Job is such a strange person it is hard for us to understand why Ezekiel uses him as an example of righteousness. Job is the fifth from Abraham; from the lineage of Isaac and Esau. Job was not from Jacob. Job had a different life than that of the children of Jacob, yet he was still righteous. Abraham taught all his children and grandchildren about Yahweh. Just because someone was not an heir of Jacob does not mean that they do not know Yahweh. Other than the book bearing Job’s name, we don’t have much written about him. We do find some stories written in the book of Jasher. It seems Moses may have written Job’s life story. The time period in which Job lived was prior to Moses and the exodus. Moses relates Job’s story so that the heirs of Jacob could learn about Yahweh. It is probable that Moses writes about Job so that during the hardships of their future the Israelites would understand how to manage themselves. We too can see the spiritual aspect of our lives through Job. Job was righteous and had a hedge around him prior to the devil attacking him. This is why it seems like a mystery as to Job’s sudden spiritual attack.
Job—“The name comes from an Arabic word meaning “to return,” namely, to God, “to repent,” referring to his end [Eichorn]; or rather from a Hebrew word signifying one to whom enmity was shown, “greatly tried” [Gesenius].
Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997)”. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 310). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Job has an interesting name. It may be that Job made some decisions and gave some counsel to Pharaoh in ignorance. Job may not have realized that the children of Jacob were called out by Yahweh. Moses says that Job is faultless. Job never gave up on Yahweh, he believed Yahweh would deliver him either by death or via life.
It is possible that Moses wrote this account of Job while in Midian. He had plenty of time on his hands while learning about Yahweh from his father-in-law, Jethro, and from his own experiences on the mountain. For the Israelites, the depth of understanding Yahweh would later help them as they left Egypt and wandered in the desert.
“It may be regarded as a settled point that the book was written long before the exile, probably between the birth of Abraham and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt—b.c. 2000–1800. If by Moses, it was probably written during his sojourn in Midian. “The book of Job is not only one of the most remarkable in the Bible, but in literature. As was said of Goliath’s sword, ‘There is none like it’; none in ancient or in modern literature.”—Kitto. “A book which will one day, perhaps, be seen towering up alone far above all the poetry of the world.”—J. A. Froude.”
Smith, W. (1986). In Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
James relates Job to us as having patience, and he is our example of patience. We are to be patient in the coming of Yahweh just like the prophets who have been patient in suffering.
Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Jas 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Endurance is key. The book of Job speaks to us of patience.
Job 1:1 (Brenton) There was a certain man in the land of Ausis, whose name was Job; and than man was true, blameless, righteous, and godly, abstaining from everything evil.
Job is spoken of highly. He was alēthinos, truthful, amōmos, faultless, haplous, sound, euthus, straight, phobeō, fearing (the Elohim), apechei, sufficient from ponēros pragma evil deeds. Moses wants us to understand that Job was a great guy. He was such a great guy that there was no reason for the devil to harm him. Prior to Moses writing this we have some history to look at. The time period is around the one hundred and twenty-fifth year of the sons of Jacob in Egypt. Moses was born in the one hundred and thirty-fifth year after entering Egypt. Jacob moved to Egypt in 1706 BCE. Moses was born in the year 1571 BCE. Moses went to Midian around 1531 BCE, at forty years old. The Exodus took place around 1491 BCE.
Jasher 66: 1 At that time died Hadad the son of Bedad king of Edom, and Samlah from Mesrekah, from the country of the children of the east, reigned in his place.
2 In the thirteenth year of the reign of Pharaoh king of Egypt, which was the hundred and twenty-fifth year of the Israelites going down into Egypt, Samlah had reigned over Edom eighteen years.
3 And when he reigned, he drew forth his hosts to go and fight against Zepho the son of Eliphaz and the children of Chittim, because they had made war against Angeas king of Africa, and they destroyed his whole army.
4 But he did not engage with him, for the children of Esau prevented him, saying, He was their brother, so Samlah listened to the voice of the children of Esau, and turned back with all his forces to the land of Edom, and did not proceed to fight against Zepho the son of Eliphaz.
Eliphaz was one of Job’s friends. This event probably took place before the extreme attack by the devil upon Job.
Jasher 66:5 And Pharaoh king of Egypt heard this thing, saying, Samlah king of Edom has resolved to fight the children of Chittim, and afterward he will come to fight against Egypt.
6 And when the Egyptians heard this matter, they increased the labor upon the children of Israel, lest the Israelites should do unto them as they did unto them in their war with the children of Esau in the days of Hadad.
7 So the Egyptians said unto the children of Israel, Hasten and do your work, and finish your task, and strengthen the land, lest the children of Esau your brethren should come to fight against us, for on your account will they come against us.
