Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 2

God and Satan agree to test Job, which causes his troubles and confirms his integrity (1:20–21; 2:10). None of the book's characters ever learn of this council in heaven.

This scene repeats exactly as it did in 1:6–8.

The phrase without cause (Hebrew khinnam) is a play on words from Satan's question in 1:9.

strike his flesh and bones: People once believed bones were the source of health.

spare (literally guard or watch over): Ironically, God made Satan responsible for guarding Job’s life (compare 10:13–14; 13:27; 33:11).

This Hebrew term for terrible boils referred to any raised wounds that leak (Exodus 9:10; Leviticus 13:18–20; Deuteronomy 28:27, 35).

• Job might have scraped his skin for relief. The ancient Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) says it was “to scrape away the pus.”

• The ashes might refer to a place where they placed lepers in isolation. But Job was probably showing his grief and how desperate he was (30:19; Genesis 18:27; 2 Samuel 13:19; Isaiah 58:5; Jonah 3:6).

Job's wife first summarized Job's temptation by echoing God's words. Job was trying to "retain his integrity" (2:3). In her frustration and pain, she then advised Job to curse God. Without knowing it, she was asking Job to fulfill Satan's prediction (1:11; 2:5).

• Job accepted both good and bad things from God, showing his right relationship and faith in God (righteousness) (compare 1:21; 2 Samuel 12:16–20; Luke 22:42).

• By saying nothing wrong, Job controlled his tongue (Proverbs 13:3; 21:23; see James 3:2).

• It might have taken several months for Job’s three friends to learn about his troubles (see study note on 6:14–27; see 7:3).

• The text suggests that Job’s three friends were Edomites, a people known for their wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7; Obadiah 1:8).

• Eliphaz the Temanite was probably a descendant of Esau’s grandson Teman (Genesis 36:10–11, 15). His land was in Edom (Ezekiel 25:13; Amos 1:11–12).

• The "Bil-" part of the name "Bildad" would remind Hebrew readers of names like Bilhan, a descendant of Esau (Genesis 36:27; 1 Chronicles 1:42). The "-dad" part of the name would remind readers of names like Bedad, father of the Edomite king Hadad (Genesis 36:35; 1 Chronicles 1:46).

• Shuhite: No place named "Shuah" is known, but Abraham’s son "Shuah" was sent to “a land in the east” (Genesis 25:1, 6; 1 Chronicles 1:32).

• The ancient Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) lists Zophar instead of "Zepho" as one of Esau’s grandsons (Genesis 36:11, 15; 1 Chronicles 1:36). A Naamathite might live in a town named "Naamah." But no such place is known. Two Old Testament women are named "Naamah," but neither is likely an ancestor of Zophar (Genesis 4:22; 1 Kings 14:21).

• They could barely recognize Job: This expression shows how much Job had suffered (compare Isaiah 52:14; 53:3).

• Job’s friends showed their grief and began to weep aloud, as if Job was dead.

• Throwing dust sometimes showed anger or hate (see 2 Samuel 16:13; Acts 22:23). But here it showed grief (see Joshua 7:6; 1 Samuel 4:12; Nehemiah 9:1; Lamentations 2:10).

• Job’s friends sat on the ground to share in Job’s suffering (see 2:8).

• People usually showed grief for seven days and nights when an important person died or to acknowledge other bad news (Genesis 50:10; 1 Samuel 31:13; see also Ezekiel 3:14–15).