Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
Hast thou considered - Notes, Job 1:8.
That there is none like him in the earth - The same addition is made here by the Septuagint which occurs in Job 1:1; see the notes at that verse.
And still he holdeth fast his integrity - Notwithstanding all the efforts made to show that his piety was the result of mere selfishness. The word "integrity" here tûmmâh means "perfection;" another form of the word which is rendered "perfect" in Job 1:1; see the notes at that verse.
Although thou movedst me - The word rendered "movedst" ּ sûth means to incite, to impel, to urge, to irritate against anyone; Joshua 15:18; Judges 1:14; II Chronicles 18:2; I Samuel 26:19; Jeremiah 43:3. The Septuagint renders this in a special manner, "And thou hast ordered ( ̓͂ eipas ) his property to be destroyed in vain" ( ͂ diakenēs ), that is, without accomplishing the purpose intended.
To destroy him - The word used here (from bela‛ ) means properly to swallow, to devour, with the idea of eagerness or greediness. It is then used in the sense of to consume, or destroy; compare Job 20:18; Proverbs 1:12; Numbers 16:30; Psalms 69:15. In the margin it is rendered "swallow him up."
Without cause - Without any sufficient reason. The cause assigned by Satan Job 1:9-11 was, that the piety of Job was selfish, and that if God should remove his possessions, he would show that he had no true religion. God says now that it was demonstrated that there was no reason for having made the trial. The result had shown that the charge was unfounded, and that his piety still remained, though he was stripped of all that he had. This passage may remind us of the speech of Neptune in favor of Aeneas, Iliad v. 297:
And can ye see this righteous chief atone
With guiltless blood for vices not his own?
To all the gods his constant vows were paid;
Sure though he wars for Troy he claims our aid.
Fate wills not this - Pope
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Job 2:3:
Job 1:6
Job 2:9
Joel 2:29
Micah 6:2
Zechariah 3:1
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