Job 2

2:1-3 This scene is an exact repetition of the scene presented in 1:6-8.

2:3 The phrase without cause (Hebrew khinnam) is a wordplay on Satan’s question in 1:9.

2:5 take away his health (literally strike his flesh and bones): Bones were thought to be the seat of health.

2:6 spare (literally guard/watch over): God ironically made Satan responsible for guarding Job’s life (cp. 10:13-14; 13:27; 33:11).

2:7 This term for terrible boils was used for any inflamed, running sores (Exod 9:10; Lev 13:18-20; Deut 28:27, 35).

2:8 Job might have scraped his skin to relieve itching; the Greek Old Testament says that it was “to scrape away the pus.” • The ashes might refer to a place where lepers were quarantined, but Job was probably demonstrating his grief and dismay (30:19; Gen 18:27; 2 Sam 13:19; Isa 58:5; Jon 3:6).

2:9 Job’s wife first summarized the essence of Job’s temptation by echoing God’s words (2:3); Job was trying to maintain his integrity. In her frustration and anguish, however, she then counseled Job to curse God and thus unknowingly fulfill Satan’s prediction (1:11; 2:5).

2:10 Job’s acceptance of bad as well as good things from God’s hand demonstrates his righteousness and faith (cp. 1:21; 2 Sam 12:16-20; Luke 22:42). • By saying nothing wrong, Job controlled his tongue (Prov 13:3; 21:23; see Jas 3:2).

2:11 It might have taken several months for Job’s friends (see study note on 6:14-27) to hear of his afflictions (see 7:3). • The text implies that Job’s friends were Edomites, a people who were famous for their wisdom (Jer 49:7; Obad 1:8). • Eliphaz the Temanite was probably a descendant of Esau’s grandson Teman (Gen 36:10-11, 15); his land was located in Edom (Ezek 25:13; Amos 1:11-12). • The Bil- element in Bildad would remind Hebrew readers of names like Bilhan, a descendant of Esau (Gen 36:27; 1 Chr 1:42). The -dad element would remind them of names like Bedad, father of the Edomite king Hadad (Gen 36:35; 1 Chr 1:46). • Shuhite: No place named Shuah is known, but Abraham’s son Shuah was sent to “a land in the east” (Gen 25:1, 6; 1 Chr 1:32). • The Greek Old Testament lists Zophar instead of Zepho as one of Esau’s grandsons (Gen 36:11, 15; 1 Chr 1:36). A Naamathite might reside in a town named Naamah, but no such location is known. Two Old Testament women are named Naamah, but neither is a likely ancestor of Zophar (Gen 4:22; 1 Kgs 14:21).

2:12 they scarcely recognized him: This expression indicates the extreme suffering Job had experienced (cp. Isa 52:14; 53:3). • Job’s friends mourned by wailing loudly, just as they would have done for a dead man. • Throwing dust sometimes expressed anger or disdain (see 2 Sam 16:13; Acts 22:23), but here it signaled mourning (see Josh 7:6; 1 Sam 4:12; Neh 9:1; Lam 2:10).

2:13 Job’s friends sat on the ground to identify with Job’s suffering (see 2:8). • The standard period for mourning the death of a notable person or for acknowledging other disastrous news was seven days and nights (Gen 50:10; 1 Sam 31:13; see also Ezek 3:14-15).