Job 1:13

¶ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

And there was a day {H3117} when his sons {H1121} and his daughters {H1323} were eating {H398} and drinking {H8354} wine {H3196} in their eldest {H1060} brother's {H251} house {H1004}:

One day when Iyov's sons and daughters were eating and drinking in their oldest brother's house,

One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,

Commentary

Job 1:13 marks a pivotal moment in the book of Job, setting the stage for the dramatic unfolding of Job's suffering. This verse describes a seemingly ordinary day, highlighting the routine of family life and celebration before it is abruptly shattered.

Context

This verse immediately follows the heavenly dialogue between God and Satan, where Satan challenges Job's integrity and devotion (see Job 1:6-12). The preceding verses establish Job as a man of immense wealth, righteousness, and a devoted family man who regularly offered sacrifices for his children (Job 1:5). The scene of his children feasting and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house was a common and joyous occasion, part of their regular cycle of celebrations mentioned earlier in Job 1:4. This normalcy underscores the sudden and devastating nature of the trials that are about to strike Job's household.

Key Themes

  • Prosperity and Peace: The verse paints a picture of Job's family enjoying a period of abundance and familial harmony, typical of his blessed state described in Job 1:3. This prosperity is precisely what Satan seeks to undermine.
  • Suddenness of Calamity: The immediate transition from a scene of feasting to the arrival of messengers bearing bad news emphasizes how quickly life can change. There is no warning, no premonition; the disaster strikes unexpectedly.
  • Vulnerability: By gathering in one place, Job's children, though celebrating, were unknowingly congregating for the first wave of attack, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of suffering orchestrated by the adversary.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "there was a day" (וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם - wayĕhî hayyôm) simply means "it came to pass on a day" or "one day." It's a common Hebrew introductory phrase signaling a new event, often one of significance. It doesn't imply a specific time, but rather the onset of an event, which in this case, is the beginning of Job's trials.

Practical Application

Job 1:13 serves as a stark reminder of life's unpredictability. It encourages us to appreciate moments of peace and joy, knowing that circumstances can change without warning. It also subtly prepares the reader for the theme of suffering that affects even the righteous, challenging preconceived notions that only the wicked suffer. This verse prompts reflection on the transient nature of earthly comforts and the importance of our spiritual foundation, regardless of our present circumstances. As James 4:14 reminds us, life is but a vapor.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 21:34 (4 votes)

    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:12 (3 votes)

    For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so [are] the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

  • Luke 12:19 (3 votes)

    And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.

  • Luke 12:20 (3 votes)

    But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  • Job 1:4 (3 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Proverbs 27:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

  • Luke 17:27 (2 votes)

    They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.