8 And the children of Israel did the work of the men of Egypt day by day, and the Egyptians afflicted the children of Israel in order to lessen them in the land.
9 But as the Egyptians increased the labor upon the children of Israel, so did the children of Israel increase and multiply, and all Egypt was filled with the children of Israel.
10 And in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of Israel's going down into Egypt, all the Egyptians saw that their counsel did not succeed against Israel, but that they increased and grew, and the land of Egypt and the land of Goshen were filled with the children of Israel.
To learn about the period of time before going into Egypt the book of Jasher explains how fierce the sons of Jacob were as they traveled from place to place. They were mighty warriors, which is why the Egyptians were afraid of them. The Egyptians did not want the children of Jacob to overtake them, so they called some elders from the neighboring countries to help them figure out what to do.
Jasher 66:11 So all the elders of Egypt and its wise men came before the king and bowed down to him and sat before him.
12 And all the elders of Egypt and the wise men thereof said unto the king, May the king live forever; thou didst counsel us the counsel against the children of Israel, and we did unto them according to the word of the king.
13 But in proportion to the increase of the labor so do they increase and grow in the land, and behold the whole country is filled with them.
14 Now therefore our lord and king, the eyes of all Egypt are upon thee to give them advice with thy wisdom, by which they may prevail over Israel to destroy them, or to diminish them from the land; and the king answered them saying, Give you counsel in this matter that we may know what to do unto them.
15 And an officer, one of the king's counsellors, whose name was Job, from Mesopotamia, in the land of Uz, answered the king, saying,
16 If it please the king, let him hear the counsel of his servant; and the king said unto him, Speak.
17 And Job spoke before the king, the princes, and before all the elders of Egypt, saying,
18 Behold the counsel of the king which he advised formerly respecting the labor of the children of Israel is very good, and you must not remove from them that labor forever.
19 But this is the advice counselled by which you may lessen them, if it seems good to the king to afflict them.
20 Behold we have feared war for a long time, and we said, When Israel becomes fruitful in the land, they will drive us from the land if a war should take place.
21 If it please the king, let a royal decree go forth, and let it be written in the laws of Egypt which shall not be revoked, that every male child born to the Israelites, his blood shall be spilled upon the ground.
22 And by your doing this, when all the male children of Israel shall have died, the evil of their wars will cease; let the king do so and send for all the Hebrew midwives and order them in this matter to execute it; so the thing pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Job.
We see Job suggest that they should kill off the newborn males. Similar to Paul, who imprisoned and tortured Christians in ignorance, Job probably did not know the children of Jacob were “special”. What the people of that time period knew was that Jacob bought Esau's birthright and then stole the blessing from Esau. The children of Jacob were wandering and were not living in a land of their own. They also knew that due to famine Jacob’s family were invited to live in Goshen. The children of Esau lived in one place for many years and did not get along with the children of Jacob.
Abraham taught all his sons and grandsons about Yahweh. Abraham then told his sons to move east so that when Canaan fell they would not be wiped out. He gave gifts to seven sons and sent them off, but gave his inheritance to Isaac. Job was a grandson of Isaac. Esau married two Hittite women and later vowed to kill Jacob after Jacob received Isaac’s blessing. Jacob went to Laban’s house in Haran. Esau then married a third wife from Ishmael’s heirs. When Jacob left Haran with his family, he feared Esau, but Esau had forgiven Jacob. Yet the children of Esau did not think highly of the children of Jacob.
Jacob’s heirs continued to multiply even though Pharaoh tried to kill the male babies at birth. Pharaoh has a dream and asks Balaam about the dream. Balaam suggests to call for Pharaoh’s counselors to see what they say.
Jasher 67:11 And in the hundred and thirtieth year of Israel's going down to Egypt, Pharaoh dreamed that he was sitting upon his kingly throne, and lifted up his eyes and saw an old man standing before him, and there were scales in the hands of the old man, such scales as are used by merchants.
12 And the old man took the scales and hung them before Pharaoh.
13 And the old man took all the elders of Egypt and all its nobles and great men, and he tied them together and put them in one scale.
14 And he took a milk kid and put it into the other scale, and the kid preponderated over all.
15 And Pharaoh was astonished at this dreadful vision, why the kid should preponderate over all, and Pharaoh awoke and behold it was a dream.
16 And Pharaoh rose up early in the morning and called all his servants and related to them the dream, and the men were greatly afraid.
17 And the king said to all his wise men, Interpret I pray you the dream which I dreamed, that I may know it.
18 And Balaam the son of Beor answered the king and said unto him, This means nothing else but a great evil that will spring up against Egypt in the latter days.
19 For a son will be born to Israel who will destroy all Egypt and its inhabitants, and bring forth the Israelites from Egypt with a mighty hand.
