Job 1:5

Job 1:5

3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the¹ people of the East.

4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and¹ sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning ^aand offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and ^bcursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.

Satan Attacks Job’s Character

6 Now ^athere was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and¹ Satan also came among them.

7 And the Lord said to¹ Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From ^agoing to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you¹ considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and² shuns evil?”

9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

10 ^aHave You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? ^bYou have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

11 ^aBut now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely ^bcurse You to Your face!”

12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your¹ power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job Loses His Property and Children

13 Now there was a day ^awhen his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house;

14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,

15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and¹ consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ^a“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

19 and suddenly a great wind came from¹ across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

20 Then Job arose, ^atore his robe, and shaved his head; and he ^bfell to the ground and worshiped.

21 And he said:
^a“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord ^bgave, and the Lord has ^ctaken away;
^dBlessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 ^aIn all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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When the days of their feasting were gone about - At the conclusion of the year, when the birthday of each had been celebrated, the pious father appears to have gathered them all together, that the whole family might hold a feast to the Lord, offering burnt-offerings in order to make an atonement for sins of all kinds, whether presumptuous or committed through ignorance. This we may consider as a general custom among the godly in those ancient times.

And cursed God in their hearts - uberechu Elohim . In this book, according to most interpreters, the verb barach signifies both to bless and to curse; and the noun Elohim signifies the true God, false gods, and great or mighty. The reason why Job offered the burnt-offerings appears to have been this: in a country where idolatry flourished, he thought it possible that his children might, in their festivity, have given way to idolatrous thoughts, or done something prescribed by idolatrous rites; and therefore the words may be rendered thus: It may be that my children have blessed the gods in their hearts. Others think that the word barach should be understood as implying farewell, bidding adieu - lest my children have bidden adieu to God, that is, renounced him, and cast off his fear. To me this is very unlikely. Mr. Mason Good contends that the word should be understood in its regular and general sense, to bless; and that the conjunction vau should be translated nor. "Peradventure my sons may have sinned, nor blessed God in their hearts." This version he supports with great learning. I think the sense given above is more plain, and less embarrassed. They might have been guilty of some species of idolatry. This is possible even among those called Christians, in their banquets; witness their songs to Bacchus, Venus, etc., which are countless in number, and often sung by persons who would think themselves injured, not to be reputed Christians. Coverdale, in his translation, (1535), renders the passage thus: Peradventure my sonnes have done some offense, and have been unthankful to God in their hertes.

Thus did Job continually - At the end of every year, when all the birthday festivals had gone round.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Job 1:5:**

Job 1:22
Job 42:8
2 Corinthians 5:21

<< Job 1:4

Job 1:6 >>

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