Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
And there came a messenger unto Job - Hebrew mal'âk ; the word usually rendered "angel," appropriately rendered "messenger" here. The word properly means "one who is sent."
The oxen were plowing - Hebrew "the cattle" ( bâqâr ) including not merely "oxen," but probably also "cows;" see the notes at Job 1:3.
And the asses - Hebrew 'âthôn "she-asses." The "sex" is here expressly mentioned and Dr. Good maintains that it should be in the translation. So it is in the Septuagint ̔ ́ ̓́ hai thēleiai onoi . So Jerome, "asinoe." The reason why the sex is specified is, that female asses, on account of their milk, were much more valuable than males. On this account they were preferred also for traveling; see the notes at Job 1:3.
Beside them - Hebrew "By their hands," that is, by their sides, for the Hebrew yâd is often used in this sense; compare the notes at Isaiah 33:21.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Job 1:14:
Genesis 16:1-16
Job 1:3
Job 33:23
Psalms 126:6
Isaiah 37:36
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