This book, in the Hebrew copies, generally goes by this name, from Job, who is however the subject, if not the writer of it. In the Vulgate Latin version it is called “the Book of Job”; in the Syriac version, the Writing of Job; and in the Arabic, the Writing or Book of Job the Just.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, &c.] Of the signification of his name, see the introduction to the book. The place where he dwelt had its name not from Uz, a descendant of Shem, but from Uz, a son of Nahor, brother to Abraham, unless it can be thought to be so called from Uz,…

And there were born unto him By his wife, in lawful wedlock, who was now living, and after mentioned: seven sons and three daughters; next to his religious character, his graces, and spiritual blessings, and as the chief of his outward mercies and enjoyments, his children are mentioned; and which…

His substance also was seven thousand sheep For which he must have a large pasturage to feed them on, as well as these would produce much wool for clothing, and flesh for food; this part of his substance or possessions is mentioned first, as being the largest, and most useful and profitable: and…

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…

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, &c.] When they had been at each other’s houses in turn; when the rotation was ended: something like this is practised by the Chinese, who have their co-fraternities, which they call “the brotherhood of the month”; this consists of…

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord This is generally understood of the angels, as in who may be thought to be so called, because of their creation by the father of spirits, and their likeness to God in holiness, knowledge, and wisdom, and being…

And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? &c.] This question is put, not as ignorant of the place from whence he came; for the omniscient God knows all persons and things, men and angels, and these good and bad, where they are, from whence they come, and what they do, see but it is put…

And the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job Or, “hast thou put thine heart on my servant” [[14]]; not in a way of love and affection to him, to do him any good or service, there being an original and implacable enmity in this old serpent to the seed of the woman; but rather…

Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, doth Job fear God for nought. ] Satan does not deny any part of Job’s character, nor directly charge him with anyone sin; which shows what a holy man Job was, how exact in his life and conversation, that the devil could not allege any one thing against him;…

Hast not thou made an hedge about him A fence, a wall of protection all around him? he had; he encompassed him about with his love as with a shield, a hedge which could not be broken down by men or devils; he surrounded him with his almighty power, that none could hurt him; he guarded him by his…

But put forth thine hand now With draw thine hand of providence, power, and protection, with which thou hast covered and screened him; and, instead of that, “send” [[19]] forth thine afflicting hand, not barely in a way of chastisement and correction, but in wrath and vengeance, consuming and…

And the Lord said unto Satan, behold, all that he hath is in thy power This he said not as angry and displeased with Job, or as entertaining any ill opinion of him through the suggestions of Satan, nor as gratifying that evil spirit; but in order to convince and confound him, and to try the grace…

And there was a day Which according to the Targum was the first day of the week, but this is not certain, nor material; nor can it be said whether it was the day following that, Satan had leave to do what he would with Job’s substance, nor how long this was after that; for though Satan was no doubt…

And there came a messenger unto Job Not a messenger of Satan, as Jarchi, or one of his angels, or evil spirits; though this is a sense which is embraced not only by some Jewish Rabbins, but by several of the ancient Christian writers, as Sanctius on the place observes; and such they suppose the…

And the Sabeans fell upon them Or, “Sheba fell” [[4]]; that is, as Aben Ezra and Simeon Bar Tzemach supply it, an host of the Sabeans, or a company of them; these were not the descendants of that Sheba that sprung from Ham, nor of him that came from Shem, , but from Sheba, the son of Jokshan, a son…

While he was yet speaking, there came also another Another messenger, one of Job’s servants, from another part of his fields where his sheep were grazing, and was one of those that kept them; he came with another piece of bad news, even before the other had finished his whole account; and the same…

While he was yet speaking, there came also another Another messenger from another part of Job’s possessions, where his camels were, and this before the last messenger had told his story out: and said, the Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away; these…

While he was yet speaking, there came another A servant of one of Job’s sons, who was in waiting at the feast before mentioned, and here again repeated: and said, thy sons and thy daughters were eating, and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; (See Gill on Job 1:13).

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness Most probably from the wilderness of Arabia, winds from such places being generally very strong, (Jer. 4:11, Jer.

Then Job arose Either from table, being at dinner, as some think, in his own house; it being the time that his children were feasting in their eldest brother’s house; or from the business in which he was employed, which he stopped on hearing this news; or from his seat, or chair of state in which…

And said, naked came I out of my mother’s womb Either literally, where he was conceived and lay, and from whence he came into the world, though he afterwards wishes he never had, or had died as soon as he did, , and so it is expressive of his birth, and the circumstance of it; or figuratively, his…

In all this Job sinned not Not that he was without sin, he was conscious to himself of it, and owns it, (Job 9:20, Job 9:30, Job 9:31) ; but in all the above things he did or said he sinned not; not in his rending his garments, in shaving his head, and laying himself prostrate on the ground, which…