Job One

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

land of Uz. The land of Uz is mentioned in Lamentations 4:21 as home to the “daughter of Edom.” “Edom was the same as Esau, brother of Jacob, who later moved into the region, around the southern end of the Dead Sea. It was possibly named after Uz, the grandson of Seir the Horite (Genesis 36:20-21, 28), who gave his own name to Mount Seir, in the land of Edom. He, in turn, may have been named after Uz, the grandson of the patriarch Shem (Genesis 10:21-23). Alternatively, the latter may himself have first settled this region.

Job. Job was a real person, as confirmed in both Old and New Testaments (Ezekiel 14:14, 20; James 5:11), despite the contention of religious liberals that he was only a mythological character. The entire context of Job's 'narrative is clearly in the patriarchal age, probably the time of Abraham or earlier. Jacob had a grandson named Job (Genesis 46:13) and there are several Jobabs in the Bible (e.g., Genesis 36:33), but all of these clearly lived after the time of this Job. Some have suggested that Job was either Shem or Melchizedek, but these are mere speculations. Job's narrative stands all alone, probably the oldest book of the Bible, except for the first eleven chapters of Genesis.

perfect and upright. Job was the world's most righteous and godly man since Noah and before Daniel (Ezekiel 14:14, 20). This introductory statement was twice confirmed by God Himself (Job 1:8; 2:3). He was also “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3), probably the most wealthy and influential man in all the “nations” of the region.

eschewed. Old English for “shunned.”

Job 1:2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

Job 1:3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Job 1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

offered burnt offerings. Even though Job was “perfect and upright,” he was careful to offer sacrificial offerings regularly, both for himself and his family, recognizing that their sins, whether willful sins or sins done in ignorance, required sacrifice of innocent substitutes and the shedding of blood as an atonement. This was obviously before the giving of the Mosaic law and establishment of the Levitical offerings, so Job was acting in accord with earlier revelation (Job 23:12). Note also that, in the patriarchal system of the age before Moses, Job was acting as the priestly mediator for his family before the Lord.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

sons of God. This remarkable vision can only have been given to Job (or the author of Job's record) by special revelation after his sufferings and subsequent restoration. The angels are called “sons of God” (Hebrew bene elohim) because they had no parents as such, but were directly created by God (see also Genesis 6:2; Job 2:1; 38:7). Adam was called “the son of God” (Luke 3:38) for the same reason.

Satan. This is the Bible's earliest identification of Satan by name, assuming the traditional antiquity of the book of Job (compare 1 Chronicles 21:1). The name Satan means “accuser” or “adversary,” and he is “the accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10); this recorded attack on Job is typical of Satan's attacks. Note also that, despite his primeval rebellion and fall (Ezekiel 28:13-17), he was still able to go among the other sons of God, to make his accusations before God.

Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

walking up and down. Note 1 Peter 5:8: “The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” On this occasion, he was seeking the most righteous man in the earth, hoping to defeat God's plan for mankind by tempting such a man to reject His Creator and Savior.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

in thy power. Satan here is proposing a scientific experiment, as it were, testing Job's professed faith in God by causing him to suffer great loss. God is allowing it, at least in Job's case, knowing that Job's faith will not fail, thus demonstrating to “the principalities and powers in the heavenly places ... the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians 3:10).

Job 1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

Job 1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

Job 1:15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

Job 1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

return thither. Job was obviously not expecting to return to his mother's womb. He was “worshipping” when he spoke these words (Job 1:20), acknowledging that his soul had come from God and would return to God. Note also that when Job blessed the name of “the Lord,” he was using the name Jehovah. He knew God as Redeemer as well as the Creator God (Elohim).

Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

sinned not. It is evident from this verse that questioning God, or blaming him, when circumstances go against a believer, is sin. Job suffered probably more than anyone in history (except Christ), yet he continued to trust in God. With the greatest wealth in the whole region, he suddenly became the poorest man; with a wonderful family of ten children, he suddenly lost them all. Nevertheless, his faith persevered.