Job 1:20 - Exposition

Then Job arose . Not till the last calamity was announced did Job stir. The loss of his wealth little moved him. But when he heard that his children were destroyed, all of them "at one fell swoop," then he could endure no longer, but rose from the seat on which he was sitting, and showed forth his grief. First he rent his mantle , "the outer robe worn by men of rank" (Cook)—a customary sign of grief in the ancient world ( Genesis 37:29 , Genesis 37:34 ; Genesis 44:13 ; 1 Kings 21:27 ; 2 Kings 19:1 ; Esther 4:1 ; Joel 2:13 ; Herod; 8.99; Livy, 1.13, etc.); then he shaved his head —another less usual but still not uncommon sign of grief, forbidden under the Law of the Jews (Le Job 21:5 ; Deuteronomy 14:1 ), but widely practised by the Gentiles ( Isaiah 15:2 ; Jeremiah 47:5 ; Jeremiah 48:37 ; Herod; 2.36; 9.24; Plut.,'Vit. Pelop.,' § 34; Q. Gurt.,'Vit. Alex.,' 10.5, § 17). And fell down upon the ground, and worshipped . After giving vent to his natural grief, Job made an act of adoration. Recognizing the fact that adversity, as well as prosperity comes from God, and submitting himself to the Divine will, he "worshipped." How often has his act flashed across the minds of Christians. and enabled them, in their dark hour, to imitate him, and repeat his words, "The Lord gave," etc.!