Satan appears

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A. M. 2484. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, A. M. 2484. Whence comest thou? Then Satan Hast thou considered my servant answered the LORD, and said, From going to Job, that there is none like him in the earth, and fro in the earth, and from walking up and1a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth down in it.

God, and escheweth evil?

thou set thy heart on. Chap. ii. 3.- Verse 1.

and as passing the decrees of his providence in an what a degree of steady and invincible piety and assembly of his holy angels. We have here, in the fidelity to God his grace can raise creatures formed case of Job, the same grand assembly held as was out of the clay, and dwelling in flesh. It is but just before in that of Ahab, 1 Kings xxii.: the same host to observe here, that some commentators adopt a of heaven, called here the sons of God, presenting different interpretation of this verse, understanding themselves before Jehovah, as in the vision of Mi- by the sons of God presenting themselves before the caiah they are said to stand on his right hand and on Lord, the people of God meeting together for relihis left: a wicked spirit appearing among them, here gious worship on earth. Dr. Lightfoot's comment called Satan, or the adversary, and there a lying is, "On a sabbath day, when the professors of the spirit, both bent on mischief, and ready to do all the true religion were met together, in the public assemhurt that they were able, as far as God would give bly, Satan was invisibly there among them;" namethem leave; but, nevertheless, both under the con- ly, to distract and disturb them in their worship, and trol of his power, and suffered to go as far as might observe their infirmities and defects, that he might best serve the wise ends of his justice and his provi- have matter of accusation against them. But what dence, and no further. The imagery, in short, is just || we have stated above seems to be the most probable the same; and the only difference is in the manner sense of the passage. of the relation. Micaiah, as a prophet, and in the Verse 7. The Lord said unto Satan, &c.-As we actual exercise of his prophetic office, delivers it as are not to suppose from the preceding verse that Sahe received it, that is, in a vision: I saw the Lord tan entered into heaven among the angels of God, sitting on his throne, &c. The other, as an historian, uncalled; so, neither are we so to understand what is interweaves it with the history, and tells us, in the here said, as if the Great and Holy One really enplain narrative style, There was a day, &c. And tered into a conversation with that apostate spirit. this parabolical or prophetical way of representing But, as we have stated above, the whole is parabolical what is a great and most important truth, namely, and emblematical. Whence comest thou?—God, being that God, by his wise and holy providence, governs here represented as Judge, begins with an inquiry as all the actions of men and devils, is used that it may the ground of his further proceedings, as he did with make a more lively and lasting impression on our our first parents, Genesis iii. 9, and with Cain, Gen. minds. At the same time it must not be forgotten iv. 9. Satan answered the Lord, From going to and that representations of this kind are founded in a fro in the earth-Where, by thy permission, I range well-known and established truth, namely, that there about, observing, with great diligence, all the dispoare angels, both good and bad, that they are interest-sitions and actions of men, and working in them and ed in the affairs of men; a point revealed, no doubt, among them, as far as I have liberty and opportunifrom the beginning. And that the affairs of earth ty. The Targum, after the words, from going to and are much the subject of the counsels of the unseen fro in the earth, very significantly adds, to try the world, to which we lie open, though that world is in works of the children of men. From which it apa great measure concealed from us. And such repre- pears, that the ancient Jews understood this account sentations may also be intended to discover to us, in of the temptation of Job in a literal sense. This repart, at least, the causes of many of those things presentation teaches us, that Satan, the great aposwhich happen on earth, and which appear to us un- tate spirit, is entirely under the dominion of the accountable, namely, that they arise from our having sovereign Lord of all things, and not suffered to act some connection with, or relation to, other orders of without control; and that he is chiefly confined to beings through the universe, on whose account, and the limits of this earth; agreeably to which he is through whose ministry, many things may happen called, in the New Testament, the Prince of this to us, which otherwise would not. Thus the dread-world, John xii. 31. And from this and many other ful calamities and afflictions which befell Job, in such quick succession, are utterly unaccountable according to the ordinary course of human things, and seem almost without reason, if he were considered merely as a human being, having no connection with, relation to, or influence upon, any world but this, or any order of beings but those among whom he lived; but are easily accounted for if brought on him by invisible agents, through divine permission, and certainly answered a most wise and grand purpose, if intended to show to superior beings, whether good or evil, to

passages in Scripture, we may learn that it is his employment to seek for all opportunities to delude the human race. The New Testament frequently mentions the temptations, wiles, and snares of the devil. And St. Peter describes him as doing the same thing which he is here said to do, namely, walking about as an adversary to man, seeking whom he may devour; roving to and fro with an evil intention, and a determined resolution of doing mischief.