20 Now therefore, O king, take counsel upon this matter, that you may destroy the hope of the children of Israel and their expectation, before this evil arise against Egypt.
21 And the king said unto Balaam, And what shall we do unto Israel? surely after a certain manner did we at first counsel against them and could not prevail over them.
22 Now therefore give you also advice against them by which we may prevail over them.
23 And Balaam answered the king, saying, Send now and call thy two counsellors, and we will see what their advice is upon this matter and afterward thy servant will speak.
24 And the king sent and called his two counsellors Reuel the Midianite and Job the Uzite, and they came and sat before the king.
Reuel (aka Jethro) is the father of Jethro, the priest of Midian, who later became Moses’ father-in-law. Reuel was also a son of Esau. Reuel says something surprising to Pharaoh.
Jasher 67:25 And the king said to them, Behold you have both heard the dream which I have dreamed, and the interpretation thereof; now therefore give counsel and know and see what is to be done to the children of Israel, whereby we may prevail over them, before their evil shall spring up against us.
26 And Reuel the Midianite answered the king and said, May the king live, may the king live forever.
27 If it seem good to the king, let him desist from the Hebrews and leave them, and let him not stretch forth his hand against them.
28 For these are they whom the Lord chose in days of old, and took as the lot of his inheritance from amongst all the nations of the earth and the kings of the earth; and who is there that stretched his hand against them with impunity, of whom their God was not avenged?
29 Surely thou knowest that when Abraham went down to Egypt, Pharaoh, the former king of Egypt, saw Sarah his wife, and took her for a wife, because Abraham said, She is my sister, for he was afraid, lest the men of Egypt should slay him on account of his wife.
30 And when the king of Egypt had taken Sarah then God smote him and his household with heavy plagues, until he restored unto Abraham his wife Sarah, then was he healed.
31 And Abimelech the Gerarite, king of the Philistines, God punished on account of Sarah wife of Abraham, in stopping up every womb from man to beast.
32 When their God came to Abimelech in the dream of night and terrified him in order that he might restore to Abraham Sarah whom he had taken, and afterward all the people of Gerar were punished on account of Sarah, and Abraham prayed to his God for them, and he was entreated of him, and he healed them.
33 And Abimelech feared all this evil that came upon him and his people, and he returned to Abraham his wife Sarah, and gave him with her many gifts.
34 He did so also to Isaac when he had driven him from Gerar, and God had done wonderful things to him, that all the water courses of Gerar were dried up, and their productive trees did not bring forth.
35 Until Abimelech of Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Pichol the captain of his host, went to him and they bent and bowed down before him to the ground.
36 And they requested of him to supplicate for them, and he prayed to the Lord for them, and the Lord was entreated of him and he healed them.
37 Jacob also, the plain man, was delivered through his integrity from the hand of his brother Esau, and the hand of Laban the Syrian his mother's brother, who had sought his life; likewise from the hand of all the kings of Canaan who had come together against him and his children to destroy them, and the Lord delivered them out of their hands, that they turned upon them and smote them, for who had ever stretched forth his hand against them with impunity?
38 Surely Pharaoh the former, thy father's father, raised Joseph the son of Jacob above all the princes of the land of Egypt, when he saw his wisdom, for through his wisdom he rescued all the inhabitants of the land from the famine.
39 After which he ordered Jacob and his children to come down to Egypt, in order that through their virtue, the land of Egypt and the land of Goshen might be delivered from the famine.
40 Now therefore if it seem good in thine eyes, cease from destroying the children of Israel, but if it be not thy will that they shall dwell in Egypt, send them forth from here, that they may go to the land of Canaan, the land where their ancestors sojourned.
41 And when Pharaoh heard the words of Jethro he was very angry with him, so that he rose with shame from the king's presence, and went to Midian, his land, and took Joseph's stick with him.
Reuel suggested that Yahweh is protecting Jacob’s heirs, therefore just send the children of Jacob away from Egypt and tell them to go to Canaan. Jacob’s heirs didn’t ask to leave and Pharaoh probably liked their cheap labor.
Jasher 67:42 And the king said to Job the Uzite, What sayest thou Job, and what is thy advice respecting the Hebrews?
43 So Job said to the king, Behold all the inhabitants of the land are in thy power, let the king do as it seems good in his eyes.
44 And the king said unto Balaam, What dost thou say, Balaam, speak thy word that we may hear it.
45 And Balaam said to the king, Of all that the king has counselled against the Hebrews will they be delivered, and the king will not be able to prevail over them with any counsel.
46 For if thou thinkest to lessen them by the flaming fire, thou canst not prevail over them, for surely their God delivered Abraham their father from Ur of the Chaldeans; and if thou thinkest to destroy them with a sword, surely Isaac their father was delivered from it, and a ram was placed in his stead.
