THE BOOK OF JOB Some things are to be premised in the general concerning this book before I come to the particulars. 1. That this was no fiction or parable, as some have dreamed, but a real history, which is sufficiently evident, both from the whole contexture of the book, wherein we have an exact…

The land of Uz was either in Edom, called the land of Uz, Lam. 4:21, or in some part of Arabia, not far from the Chaldeans and Sabeans, as this chapter witnesseth; so called probably from Uz, one of Esau’s posterity, Gen. 36:28, Jer. 25:20.

Camels in these parts were very numerous, as is manifest from Judg. 7:12, 1 Chron. 5:21, and from the plain testimonies of Aristotle and Pliny, and very useful, and proper both for carrying of burdens in these hot and dry countries, as being able to endure thirst much better than other creatures,…

His sons went and feasted, to testify and maintain their brotherly love. Every one his day; not every day of the week and of the year; which would have been burdensome and tedious to them all, and gross luxury and epicurism, which holy Job would not have permitted; but each his appointed day,…

When the days of their feasting were gone about; when each of them had had his turn, which peradventure came speedily, though not immediately one after another; and there was some considerable interval before their next feasting time. Job sent and sanctified them, i.e.

There was a day, i.e. a certain time appointed by God. The sons of God, i.e. the holy angels, so called Job 38:7, Dan. 3:25, Dan. 3:28, because of their creation by God, as Adam also was, Luke 3:38, and for their great resemblance of him in power, and dignity, and holiness, and for their filial…

God being here represented as Judge, rightly begins with an inquiry, as the ground of his further proceedings, as he did Gen. 3:9, Gen. 4:9. From going to and fro in the earth; where by thy permission I range about, observing with great diligence all the dispositions and actions of men, and working…

Hast thou taken notice of him, and his spirit and carriage? and what hast thou to say against him?

i.e. Sincerely and freely, and out of pure love and respect to thee? No. It is policy, not piety, that makes him good; he doth not serve thee, but serveth himself of thee, and is a mere mercenary, serving thee for his own ends.

Made a hedge about him, i.e. defended him by thy special care and providence from all harms and inconveniencies; which is able to oblige and win persons of the worst tempers. His house; his children and servants.

Put forth thine hand, to wit, in way of justice and severity, as that phrase is used, Isa. 5:25, Ezek. 25:7, Ezek. 25:13, Ezek. 25:16. Touch, i.e. afflict or destroy, as this word is used, Gen. 26:11, Ruth 2:9, Ps. 105:15, Zech. 2:8.

All that he hath is in thy power; I give thee full power and liberty to deal with his wife, children, servants, and all his estate, whatsoever thy wit or malice shall prompt thee to do. Upon himself; his person, body or soul. From the presence of the Lord, i.e.

i.e. Beside the oxen, therefore both were taken away together.

The Sabeans; a people of Arabia, who led a wandering life, and lived by robbery and spoiling of others, as Strabo and other heathen writers note. I only am escaped alone to tell thee; whom Satan spared no less maliciously than he destroyed the rest, that Job might have speedy and certain…

While he was yet speaking; before he could have time to compose his disturbed mind, and to digest his former loss, or indeed to swallow his spittle, as he expresseth it, Job 7:19.

The Chaldeans, who also lived upon the spoil, as Xenophon and others observe. Made out three bands, that they might come upon them several ways, and nothing might be able to escape them.

i.e. Feasting after their manner, and, as Job generally feared and suspected, sinning against God, Job 1:5, which was a dreadful aggravation of the judgment.

From the wilderness; whence the fiercest winds came, as having most power in such open places. See Jer. 4:11, Jer. 13:24. Smote the four corners; in which the chief strength of the house did consist.

Then Job arose from his seat, whereon he was sitting in a disconsolate posture. Rent his mantle, to testify his deep sense of and just sorrow for the heavy hand of God upon him, and his humiliation of himself under his hand. See Gen. 37:34. Shaved his head, i.e.

I brought none of these things which I have now lost with me, when I came out of my mother’s womb into the world but I received them from the hand and favour of that God who hath now required his own again.

i.e. Under all these pressures; or, in all that he said or did upon these sad occasions; Job sinned not, to wit, in such manner as the devil presaged that he would, and as is expressed in the following words.