Job 1
Job's upright life 1
His family and his concern for them 4
Satan accuses Job and God allows Job to be tested 6
Job's family lost 13
He remains faithful 20
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Text
Explanation
.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.
 2  And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
.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.
  1 - Land of Uz The location is not known. Some point to the area of the land of Edom. Job is an ancient book. If we see Moses as its author, we may assume that he learned the story from his father-in-law in the land Midian. Arab tradition points to an area near Damascus which bears the name of Job. His being a man of the East implies that Uz was east of Palestine (verse 3).
  1 - Perfect That is, perfect in his life at the time. Still, he needed more development of his character jb4003, jb4202.
.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.
.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.
Image © Corel, 1999
5 - Cursed The Hebrew word barak is usually translated "to bless" (over 200 times in the KJV). The common thought is "to speak to" or "about." For other translations as "curse" see v11, jb0205, 1ki2110.
.6 ¶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.   A day This day on the divine calendar need have no relationship to days on earth.
  Sons of God Humans do not enter the assembly of heaven except through the agency of Christ or as a prophet in vision he0416, re2110. We identify these as angels or other beings of the heavenly universe. See them at jb3807.
  Satan Hebrew hassatan, "the adversary." See how the word appears in "Satan" and in "oppose" in zc0301. His name describes his character and position.
  Also among them He had rejected and lost his place as one of them is1412, re1207, ge0601.
.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.
.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?
.9  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
.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.
.11  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
.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.
  7 - From going The same verb is used for collecting manna nu1108. Also 2sa2402, je0501. For walking, compare 1pe0508.
  9 - Doth Job? A doubt question like the one he used in the garden ge0304.
  10 - Hedge about? By permission, Job was then attacked on these three points in reverse order v15, v18, jb0107.
  11 - But A strong word in Hebrew. The phrase may read "surely he will curse You." The word 
  12 - In thy power, only God allows us to be tempted but sets limits 1co1013. Without the opportunity to disobey, we would not be obeying out of pure love.
.13 ¶ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
 14  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
 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.
.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.
  13 - There was a day It turned out to be a different kind of day as in v6.
  15 - Sabeans A people who lived at various places of Arabia, perhaps descendants of Cush ge1007 or of Abraham through Keturah ge2503.
  16 - Fire of God We thought Satan was doing this v12. Because God is ultimately in control of everything, what He permits He may be said to cause.
.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.
.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:
 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.
  17 - Chaldeans See is4701.
  18 - Sons and daughters No doubt a terrible blow to Job and his wife.
.20 ¶ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
.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.
.22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
  20 - Worshipped The word shachah also means "to bow down," or to prostrate oneself." Only a righteous person would show submission to God when faced with such tragedies.
  22 - Sinned not nor charged God A lesson for when we are tempted to blame God.
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