47 And if with hard and rigorous labor thou thinkest to lessen them, thou wilt not prevail even in this, for their father Jacob served Laban in all manner of hard work, and prospered.
48 Now therefore, O King, hear my words, for this is the counsel which is counselled against them, by which thou wilt prevail over them, and from which thou shouldst not depart.
49 If it please the king let him order all their children which shall be born from this day forward, to be thrown into the water, for by this canst thou wipe away their name, for none of them, nor of their fathers, were tried in this manner.
50 And the king heard the words of Balaam, and the thing pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Balaam.
Once again a suggestion is made to kill the babies. Moses hadn’t been born yet. Later we see that Balaam prophesies of Jesus. Isn’t this strange? We have been conditioned to think that anyone who was not of Jacob is evil. While the suggestions that Job and Balaam made were evil (killing innocents), they made those suggestions out of ignorance. They were sons of Esau. Yet the sons of Esau, Reuel and Jethro helped Moses learn about Yahweh. Jacob’s heirs did not know Yahweh as these men of Esau did, including Balaam and Job. In fact, we know that in the wilderness after the exodus, the majority of the children of Jacob worshipped the cherubim, the gods of Egypt, and made idols. How is it that the sons of Esau helped preserve the knowledge of Yahweh for the children of Jacob?
Job was a righteous and truthful man. How can a son of Esau be a righteous man? Because he was also a son of Isaac and Abraham. We have to recognize that Moses wrote the book of Job for us, to give us hope and help us understand the spiritual workings that we do not see. Moses wrote about a son of Esau, to teach the children of Jacob about Yahweh, and felt it important to add to his writings for the children of Jacob.
Job 1:2 (Brenton) And he had seven sons and three daughters.
Job 1:3 And his cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses in the pastures, and a very great household, and he had a great husbandry on the earth; and that man was most noble of the men of the east.
Job 1:4 And his sons visiting one another prepared a banquet every day, taking with them also their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
Job 1:5 And when the days of the banquet were completed, Job sent and purified them, having risen up in the morning, and offered sacrifices for them, according to their number, and one calf for a sin-offering for their souls: for Job said, Lest peradventure my sons have thought evil in their minds against God. Thus, then Job did continually.
Job made sacrifices for his children just in case they sinned. The devil knew what Job had said to Pharaoh so that when the devil meets with Yahweh and the angels on the mount of the congregation he says that Job is protected by Yahweh, but if Yahweh removes the hedge then Job will curse Yahweh.
Job 1:6 (Brenton) And it came to pass on a day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.
Job 1:7 And the Lord said to the devil, Whence art thou come? And the devil answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.
Job 1:8 And the Lord said to him, Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?
Job 1:9 Then the devil answered, and said before the Lord, Does Job worship the Lord for nothing?
Job 1:10 Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his household, and all his possessions round about? and hast thou not blessed the works of his hands, and multiplied his cattle upon the land?
Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand, and touch all that he has: verily he will bless thee to thy face.
Job 1:12 Then the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I give into thine hand all that he has, but touch not himself. So the devil went out from the presence of the Lord.
We see that the accusation regarding Job is that Job would curse (bless) Yahweh if he lost everything. Now Job is going to lose everything.
Job 1:13 (Brenton) And it came to pass on a certain day, that Job's sons and his daughters were drinking wine in the house of their elder brother.
Job 1:14 And, behold, there came a messenger to Job, and said to him, The yokes of oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses were feeding near them;
Job 1:15 and the spoilers came and took them for a prey, and slew the servants with the sword; and I having escaped alone am come to tell thee.
Job 1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came another messenger, and said to Job, Fire has fallen from heaven, and burnt up the sheep, and devoured the shepherds like wise; and I having escaped alone am come to tell thee.
Job 1:17 While he was yet speaking, there came another messenger, and said to Job, The horsemen formed three companies against us, and surrounded the camels, and took them for a prey, and slew the servants with the sword; and I only escaped, and am come to tell thee.
Job 1:18 While he is yet speaking, another messenger comes, saying to Job, While thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking with their elder brother,
Job 1:19 suddenly a great wind came on from the desert, and caught the four corners of the house, and the house fell upon thy children, and they are dead; and I have escaped alone, and am come to tell thee.
Job lost the animals which he would have used to make sacrifices as well as his working animals. Job then lost his children.
Job 1:20 (Brenton) So Job arose, and rent his garments, and shaved the hair of his head, and fell on the earth, and worshipped,
Job 1:21 and said, I myself came forth naked from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, the Lord has taken away: as it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Job 1:22 In all these events that befell him Job sinned not at all before the Lord, and did not impute folly to God.
Job mourned, repented, and worshipped. The devil accused Job again.
Job 2:1 (Brenton) And it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came among them to stand before the Lord.
