Job 1 · The Lantern

Job’s Character and Wealth

There was a man in the land of Uz; Job was his name. And that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and turned away from evil.

Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne [in Scripture].

I am forced, through each of the books of Divine Scripture, to respond to the slander of adversaries who accuse my translation of rebuking the Seventy translators, not as though among the Greeks Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion had also translated either word for word, or meaning for meaning, or by mixing both together, also a kind of translation of equal proportion, and also…

As was said [in the Prologue], because the whole intention of this book is ordered to showing how human affairs are ruled by divine providence, and a kind of history is put first in which the numerous sufferings of a certain just man are related as the foundation of the whole debate.

And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

Notice how the author first of all speaks about Job's virtue and then of the goods Job has received from God. Observe the opportunity Job received to have children, and the proportion of children who are boys, desired as a source of greater benefit. Scripture says immediately why the man must receive our praise.

MORAL INTERPRETATION. And forasmuch as each particular vice is stifled by fear, whilst the several virtues spring from charity, it is rightly added, And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. For there are seven sons born to us, when by the conception of good intent the seven virtues of the holy Spirit spring up in us.

When both the person and the virtue of this man have been described then his prosperity is shown so that the adversity which follows may be judged to be more grave because of the prosperity which precedes it. At the same time, this also demonstrates that not only spiritual goods but also temporal goods are given to the just from God's first intention.

And his livestock was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was greater than all the sons of the east.

And his sons used to go and make a feast at the house of each on his day; and they would send and call for their three sisters, to eat and to drink with them.

Here the text stresses the great purity of Job's children. Since [Job] did not perceive any sin in them, he sacrificed because of [the sons'] disposition. Job was aware that the human weakness and sluggishness that mark young persons often escalates. This is also why St.

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. Greater wealth usually becomes the cause of greater discord between brethren. O, inestimable praise of a father's training!

To praise Job even more the discipline of his house is described next, which was free from those vices which wealth usually produces. For very often great wealth in fact produces discord and so Genesis says that Abraham and Lot could not live together to avoid the quarrelling which arises from an abundance of possessions (cf. Gen.13).

And it happened, when the days of the feast had gone round, that Job would send and sanctify them, and rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all — for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned, and blessed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did all the days.

Satan’s First Attack

And it happened one day that the sons of God came to take their stand before the LORD; and the Accuser also came among them.

Was there ever a time when the angels did not stand before the Lord? Was it not written about them that "a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him"? But this coming, in our opinion, is that of the angels who had been sent to serve human beings.

There was never a special meeting where Satan dared to speak, to formulate questions and receive answers—nothing of the sort—but these facts are reported in a narrative style for the edification of the listeners.… They never took place in reality, and here the devil did not address God or pose questions; Satan never had the faculty to speak to God or to see him who is the one t…

After Blessed Job's prosperity has been enumerated, his adversity is placed. First, their cause is introduced. Lest anyone think that the adversities of just men happen apart from divine providence and that because of this might think human affairs are not subject to divine providence, he first explains how God has care of human affairs and governs them.

And the LORD said to the Accuser, “From where do you come?” And the Accuser answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

And the LORD said to the Accuser, “Have you set your heart on my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth — a man blameless and upright, who fears God and turns away from evil.”

ON JOB. — Great is the love, dearest brothers, of Almighty God toward the human race: when it is understood, it leads to the heavenly kingdoms; when it is not understood, it leads down to Hades. For God wills His favor to be received with gratitude and to be fruitful, so that it may profit us and give Him delight in showing mercy.

MORAL INTERPRETATION To him, whom Divine Inspiration makes strong to meet the enemy, God gives praise as it were in the ears of Satan; for His giving him praise is the first vouchsafing virtues, and afterwards preserving them when vouchsafed.

The fact that worldly men are designated by "earth" is shown clearly enough by the fact that the Lord seems to separate Job from the earth, although he is living on earth.

And the Accuser answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God?

Do you see that Job's wealth was a gift from God? Do you see that it was not the fruit of injustice? How Job had to suffer in order to demonstrate to people that his wealth was not the fruit of injustice!

MORAL INTERPRETATION As though he plainly said; 'Wherefore dost Thou extol him whom Thou stablishest with Thy protection? for man would deserve Thy praises, while Thou despisest me, if he withstood me by his own proper strength.' Hence also he immediately demands on man's head with evil intent, what man's Defender concedes though with a merciful design.