Verse 8. Hast thou considered my servant Job?— Hast thou taken notice of him, and of his spirit and

renounce thee and religion." Thus, when Satan could not accuse Job of any thing really ill, he charges

conduct? That there is none like him in all the earth-The Targum saith, "None like him in the land of the Gentiles;" intimating, probably, that not-him with having merely selfish and sinister ends in withstanding he was of the Gentiles, he was yet so distinguished an example of virtue and goodness, that his equal was not to be found among them. Dr. Lightfoot speaks of Job as being, without the least doubt, a heathen, observing, "In these times, when it went thus sadly with Israel in Egypt, there shone forth the glorious piety of Job in the land of Uz," vol. i. p. 23; and again, p. 1026, "About (the time of) Israel's being in Egypt, Job lives in Arabia, a heathen man, and yet so good." And thus St. Gregory: "His country is purposely named, that the goodness of the man may be the more illustrated."

Verse 9. Doth Job serve God for naught?—That is, 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 serves himself of thee; and is a mere mercenary creature, serving thee for his own ends.

view in doing good, which was, in effect, charging him with being a hypocrite. Let us not think it strange if those who are approved and accepted of God, be unjustly censured by the devil and his instruments; and if they be otherwise perfectly unexceptionable, it is easy to charge them with hypocrisy, as Satan charged Job, and they have no way to clear themselves, but patiently to wait for the judgment of God. As there is nothing we should dread more than being hypocrites, so there is nothing we should dread less than being called and accounted so without cause. It was a great truth that Job did not fear God for naught; he got much by it: for godliness is great gain. But it was a false lie that he would not have feared God if he had not got this by it, as the event proved. Job's friends charged him with hypocrisy because he was greatly afflicted, Satan because he greatly prospered. It is no hard || matter for those to calumniate that seek occasion. Let us remember it is not mercenary to look at the eternal recompense in our obedience; but to aim merely or chiefly at temporal advantages in our religion, and to make it subservient to them, is spiritual idolatry, worshipping the creature more than the Creator, and is likely to end in a fatal apostacy. Men cannot long serve God and Mammon.

Verse 10. Hast thou not made a hedge about him?-Protected him with a thorny and inaccessible defence, or secured him, by thy special care and providence, from all harm and inconveniences? which is sufficient to oblige and win persons of the worst tempers; and about his house-His children and servants; about all that he hath on every side-His whole property, which is all under thy protection. Thou hast blessed the work of his hands—Hast Verse 12. The Lord said, Behold, all that he caused whatever he does to prosper. Observe, read- hath is in thy power-I give thee full power to do er, without the divine blessing, be the hands ever so with his property, his servants, his children, and his strong, ever so skilful, their work will not prosper. || wife, whatsoever thy craft or malice shall prompt And his substance is increased in the land-The thee to do; only upon himself put not forth thy hand original word p, mickneehu, chiefly means his -Meddle not with his own person, with his body or cattle; and the word 5, parets, here rendered in- soul. It seems strange that God should give Satan creased, is a metaphor taken from waters which such a permission as this. But he did it for his own have burst their bounds, and spread themselves on glory, for the honour of Job, for the explanation of all sides round; so Job's substance had largely in- providence, and the encouragement of his afflicted creased, and spread itself like a flowing torrent over people in all ages. So Satan went forth from the the adjacent land.-Schultens. presence of the Lord-From the place where God is represented as having been especially present, glad of the permission he had obtained to do mischief to a good man; and resolved to lose no time, but immediately to put his project in execution. Schultens observes, that NY, jatza, to go forth, is used here in a judicial way; comprehending the office of an executer of justice; as Isaiah xxxvii. 36, the angel of the Lord NY, jatza, went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians. Thus did Sa tan go forth to execute the judgments wherewith he was permitted to afflict and try Job.

Verse 11. But put forth thy hand now-In a way of justice and severity, as the phrase of putting or stretching forth God's hand is used, Isa. v. 25, and Ezek. xxv. 7, 13, 16: and touch all that he hath That is, afflict or destroy his children and substance; and he will curse thee to thy face-He who is now so forward to serve and bless thee, will then openly and boldly blaspheme thy name, and reproach thy providence as unjust and unmerciful to him. Or, as Schultens paraphrases the words, "He will, with the highest degree of insolence and contumacy, entirely

A. M. 2184. 13 ¶ And there was a day when || and I only am escaped alone to tell A. M. 2484. his sons and his daughters were eating thee. and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

The resignation and

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JOB.

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patience of Job. A. M. 2484. men, and they are dead; and I only || mother's womb, and naked shall I re- A. M. 2484. am escaped alone to tell thee. turn thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

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

22 In all this Job sinned not, nor 15 charged

21 And said, "Naked came I out of my God foolishly.

Gen. xxxvii. 29; Ezra ix. 3.- -14 Or, robe. " Psa. xlix. 17; Eccles. v. 15; 1 Tim. vi. 7.

t1 Peter v. 6.
Eccles. v. 19;

James i. 17.-
a Chap. ii. 10.-

Matt. xx. 15.-- Eph. v. 20; 1 Thess. v. 18. 15 Or, attributed folly to God.

tion unto God; and worshipped-Instead of cursing God, which Satan said he would do, he adored him, and gave him the glory of his sovereignty, of his justice, and of his goodness also, in this most severe dispensation.