Job 2:2 And the Lord, said to the devil, Whence comest thou? Then the devil said before the Lord, I am come from going through the world, and walking about the whole earth.
Job 2:3 And the Lord said to the devil, Hast thou then observed my servant Job, that there is none of men upon the earth like him, a harmless, true, blameless, godly man, abstaining from all evil? and he yet cleaves to innocence, whereas thou has told me to destroy his substance without cause?
Job 2:4 And the devil answered and said to the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has will he give as a ransom for his life.
Job 2:5 Nay, but put forth thine hand, and touch his bones and his flesh: verily he will bless thee to thy face.
Job 2:6 And the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I deliver him up to thee; only save his life.
Job 2:7 So the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from his feet to his head.
Job 2:8 And he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.
Job was now being physically attacked. He still did not curse Yahweh.
Jobs Disease
“The opinion that the malady under which Job suffered was elephantiasis, or black leprosy, is so ancient that it is found, according to Origen’s Hexapla, in the rendering which one of the Greek versions has made of Job 2:7. It was also entertained by Abulfeda (Hist. Anteisl. p. 26), and, in modern times, by the best scholars generally. The passages which are considered to indicate this disease are found in the description of his skin burning from head to foot, so that he took a potsherd to scrape himself (Job 2:7-8); in its being covered with putrefaction and crusts of earth, and being at one time stiff and hard, while at another it cracked and discharged fluid (Job 7:5); in the offensive breath, which drove away the kindness of attendants (Job 19:17), in the restless nights, which were either sleepless or scared with frightful dreams (Job 7:13-14; Job 30:17); in general emaciation (Job 16:8); and in so intense a loathing of the burden of life that strangling and death were preferable to it (Job 7:15). In this picture of Job’s sufferings the state of the skin is not so distinctly described as to enable us to identify the disease with elephantiasis in a rigorous sense. The difficulty is also increased by the fact that שְׁהַין (shechin’, a sore, Sept. ἕλκος) is generally rendered “boils.” But that word, according to its radical sense, only means burning, inflammation — a hot sense of pain, which, although it attends boils and abscesses, is common to other cutaneous irritations. Moreover, the fact that Job scraped himself with a potsherd is irreconcilable with the notion that his body was covered with boils or open sores, but agrees very well with the thickened state of the skin which characterizes the disease.” Cyclopedia.
Black leprosy or elephantiasis sounds horrid. Burning inflammation with oozing would bring any one of us to wish ourselves dead. But Job was a righteous man. He suggested Pharaoh kill the children of Jacob but that did not make him unrighteous. So the devil decided to kill Job’s children and take Job’s wealth. Yet in all of that Job did not curse Yahweh.
Job 2:9 (Brenton) And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying, Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, even thy sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; and thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me: but say some word against the Lord, and die.
Job 2:10 But he looked on her, and said to her, Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish women. If we have received good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things? In all these things that happened to him, Job sinned not at all with his lips before God.
Job’s wife was tired of hearing Job say that he was expecting and hoping on his deliverance. There is a period of time between the two meetings of the devil and Yahweh, and another period of time, as now Job’s wife is financially supporting Job. Job’s wife says that Job’s memorial was abolished from the earth, no one thought highly of Job anymore and his memorial or statue was taken down. She says that their children are gone, those who she bore in pain. She says that Job spends his nights in the open air among worms. She says that she is a servant, going house to house, and that she can’t wait for sunset so she can have rest. Job is no different than many of us. He lost everything. His wife became a maid, she was tired and in physical pain, and Job was sitting outside at night in the dirt. She was tired of supporting him in his illness. But Job saw the blessings that they once had and said they must endure the evil things as well. This is Job’s patience.
Job 2:11 (Brenton) Now his three friends having heard of all the evil that was come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Thaemans, Baldad sovereign of the Saucheans, Sophar king of he Minaeans: and they came to him with one accord, to comfort and to visit him.
Job 2:12 And when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and rent every one his garment, and sprinkled dust upon their heads,
Job 2:13 and they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and no one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful and very great.
Job was unrecognizable. Job’s friends cried for him and mourned for him. They simply sat with him, not speaking a word. Eventually, we know that they all started asking Job how he sinned or what sin he had. Job denies sinning, but says that he does not know why Yahweh is punishing him. This is the crux of the whole story. Yahweh is not punishing him. The devil is.
