Job 2:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 2:7-10

The devil, having got leave to tear and worry poor Job, presently fell to work with him, as a tormentor first and then as a tempter. His own children he tempts first, and draws them to sin, and afterwards torments, when thereby he has brought them to ruin; but this child of God he tormented with an affliction, and then tempted to make a bad use of his affliction. That which he aimed at was to make Job curse God; now here we are told what course he took both to move him to it and move it to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 2:8

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal ,.... His mouth was shut, his lips were silent, not one murmuring and repining word came from him, amidst all this anguish and misery he must be in; much less anything that looked like cursing God and blaspheming him, as some are said to do, because of their pains and their sores, Revelation 16:11 ; but Job bore his with the utmost patience; he took a piece of a broken pot, which perhaps lay in the ashes among which he sat, and scraped... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 2:1-10

Renewed assaults and temptations of the adversary. The first scene in this drama of affliction has closed, and a fresh one opens, bringing, however, no happy change, no alleviation, but rather an aggravation of the hero's woe. A second time the adversary of mankind appears in the heavenly court to launch his malicious shafts of accusation against the servant of God. His purpose is now more intent, his aim more deadly, than ever. But we, as spectators, can see a bright light still steadily... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 2:1-10

The severer tests of faith. Job has triumphed in the severe ordeal. His possessions, his servants, his family, have been torn from him. In the bitterness of his sorrow he has "rent his mantle," and shown the signs of his humiliation by cutting off the hair of his head. But in the paroxysms of his grief he has "held fast his integrity;" he "sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." So far he has passed through the fire unscathed, and belied the false accusations of the adversary. But further... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 2:1-13

This chapter concludes the "Introductory section." It consists of three parts. Job 2:1-6 contain an account of Satan's second appearance in the courts of heaven, and of a second colloquy between him and the Almighty. Job 2:7-10 contain the sequel to this colloquy, viz. Satan's further affliction of Job, and his conduct under it. Verses 11-13 contain an account of the arrival of Job's three special friends to mourn with him and to comfort him; and of their behavior during the first... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 2:7-8

Job's leprosy. Satan has now obtained permission to go a step further, and lay his hand on the person of God's servant. He uses the new privilege with skilful ingenuity, selecting the most horrible and loathsome disease, and smiting Job with the worst form of leprosy—elephantiasis. I. THE MISERY OF THE INFLICTION . 1 . It touches the man himself. Hitherto the blows have fallen on his outer world, though, indeed, they have come very near to him in striking his children.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 2:7-10

The patriarch's second trial. I. THE TWOFOLD ASSAULT UPON THE PATRIARCH . 1 . The infliction of a loathsome disease. (a) by wearing out his strength, and so rendering him more accessible to the entrance of diabolic temptations; (b) by making him an object of abhorrence to mankind, and so in a manner cutting him off from human sympathy; and (c) by leading him to regard his malady as a special visitation from Heaven, and so tempting him to entertain harsh thoughts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 2:8

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal . "The surface of the integuments," says Dr. Quain, "is often much inflamed, and sometimes discharges a serous ichor, or chyle-like fluid, according to the extent to which the lymphatics are engaged in the particular ease". This "serous or lymph-like fluid" is occasionally "acrid and offensive." Job seems to have used his potsherd to scrape it away . And he sat down among the ashes. Not as a curative process, or even as an alleviation... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 2:8

And he took him a potsherd - The word used here חרשׁ chârâsh means a fragment of a broken vessel; see the notes at Isaiah 45:9. The Septuagint renders it ὄστρακον ostrakon - “a shell.” One object of taking this was to remove from his body the filth accumulated by the universal ulcer, compare Job 7:4-5; and another design probably was, to “indicate” the greatness of his calamity and sorrow. The ancients were accustomed to show their grief by significant external actions (compare the notes at... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 2:8

Job 2:8. And he took a potsherd, &c. His children and servants were all dead, his wife unkind, and none of those whom he had formerly befriended had so much sense of honour and gratitude as to minister to him in his distress, to furnish him with linen clothes, or lend a hand to cleanse or dress his running sores; either because the disease was loathsome and offensive, or because they apprehended it to be infectious. Being therefore deprived of other relief, he laid hold on what was next... read more

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