Job1

The chapter introduces Job, a man of great wealth and righteousness in the land of Uz, who feared God and eschewed evil. In a heavenly council, Satan challenges Job's integrity, asserting that Job serves God only because of divine protection and blessings. The LORD grants Satan permission to test Job by afflicting his possessions and children, but forbids him from harming Job personally. Consequently, Job suffers the rapid loss of all his livestock, servants, and his ten children, yet he responds by worshipping God without sinning or charging God foolishly.

Job's Character and Prosperity

1
There was a man in the land of 'Utz whose name was Iyov. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. ​
2
Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
3
He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen and 500 female donkeys, as well as a great number of servants; so that he was the wealthiest man in the east. ​
4
It was the custom of his sons to give banquets, each on his set day in his own house; and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5
After a cycle of banquets, Iyov would send for them to come and be consecrated; then he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings for each of them, because Iyov said, "My sons might have sinned and blasphemed God in their thoughts."This is what Iyov did every time. ​

Satan Challenges Job's Integrity

6
It happened one day that the sons of God came to serve ADONAI, and among them came the Adversary [Hebrew: Satan]. ​
7
ADONAI asked the Adversary, "Where are you coming from?" The Adversary answered ADONAI, "From roaming through the earth, wandering here and there." ​
8
ADONAI asked the Adversary, "Did you notice my servant Iyov, that there's no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil?" ​
9
The Adversary answered ADONAI, "Is it for nothing that Iyov fears God? ​
10
You've put a protective hedge around him, his house and everything he has. You've prospered his work, and his livestock are spread out all over the land.
11
But if you reach out your hand and touch whatever he has, without doubt he'll curse you to your face!"
12
ADONAI said to the Adversary, "Here! Everything he has is in your hands, except that you are not to lay a finger on his person." Then the Adversary went out from the presence of ADONAI. ​

The Calamities Begin

13
One day when Iyov's sons and daughters were eating and drinking in their oldest brother's house, ​
14
a messenger came to him and said, "The oxen were plowing, with the donkeys grazing near them,
15
when a raiding party from Sh'va came and carried them off; they put the servants to the sword too, and I'm the only one who escaped to tell you." ​
16
While he was still speaking, another one came and said, "Fire from God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants; it completely destroyed them, and I'm the only one who escaped to tell you." ​
17
While he was still speaking, another one came and said, "The Kasdim, three bands of them, fell on the camels and carried them off; they put the servants to the sword too, and I'm the only one who escaped to tell you."
18
While he was still speaking, another one came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,
19
when suddenly a strong wind blew in from over the desert. It struck the four corners of the house, so that it fell on the young people; they are dead, and I'm the only one who escaped to tell you." ​

Job's Faithful Response

20
Iyov got up, tore his coat, shaved his head, fell down on the ground and worshipped; ​
21
he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. ADONAI gave; ADONAI took; blessed be the name of ADONAI." ​
22
In all this Iyov neither committed a sin nor put blame on God. ​

Study Notes for Job 1

Verse 1

Job is introduced as a historical figure dwelling in Uz (likely Edom or Northern Arabia). 'Perfect and upright' signifies moral integrity and completeness, not sinlessness, while 'feared God' is the biblical definition of wisdom.

Verse 3

Job’s immense wealth—measured specifically in livestock—establishes him as the 'greatest of all the men of the east,' emphasizing the great scale of his future loss.

Verse 5

Job’s practice of offering burnt offerings after his children’s feasts shows his profound, proactive piety, fearing that they might have 'cursed God' (blasphemed or failed to honor Him) in their revelry.

Verse 6

The 'sons of God' (bene elohim) are members of the divine council, likely angelic beings. Satan (Hebrew: Ha-Satan, 'the accuser') is introduced not as God's equal, but as an adversarial figure subordinate to God.

Verse 7

Satan’s answer indicates his continuous activity as a roaming investigator and accuser on earth, contrasting with the heavenly setting of the divine council.

Verse 8

God initiates the discussion about Job, proving that the trial is not a random attack but a test ordained within a divine plan, centered on Job's exceptional righteousness.

Verse 9

Satan challenges the purity of Job’s devotion, arguing that Job serves God only because God has protected and rewarded him (a mercenary faith argument).

Verse 12

God grants Satan permission to proceed, but sets a clear boundary: Satan may touch Job's possessions, but not Job himself. This establishes the limits of evil power under divine sovereignty.

Verse 13

This verse sets the scene for the disasters, emphasizing that they occurred suddenly while the family was gathered, maximizing the shock and loss.

Verse 15

The Sabeans (likely marauders from the south) and the Chaldeans (v. 17, from the northeast) represent human agents of destruction, highlighting the worldly dangers Job faced.

Verse 16

'The fire of God' (likely lightning) is attributed to a natural phenomenon, showing that both human violence and natural disaster were used to strip Job of his wealth.

Verse 19

The death of all ten children is the most devastating loss, demonstrating the completeness of Job’s suffering and confirming the total removal of the 'hedge' mentioned in verse 10.

Verse 20

Job's actions—rending his mantle and shaving his head—are traditional signs of profound mourning. Falling down to worship demonstrates immediate submission, not rebellion.

Verse 21

This profound confession is the theological high point of the chapter, affirming God’s sovereignty over both giving and taking life and possessions. It directly contradicts Satan’s prediction that Job would curse God.

Verse 22

The narrator's concluding verdict confirms that Job passed the first test, maintaining his integrity and refusing to attribute moral wrongdoing or foolishness to God.

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