Job 19:25 (Brenton) For I know that he is eternal who is about to deliver me,
Job 19:26 and to raise up upon the earth my skin that endures these sufferings: for these things have been accomplished to me of the Lord;
Job 19:25 G1492 For I know G1063 G3754 that G104.1 [6everlasting G1510.2.3 5is G3588 1the one G1590 3to enfeeble G1473 4me G3195 2being about] G1909 upon G1093 the earth,
26 G450 to raise up G3588 G1192 my skin G1473 G3588 G369.1 being fatigued G3778 by these things . G3844 For by G1063 G2962 the lord G3778 these things G1473 was exhausted on me, G4931
“For I know that the perpetual is about to loose me on the earth, rise from my skin this without hesitation for from the presence of Yahweh this he completes entirely”
Job is saying that the everlasting one is about to untie him from the earth or loose him from being alive. However he knows that he will rise from his skin promptly or without hesitation and this will be fulfilled in the presence of Yahweh. This is extraordinary faith. He realizes that he will be resurrected into Yahweh’s presence. Job understands the place of the righteous dead, Abraham’s Bay. His death on earth is not the end.
Job 26:13 (Brenton) By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
Job understands that Yahweh created the serpent, the devil. Then a young man named Elihu rebukes everyone. Elihu was a Buzite, descended from Abraham’s brother Nahor. He explains that God is supreme and we can hardly know his majesty. He suggests that Job misspoke when he accuses God of making a mistake in punishing him.
Job 34:24 (Brenton) For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number.
Job 34:25 Who discovers their works, and will bring night about upon them, and they shall be brought low.
Job 34:26 And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him.
Job 34:27 Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances,
Elihu says to all of them, that they don’t know God’s ways. All along it was the devil accusing Job before Yahweh, claiming he would curse Yahweh if Yahweh allowed Job to suffer. Job thinks that he will die under the heavy burden of disease, but he will rise from the dead into the presence of Yahweh. And while Job the righteous, truthful, straight, and fearful of God, was complaining about being unfairly treated, Yahweh shows up.
Yahweh then speaks to Job. Yahweh asks Job a lot of questions and Job concedes that he is nothing. Yahweh then tells Job to get up and gird his loins like a man. Then Yahweh gives him some of the greatest insight we can imagine. Firstly, Job’s own right hand could save him. Yahweh explains his greatest creation, the dragon. He also tells Job to lay his hand on the dragon, but not to look at him and not to listen to him.
Job 40:9 (Brenton) Then will I confess that thy right hand can save thee.
We have a questionable translation of a very simple word in this verse. The word in question has three variations noted by accents. If someone mistranslated this word it would explain why we have had a hard time understanding how Job could have saved himself with his own right hand.
Job 40:14 G2532 And G1065 indeed, G1473 I G3670 shall acknowledge G686 surely G3754 that G1410 [2is able G3588 G1188 1your right hand] G1473 G4982 to deliver.
“And really I acknowledge therefore that your right hand powerful rescue”
686Dodson:ἄρα then, therefore, since.
TBESG:ἄρα therefore
G:Conj
Thayer:
1) therefore, so then, wherefore
ἄρα
ara ar'-ah Probably from G142 (through the idea of drawing a conclusion); a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive (as follows)
KJV Usage: haply, (what) manner (of man), no doubt, perhaps, so be, then, therefore, truly, wherefore. Often used in connection with other particles, especially G1065 or G3767 (after) or G1487 (before).
“Therefore” is the word ἄρα, but there are two other ways in which to use the same word; the accents are different. Accented this way, ἀρά, the word means “to curse”. Accented this way ἆρα means “no?” in a negative interrogative way. The accents are crucial and easily change the meaning of the word used. This seems to be what Wescott and Hort discovered, that there was another accent mark that was missed in the translation from the Greek.
Job 40:14 (LXX-WH) G3670 V-FAI-1S ομολογησω G685 PRT αρα G3754 CONJ οτι G1410 V-PMI-3S δυναται G3588 T-NSF η G1188 A-APN δεξια G4771 P-GS σου G4982 V-AAN σωσαι
“Acknowledge imprecation that powerful the right hand your rescue”
685 LSJ Gloss:ἀράa prayer
Dodson:ἀρά a prayer or prayer for evil, a curse, imprecation
a prayer; more commonly: a prayer for evil, a curse, imprecation.
TBESG:ἀρά curse
G:N-F
ἀρά, -ᾶς, ἡ
[in LXX chiefly for אָלָה ];
__1. a prayer (MM, see word).
__2. (as in Homer) a curse, malediction: Rom.3:14 (LXX),†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a prayer, a supplication
2) an imprecation, curse, malediction
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
ἀρά
ara ar-ah' Probably from G142; properly prayer (as lifted to Heaven), that is, (by implication) imprecation
KJV Usage: curse.
We have not understood this word ἀρά. Yahweh is saying that the imprecation, the curse, is powerful, and will deliver Job with his right hand. What is an imprecation?
Imprecation: “an appeal to God, invoking his curse upon (1) either one’s self or (2) another. The latter, which occurs frequently in the so-called “imprecatory Psalms” is justified partly by the atrocity of some of the crimes execrated (e.g. that of Doeg), and partly by the fact of special authority in the act of inspiration.” Cyclopedia.
