Job 1:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 1:4-5

We have here a further account of Job's prosperity and his piety. I. His great comfort in his children is taken notice of as an instance of his prosperity; for our temporal comforts are borrowed, depend upon others, and are as those about us are. Job himself mentions it as one of the greatest joys of his prosperous estate that his children were about him, Job 29:5. They kept a circular feast at some certain times (Job 1:4); they went and feasted in their houses. It was a comfort to this good... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 1:4

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, everyone his day ,.... It appears by this that Job's sons were grown up to men's estate, that they were from him, and were for themselves, and carried on a separate business on their own accounts, and had houses of their own, and, perhaps, were married; and being at some distance from each other, they met by appointment at certain times in their own houses, and had friendly and family entertainments in turn; for such were their feasts, not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 1:4

Feasted in their houses, every one his day - It is likely that a birthday festival is here intended. When the birthday of one arrived, he invited his brothers and sisters to feast with him; and each observed the same custom. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:1-5

The hero of the poem. I. THE PATRIARCH 'S NAME . Job. 1 . Historical . Not fictitious, but real ( Ezekiel 14:14 ; James 5:11 ). Even if the Book of Job proceeded from the brilliant Solomnnic period, the person of Job must be looked for in remote patriarchal times. 2 . Significant. Meaning "Persecuted," or "Repenting,' if not better connected with a root denoting "joyous exultation." Scripture names are frequently suggestive of traits in character ( e.g. Jacob, Peter,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:1-5

Job. I. AN ORIENTAL PRINCE . II. A WEALTHY MAN . III. AN EMINENT SAINT . IV. A GODLY PARENT . V. A SACRIFICING PRIEST . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:1-5

Job's life and character. The scene opens in all brightness, and the hero of this sacred poem stands before us bathed in the sunshine of earthly prosperity, and, better, crowned with the favour of God—a truly enviable man. We have in these few lines give, in brief, suggestive touches— I. A PICTURE OF COMPLETE HAPPINESS . There are internal and external elements of earthly bliss; and neither must be absent if that bliss is to be full and complete. First in importance is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:1-5

The typical conditions of domestic happiness. This early Eastern poem, designed to throw light on the methods of the Divine discipline of men, opens with a pleasing picture of domestic felicity, presenting a typical example of happy family life. But Job is the central figure. It is the Book of Job. All has its relation to him. He is the one subject of the book. Not more truly is Job perfect than are the circumstances which surround him. All the elements of domestic happiness are present.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 1:1-22

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 1:4

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

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