Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Esther Psalms
Job 1
Job's piety, children, substance, ver. 1-5. Satan obtains leave to
try him, ver. 6-12. His oxen, sheep, camels and servants
destroyed, ver. 13-17. His sons and daughters killed, ver. 18, 19.
His patience and piety, ver. 20-22.
Verse 1. Uz - Part of Arabia. Perfect - Not legally or exactly, but as to
his sincere intentions, hearty affections, and diligent endeavours
to perform all his duties to God and men. Upright - Hebrew. right,
exact and regular in all his dealings, with men; one of an
unblameable conversation. Feared - One truly pious, and devoted
to God. Eschewed - Carefully avoiding all sin against God or
men.
Verse 3. Camels - Camels in these parts were very numerous, and very
useful, both for carrying burdens in these hot and dry countries, as
being able to endure thirst much better than other creatures, and
for service in war. Asses - He-asses also may be included in this
expression, because the greatest part of them (from which the
denomination is usually taken) were she asses. The greatest - That
lived in those parts. The account of his piety and prosperity comes
before the account of his afflictions, to shew that neither of these
will secure us from the common, no, nor from the uncommon
calamities of human life.
Verse 4. Feasted - To testify and maintain their brotherly love. His day -
Each his appointed day, perhaps his birth-day, or the first day of
the month.
Verse 5. When - When each of them had had his turn. Satisfied - He
exhorted them to examine their own consciences, to repent of any
thing, which had been amiss in their feasting, and compose their
minds for employments of a more solemn nature. Early - Thereby
shewing his ardent zeal in God's service. May be - His zeal for
God's glory, and his true love to his children, made him jealous.
Cursed - Not in a gross manner, which it is not probable either
that they should do, or that Job should suspect it concerning them,
but despised or dishonoured God; for both Hebrew and Greek
words signifies cursing, are sometimes used to note only, reviling
or setting light by a person. Hearts - By slight and low thoughts of
God, or by neglecting to give God the praise for the mercies
which they enjoyed. Thus - It was his constant course at the end
of every feasting time, to offer a sacrifice for each. Parents should
be particular in their addresses to God, for the several branches of
their family; praying for each child, according to his particular
temper, genius and disposition.
Verse 6. A day - A certain time appointed by God. The sons - The holy
angels, so called, chap. xxxviii, 7 Dan. iii, 25, 28, because of their
creation by God, for their resemblance of him in power, and
dignity, and holiness, and for their filial affection and obedience,
to him. Before - Before his throne, to receive his commands, and
to give him an account of their negotiations. But you must not
think that these things are to be understood literally; it is only a
parabolical representation of that great truth, that God by his wise
and holy providence governs all the actions of men and devils: It
being usual with the great God to condescend to our shallow
capacities, and to express himself, as the Jews phrase it, in the
language of the sons of men. And it is likewise intimated, that the
affairs of earth are much the subject of the counsels of the unseen
world. That world is dark to us: but we lie open to it.
Verse 9. For nought - Out of pure love and respect to thee? No. It is
policy, not piety, that makes him good; he doth not serve thee, but
serveth himself of thee, serving thee for his own ends.
Verse 12. Behold, &c. - It seems strange, that, God should give Satan
such a permission as this. But he did it for his own glory, for the
honour of Job, for the explanation of providence, and the
encouragement of his afflicted people in all ages.
Verse 14. Messenger, &c. - One messenger immediately followed
another; Satan so ordering by God's permission, that there might
seem to be more than ordinary displeasure of God against him in
his troubles, and that he might not have leisure to recollect
himself, but be overwhelmed by a complication of calamities.
Verse 15. Sabeans - A people of Arabia, who led a wandering life, and
lived by robbery and spoil. I - Whom Satan spared, that Job might
have speedy and certain intelligence of his calamity.
Verse 16. The fire of God - As thunder is the voice of God, so lightning
is his fire. How terrible then were the tidings of this destruction,
which came immediately from the hand of God! And seemed to
shew, that God was angry at his very offerings, and would receive
no more from his hands.
Verse 17. Chaldeans - Who also lived upon spoil, as Xenephon and
others observe.
Verse 19. The young men - This was the greatest of Job's losses, and
therefore Satan reserved it to the last, that if the other
provocations failed, this might make him curse God. They died by
a wind of the devils raising, but which seemed to be the
immediate hand of God. And they were taken away, when he had
the most need of them, to comfort him under all his other losses.
Such miserable comforters are creatures: in God we have a
constant and sufficient help.
Verse 20. Shaved - Caused his hair to be shaved or cut off, which was
then an usual ceremony in mourning. Worshipped - Instead of
cursing God, which Satan said he would do, he adored him, and
gave him the glory of his sovereignty, of his justice, and of his
goodness also, in this most severe dispensation.
Verse 21. Naked - I brought none of these things with me, when I came
out of my mother's womb into the world, but I received them from
the hand of God, who hath now required his own again. Return
thither - I shall be as rich when I die as I was when I was born,
and therefore have reason to be contented with my condition,
which also is the common lot of all men. Into the lap of our
common mother, the earth, as the weary child lays its head in its
mother's bosom. We go out of the world naked; the body doth,
tho' the sanctified soul goes clothed. (2Cor v, 3.) Death strips us
of all our enjoyments: clothing can neither warm nor adorn a dead
body. Taken - He hath taken away nothing but his own, and what
he so gave that he reserved the supreme disposal of in his own
hand. And what is it to me, by what hand he that gives, resumes
what he gave?
Verse 22. Charged - Hebrew. not imputed folly to God; so far was he
from blaspheming God, that he did not entertain any
dishonourable thought of God, as if he had done anything
unworthy of his infinite wisdom, or justice, or goodness, but
heartily acquiesced in his good pleasure, and in his righteous
though sharp proceedings against him. Discontent and impatience
do in effect impute folly to God. Against the workings of these we
should carefully watch, acknowledging that God has done well,
but we have done foolishly.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Esther Psalms
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
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1 Chronicles
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Esther
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Psalm
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1 Timothy
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Titus
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1 Peter
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1 John
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3 John
Jude
Revelation