Written this way, the answer to how Job is to save himself is written in the verse. Job is to save himself by imprecation. There is power dunamai in the right hand used with imprecations. Hands distinguish humans from all other beings on earth. The devil/dragon/Dracōn, does not have hands. What can we learn about hands?
“To give the right hand was a pledge of fidelity, and was considered as confirming a promise or bargain (2Ki 10:15; Ezr 10:19); spoken of the vanquished giving their hands as a pledge of submission and fidelity to the victors (Eze 17:18; Jeremiah 1, 15; Lam 5:6); so to strike hands as a pledge of suretiship (Pro 17:18; Pro 22:26; 2Ch 30:8, margin). The right hand was lifted up in swearing or taking an oath (Gen 14:22; Deu 32:40; Eze 20:28; Psa 144:11; Isa 62:8); similar is the Arabic oath, “By the right hand of Allah.” (See Taylor’s Fragments, No. 278.)
Hand in general is the symbol of power and strength, and the right hand more particularly so. To hold by the right hand is the symbol of protection and favor (Psa 18:35).” Cyclopedia.
There are two things here, the right hand in an oath and the right hand as the symbol of power and strength. Job’s imprecation and the right hand in oath and power deliver him. Remember David used imprecations liberally.
The LXX-WH identifies this word, ἀρά, eleven times in the book of Job. This gives us a new insight into what Moses was trying to tell us regarding Job. Job’s right hand and an imprecation is a powerful authority over the devil. The third usage of ἆρα is worth noting.
687 LSJ Gloss:ἆρα particle introducing a question
Dodson:ἆρα a particle asking a question, expecting a negative response
a particle asking a question, to which a negative answer is expected.
TBESG:ἆρα no?
G:Intg+G:Neg
ἆρα,
interrog. particle,
implying anxiety or impatience, "quite rare and only in Luke and Paul, therefore a literary word" (Bl., §77, 2).
__1. (num igitur) expecting a neg. reply, Luk.18:8; ἆρά γε, Act.8:30.
__2. (ergone) in apodosis, expecting an affirm. reply, Gal.2:17 (Bl., l.with; Lft., Ga., in l.; MM, see word).
† (AS)
Thayer:
- a Greek interrogative particle that implies anxiety or impatience on the part of the questioner
ἆρα
ara ar'-ah A form of G686, denoting an interrogation to which a negative answer is presumed
KJV Usage: therefore.
Notice the difference here, ἀρά ar-ah' 685 means “curse”, while ἄρα ar'-ah 686 means “perhaps” and ἆρα ar’-ah 687 means “no?”. The accents are in different places. With 686 and 687 the emphasis is on the first syllable while with 685 the emphasis is on the second syllable. This is an easy mistake to make in translation. They are the same word with different accents. This is why we have missed this understanding of Job’s right hand delivering him. It is the imprecation power and the right hand that can deliver Job. Yahweh explains some things about the devil.
Job 40:14 (Brenton) This is the chief of the creation of the Lord; made to be played with by his angels.
Job 40:19 G5123 This is G746 the beginning G4110 of the thing shaped G2962 by the lord; G4160 being made G1460.1 to be mocked G5259 by G3588 G32 his angels. G1473
Job 41:24 (Brenton) There is nothing upon the earth like to him, formed to be sported with by my angels.
Job 41:33 G3756 There is not G1510.2.3 G3762 anything G1909 upon G3588 the G1093 earth G3664 likened G1473 to him, G4160 being made, G1460.1 to be mocked at G5259 by G3588 G32 my angels. G1473
We recognize that we cannot battle the devil/dragon/Dracōn physically. We see that he was created as a chief or first in order of creation, he has been around a long time and he was created to spar, sport, or play with the angels. The angels are to contend with the devil. The devil was not necessarily created to contend with humans. However, instead of proclaiming innocence, like Job did, and suggesting Yahweh made a mistake, maybe we are to stand against the devil with powerful imprecations and our right hand.
Job 40:27 (Brenton) But thou shalt lay thy hand upon him once, remembering the war that is waged by his mouth; and let it not be done any more.
Job 41:8 G2007 But shall you place G1161 G1473 a hand on him, G5495 G3403 remembering G4171 the war G3588 G1096 taking place G1722 in G4983 his body, G1473 G2532 and G3371 let it no longer G1096 take place?
“But lay your hand recall war happening in his body and no longer happen.”
