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Job 2:9
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7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils afrom the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.  
8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself awhile he sat in the midst of the ashes.  
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity?1 Curse God and die!”  
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. aShall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” bIn all this Job did not csin with his lips.  

Job’s Three Friends

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the aTemanite, Bildad the bShuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come cand mourn with him, and to comfort him.  
12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and asprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.  
13 So they sat down with him on the ground aseven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great. 
Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
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Job 2:9

Then said his wife - To this verse the Septuagint adds the following words: "Much time having elapsed, his wife said unto him, How long dost thou stand steadfast, saying, ' Behold, I wait yet a little longer looking for the hope of my Salvation?' Behold thy memorial is already blotted out from the earth, together with thy sons and thy daughters, the fruits of my pains and labors, for whom with anxiety I have labored in vain. Thyself also sittest in the rottenness of worms night and day, while I am a wanderer from place to place, and from house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labors, and from the griefs which oppress me. Speak therefore some word against God, and die." We translate barech Elohim vamuth , Curse God, and die. The verb barach is supposed to include in it the ideas of cursing and blessing; but it is not clear that it has the former meaning in any part of the sacred writings, though we sometimes translate it so. Here it seems to be a strong irony. Job was exceedingly afflicted, and apparently dying through sore disease; yet his soul was filled with gratitude to God. His wife, destitute of the salvation which her husband possessed, gave him this ironical reproof. Bless God, and die - What! bless him for his goodness, while he is destroying all that thou hast! bless him for his support, while he is casting thee down and destroying thee! Bless on, and die. The Targum says that Job' s wife' s name was Dinah, and that the words which she spake to him on this occasion were berich meymera dayai umith . Bless the word of the Lord, and die. \\

Ovid has such an irony as I suppose this to have been: -

Quid vos sacra juvant? quid nunc Aegyptia prosunt

Sistra? -

Cum rapiant mala fata bonos, ignoscite fasso,

Sollicitor nullos esse putare deos.

Vive plus, moriere pius; cole sacra, colentem

Mors gravis a templis in cava busta trahet .

Amor. lib. iii., Eleg. ix. ver. 33.

"In vain to gods (if gods there are) we pray,

And needless victims prodigally pay;

Worship their sleeping deities: yet death

Scorns votaries, and stops the praying breath.

To hallow' d shrines intruding fate will come,

And drag you from the altar to the tomb."

Stepney.


 
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