Job 1:2-22 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:2

And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters . The numbers three and seven, and their product, ten, are certainly sacred numbers, regarded as expressive of ideal perfection. But this does not prevent their being also historical. As Canon Cook observes, "Striking coincidences between outward facts and ideal numbers are not uncommon in the purely historical portions of Scripture". There are twelve apostles, seventy (7 × 10) disciples sent out by our Lord, seven deacons,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:2-5

The dangers of prosperity. This book proposes to give us a picture of extreme and probably unprecedented adversity. It is fitting that it should open with a scene of exceptional prosperity, to serve as a contrast to the dark scenes that follow. Moreover, the idea of the book is the better realized if we observe that the original prosperity is considered in its moral aspect, as concealing a possible temptation to sin. I. THE PROSPERITY WAS SUBSTANTIAL . 1 . A large family. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:3

His substance also ; literally, his acquisition (from קָנָה , acquirere ) , but used of wealth generally. Seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses . Note, first of all, the absence of horses or mules from this list—an indication of high antiquity. Horses were not known in Egypt till the time of the shepherd-kings, who introduced them from Asia. None are given to Abraham by the Pharaoh contemporary with him ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:3

Wealth and piety. I. THEIR COMMON CHARACTERISTICS . 1 . God ' s gifts ; and therefore to be received with thankfulness. 2 . Man ' s ornaments ; and therefore to be borne humbly. 3 . A Christian ' s talents ; and therefore to be used with fidelity. II. THEIR RECIPROCAL RELATIONS . 1 . Wealth and piety are not necessarily incompatible. 2 . Wealth and piety are often mutually destructive. 3 . Wealth and piety may prove reciprocally... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:4

And his sons went and feasted . "Went and feasted" seems to mean "were in the habit of feastlng" (Rosenmuller, Lee). In their houses. Each had his own residence, and the residence was not a tent, but a" house." Job and his sons were not mere nomads, but belonged to the settled population. The same is implied by the "ploughing of the oxen" (verse 14), and indeed by Job's "yoke of oxen" in verse 3. Every one his day . Most commentators regard these feasts as birthday festivities. Each son in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:4

Banqueting. I. AN ANCIENT CUSTOM . II. A PERMISSIBLE ENJOYMENT . III. A NATURAL ACTION . IV. A DANGEROUS OCCUPATION . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:4-5

The sanctification of the home; or, parental priesthood. Parentage involves authority, responsibility, power, and honour. It imposes special spiritual or religious duties; it demands right personal conduct, as an example; prudent discipline and careful instruction. It is the duty of a father to protect his family, not from temporal evils only, but from spiritual; to provide for their temporal and spiritual needs. The religious duties of parents embrace— I. RELIGIOUS EXAMPLE . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:5

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about ; rather, when the days of the feasting had come round ; i.e. whenever one of the birthdays had arrived in due course, and the feasting had taken place. That Job sent and sanctified them. In the old world, outside the Mosaic Law, the father of the family was the priest, to whom alone it belonged to bless, purify, and offer sacrifice. Job, after each birthday-feast, sent, it would seem, for his sons, and purified them by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:5

Family worship. I. SHOULD PRECEDE THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY . Job rose up early in the morning. II. SHOULD BE PERFORMED IN THE ASSEMBLED HOUSEHOLD . Job gathered all his sons to his devotions. III. SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AFTER DUE PREPARATION . Job sanctified his sons by the customary ablutions. IV. SHOULD BE INSPIRED BY FAITH IN THE ATONING SACRIFICE . Job offered up burnt offerings. V. SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:6

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord . By "the sons of God" it is generally admitted that, in this place, the angels are meant (so again in Job 38:7 ). The meaning of the phrase is probably different in Genesis 6:2 . Angels and men are alike "sons of God," as created by him, in his image, to obey and serve him. Christ, the "Only Begotten," is his Son in quite a different sense. We may gather, perhaps, from this place and Job 2:1 that there... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:2-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:6

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