across the wilderness, whence the fiercest winds came, as having most power in such open places: see Jer. iv. 11, and xiii. 24. By this it appears that Job's situation was on the northerly side of the Arabian desert; and smote the four corners of the house -In which the chief strength of the house consisted. Verse 21. Naked came I out of my mother's womb The wind smote these either all together, or rather -I brought none of those things which I have now successively, one corner immediately after another, lost with me when I came out of my mother's womb being possibly a whirlwind, which came violently into the world, but I received them from the hand and suddenly whirling about in a circle; and it fell and favour of that God who hath now required his upon the young men-Upon his sons in their youth, own again; and naked shall I return-I shall be as and his daughters also, as appears from the sequel. rich when I die as I was when I was born; and This was the greatest of all Job's losses, his ten chil- therefore have reason to be contented with my condren being, undoubtedly, by far the dearest and most dition, which also is the common lot of all men. We valuable of his possessions; and it could not but go go naked out of the world into the womb or lap of nearest to him, and, therefore, Satan reserved it to our common mother the earth, as the weary child the last; that, if the other provocations failed, this lays its head on its mother's bosom. Death strips might make him curse God. Our children are parts us of all our possessions and enjoyments; clothing of ourselves, and it touches a good man in a most can neither warm nor adorn a dead body: a considertender part to be deprived of any of them. What ation which silenced Job under all his losses. The then must Job have felt, when he learned that he sanctified soul, however, goes out of the world had lost his whole ten at once, and that in one mo- || clothed, (2 Cor. v. 3,) and when it appears in the ment he was written childless! It was also an presence of God is not found naked. The Lord aggravation of the calamity that they had been gave, and the Lord hath taken away-He hath taken away so suddenly, without any previous taken away nothing but his own; nothing but what warning. Had they died by some lingering dis- he so gave to me as to reserve the supreme domiease, and he had had notice to expect their death, nion and disposal of it in his own hand. So that I and prepare for the breach, the affliction would have have no cause to murmur against him or complain. been more tolerable. And that they had died when Nor have I reason to fret and rage against the Chalthey were feasting and making merry, was another deans and Sabeans, the fire or the wind, which were and still more distressing circumstance. Had they only God's instruments to execute his wise and holy died suddenly when they were praying, he might counsel: for, what is it to me by what hand or means have better borne it; for, in that case, he would have he that gives resumes what he gave? Blessed be the hoped that death had found them in a state of pre- name of the Lord-That is, blessed be the Lord, his paration for another world, which he had great rea- name being put for himself. The sense is, I have no son to fear now it had not. They died, indeed, by cause to quarrel with God, but much cause to bless a wind of the devil's raising, but which seemed to and praise him that he did give me such blessings, come from the immediate hand of God, and to be and suffered me to enjoy them more and longer than sent as a judgment of God upon them for the punish- I deserved, and that he hath vouchsafed to afflict me, ment of their sins: and they were taken away when which I greatly needed for my soul's good; and Job had most need of them to comfort him under all which I take as a token of his love and faithfulness his other losses. to me, and therefore ministering more matter of comfort than grief to me; and that he hath left me the comfort of my wife, and yet is pleased to continue to me the health of my body, and a composed mind, and a heart to submit to his good pleasure; and that he hath reserved and prepared a felicity for me, which no Chaldeans or Sabeans, no men or devils, can take away from me; of which see chap. xix. 25.

Verse 20. Then Job arose-From his seat whereon he had been sitting in a disconsolate posture; and rent his mantle-In token of his deep sense of, and just sorrow for, the heavy hand of God upon|| him, and his humiliation of himself under that hand: see Gen. xxxvii. 34; and shaved his head-Caused the hair of his head to be shaved or cut off, which was then a usual ceremony in mourning: of which see Ezra ix. 3; Isa. xv. 2, and xxii. 12; Jer. vii. 29, Verse 22. In all this Job sinned not—That is, unand xli. 5; Mich. i. 16. And fell down upon the der all these pressures, or in all that he said or did ground-In self-abasement, contrition, and supplica- | upon these sad occasions, he sinned not in such a

CHAPTER II.

manner as Satan presaged that he would, and as is || pheming God, that he did not entertain any dishonexpressed in the following words. But the meaning|| ourable thought of God, as if he had done any thing is not that he was free from all human infirmity, of unworthy of his infinite wisdom, or justice, or goodwhich he often acknowledges himself to be guilty. ness, but heartily acquiesced in his good pleasure, Indeed, the question between God and Satan was not || and in his righteous, though sharp proceedings whether Job had any sin in him, but whether he was against him. Discontent and impatience do, in efa hypocrite, and would blaspheme God if brought || fect, impute folly to God! Against the workings of under heavy calamities, which is here denied and these we should carefully watch, acknowledging disproved. Nor charged God foolishly-Hebrew, that God has done well, but we have done foolnor imputed folly to God; so far was he from blas- ishly.

CHAPTER II.

Satan moves for another trial of Job, which God permits, 1-6. Satan smites him with biles from head to foot, 7, 8. He is tempted by his wife, but resists the temptation, 9, 10. His friends come to comfort him, 11–13.