-6 ) = a great (or terrible) fire. Elohim used as an adjective. Compare Song of Solomon 8:6 . Psalms 80:10 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 1:15

15. Sabeans—not those of Arabia-Felix, but those of Arabia-Deserta, descending from Sheba, grandson of Abraham and Keturah ( :-). The Bedouin Arabs of the present day resemble, in marauding habits, these Sabeans (compare :-). I alone am escaped—cunningly contrived by Satan. One in each case escapes (Job 1:16; Job 1:17; Job 1:19), and brings the same kind of message. This was to overwhelm Job, and leave him no time to recover from the rapid succession of calamities—"misfortunes seldom come... read more