Job One
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
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.
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.
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.
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 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
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).
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.