Job 41:8 (LXX-WH) G2007 V-FAI-2S [40:32] επιθησεις G1161 PRT δε G846 D-DSM αυτω G5495 N-ASF χειρα G3403 V-APPNS μνησθεις G4171 N-ASM πολεμον G3588 T-ASM τον G1096 V-PMPAS γινομενον G1722 PREP εν G4983 N-DSN σωματι G846 D-GSM αυτου G2532 CONJ και G3371 ADV μηκετι G1096 V-PMD-3S γινεσθω
9 G3364 ADV [41:1] ουχ G3708 V-RAI-2S εορακας G846 D-ASM αυτον G3761 CONJ ουδε G1909 PREP επι G3588 T-DPM τοις G3004 V-PMPDP λεγομενοις G2296 V-RAI-2S τεθαυμακας
“But your hand recall warfare the happening in his body and no longer happen. Not at all (double negative) look upon him, not even on the marvelous speech, not at all (double negative) look upon him.”
Job is to lay his right hand on the devil, remembering the war inside the devil, and no longer let it happen. Why is the dragon at war within himself? He was created to spar or sport with the angels, he is to entice them away from Yahweh. That is his war inside himself. How to do it, what to say, how to trick, tempt, and fool, angels and humans. Now let’s go back to verse 40:9/40:14 We are to rise up and command with imprecations. We do not listen to the dragon, we are not marveled by his speeches. We use powerful imprecations, and our right hand in authority to deliver ourselves. Our oath is to Yahweh. We curse the devil’s tricks and do not allow him to tell us that Yahweh is punishing us. This is why Job’s three friends were rebuked, they spoke incorrectly of Yahweh.
Job 42:10 (Brenton) And the Lord prospered Job: and when he prayed also for his friends, he forgave them their sin: and the Lord gave Job twice as much, even the double of what he had before.
Job 42:11 And all his brethren and his sisters heard all that had happened to him, and they came to him, and so did all that had known him from the first: and they ate and drank with him, and comforted him, and wondered at all that the Lord had brought upon him: and each one gave him a lamb, and four drachms' weight of gold, even of unstamped gold.
Job 42:12 And the Lord blessed the latter end of Job, more than the beginning: and his cattle were fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, a thousand she-asses of the pastures.
Job 42:13 And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
Job 42:14 And he called the first Day, and the second Casia, and the third Amalthaea's horn.
Job 42:15 And there were not found in comparison with the daughters of Job, fairer women than they in all the world: and their father gave them an inheritance among their brethren.
Job 42:16 And Job lived after his affliction a hundred and seventy years: and all the years he lived were two hundred and forty: and Job saw his sons and his sons' sons, the fourth generation.
Job 42:17 And Job died, an old man and full of days: and it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up.
This man is described in the Syriac book as living in the land of Ausis, on the borders of Idumea and Arabia: and his name before was Jobab; and having taken an Arabian wife, he begot a son whose name was Ennon. And he himself was the son of his father Zare, one of the sons of Esau, and of his mother Bosorrha, so that he was the fifth from Abraam. And these were the kings who reigned in Edom, which country he also ruled over: first, Balac, the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dennaba: but after Balac, Jobab, who is called Job, and after him Asom, who was governor out of the country of Thaeman: and after him Adad, the son of Barad, who destroyed Madiam in the plain of Moab; and the name of his city was Gethaim. And his friends who came to him were Eliphaz, of the children of Esau, king of the Thaemanites, Baldad sovereign the Sauchaeans, Sophar king of the Minaeans.
For most of his life Job didn’t have to fight for himself because Yahweh had a hedge around him due to his righteousness. He was straight, God fearing, and truthful, even if he was ignorant of the position of Jacob’s sons. The men of Esau seem to have had a greater dedication to Yahweh than the children of Jacob. At this time period the children of Esau helped Moses, an heir of Jacob, come to know Yahweh. However the children of Esau also suggested to Pharaoh that he kill the children of Jacob to subdue their numbers. Job was righteous because of his faith, not because he knew all the ways of Yahweh. Job’s friends did not understand that Job’s righteousness put a hedge around him previously, but that once it was removed the devil had the chance to harm Job. However Job found out that his own imprecations of power and right hand could deliver him. Job was certainly patient and he endured great hardships and physical pain. He did not know his right hand could deliver him. His own curses directed at the dragon could save him. How does that apply to us? Can we rescue our own selves by imprecations and our own right hand?
End Notes:
Imprecations/Courts of the Lord
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/12/psalms-5-psalms-143-immediate-judgment.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/03/pauls-imprecation-self-inflicted-curses.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/03/imprecations-birkat-ha-minim-prophecies.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/01/principalities-and-children-of-belial.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/12/psalms-55-david-and-asaph-phobos.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/12/psalms-35-righteous-judgment-adjudicate.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/11/psalms-109-intercession-for-warriors.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/11/curses-calling-down-doom-to-curse-or.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/11/destruction-of-flesh-judicial-hearing.html
