“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.”
That is, the Angels, as Job 1:6 . Read Job 1:6 .
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. to destroy: Heb. to swallow him up”
Cross references: : Ezek. 14:14 ; Job 1:1 That is, when thou hadst nought against him, or when thou wast not able to bring thy purpose to pass. He proveth Job’s integrity by this that he ceased not to fear God when his plagues were grievously upon him.
“And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.”
Hereby he meant, that a man’s own skin is dearer unto him than another man’s.
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. but: or, only”
Thus Satan can go no further in punishing, than God hath limited him.
“So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.”
This sore was most vehement, wherewith also God plagued the Egyptians, Exod. 9:9 , and threateneth to punish the rebellious people, Deut. 28:27 , so that this tentation was most grievous: for if Job had measured God’s favor by the vehemency of his disease, he might have thought that God had cast him off.
“And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.”
As destitute of all other help and means, and wonderfully afflicted with the sorrow of his disease.
“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
Satan useth the same instrument against Job, as he did against Adam. Meaning, what gainest thou to serve God, seeing he thus plagueth thee, as though he were thine enemy? This is the most grievous temptation of the faithful, when their faith is assailed, and when Satan goeth about to persuade them that they trust in God in vain. For death was appointed to the blasphemer, and so she meant that he should soon be rid out of his pain.
“But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”
He so bridled his affections, that his tongue through impatience did not murmur against God. That is, to be patient in adversity, as we rejoice when he sendeth prosperity, and so to acknowledge him to be both merciful and just.
“Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.”
Which were men of authority, wise and learned, and as the Septuagint writes, Kings, and came to comfort him, but when they saw how he was visited, they conceived an evil opinion of him, as though he had been but an hypocrite, and so justly plagued of God for his sins.
“And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.”
This was also a ceremony, which they used in those countries, as the renting of their clothes in sign of sorrow, etc.
“So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”
And therefore thought that he would not have hearkened unto their counsel.