Perverse men, whose prince is Satan who here acts in their place, usually accuse holy men unjustly of not acting for a right intention because they cannot find fault with the life of the saints. Scripture expresses this saying, "Turning good to evil, he lies in ambush and he will put the blame on the elect." (Sir.

Have you not yourself put a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that is his, on every side? The work of his hands you have blessed, and his livestock has burst out in the land.

But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that is his — see if he does not bless you to your face.”

"[God's] hand" must be understood in a variety of ways. It is either the power that punishes or serves punishment, usually referred to in the Scripture as "tools of wrath," or the protecting and guarding power in the Scripture, "No one can snatch them out of the Father's hand." Even the Son can be shielded by the hand which protects and supports those who are under it, in accor…

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION When Satan has a desire to tempt the holy man, and yet tells the Lord that He must put forth His hand against him, it is very deserving of notice that even he, who is so especially lifted up against the Maker of all things, never claims to himself the power to strike; for the devil knows well that he is unable to do any thing of himself, for neither in…

Satan wants to show that Job had served God because of the earthly prosperity he had attained using an argument based on opposition. For if after earthly prosperity comes to an end Job ceased fearing God, it would become clear that he feared God because of the earthly prosperity he was enjoying.

And the LORD said to the Accuser, “Look, all that is his is in your hand; only against him do not stretch out your hand.” And the Accuser went out from the presence of the LORD.

Job Loses His Children and Possessions

And it happened one day, when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

The day of trial is chosen by the devil in order that he may now overwhelm the holy Job with the variety of damages and afflictions. For previously, after offering the sacrifices, by having his meals in the circle of his children, Job could be safe in God's protection.

MORAL INTERPRETATION In the hearts of the Elect wisdom is first engendered, before all the graces that follow; and she comes forth as it were a first born offspring by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now this wisdom is our faith, as the Prophet testifies, saying, If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not understand.

Reflect that the order in which the adversities are about to be explained is just the opposite of the order in which the prosperity was explained. For the prosperity which was explained proceeded from the more important to the less important beginning from the person of Job himself. After him came his offspring and then his animals, first the sheep and then the rest.

that a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the she-donkeys grazing beside them,

and Sheba fell upon them and took them; and the young men they struck with the mouth of the sword. And I have escaped, only I alone, to tell you.”

This one was still speaking when another came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned among the sheep and the young men, and consumed them. And I have escaped, only I alone, to tell you.”

It is remarkable how the news from the second [messenger] increases Job's pain. "Fire fell from heaven," he says, "and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them." Even if Job thoroughly knew the teachings of the truth and understood that afflictions did not occur without God's permission, the incident still brought him great suffering for the people's sake.

MORAL INTERPRETATION What is signified by sheep but the innocency of our thoughts? what is signified by sheep, but cleanness of heart in the good? Now we have said a little above that we speak of the aerial 'heaven,' whence too we name the birds of heaven.

Immediately after the announcement of this adversity, another one is announced, lest if some interval happened meanwhile, Job would recover his composure and prepare himself in patience to sustain what followed more easily.

This one was still speaking when another came and said, “The Chaldeans set three companies and made a raid on the camels and took them; and the young men they struck with the mouth of the sword. And I have escaped, only I alone, to tell you.”

Therefore we cannot consider these blows as coming directly from God. The devil amplifies the tragedy, as seen in the variety of the announced calamities. But, since Job was pious, he probably said, "It is God who strikes. Hence it is necessary to be patient." The devil then argues. "Look!" the devil says. Consider what kind of men attack you.

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION Lo again, lest any thing should be wanting to his grief for the adversity that came of man, he brings tidings that bands of the Chaldeans had broken in, and lest the calamity that came from above should strike him with too little force, he shews that wrath is repeated in the heavens.

The text continues, "While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said: The Chaldeans" (who were fierce and powerful) "formed three companies" to emphasize how strong they were, so that he cannot hope for revenge or recovery of his lost goods.

While this one was speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

and look — a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died. And I have escaped, only I alone, to tell you.”

And Job rose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the earth and prostrated himself.

Job's words may be more elegantly understood of evil and sin in this way: Naked was I formed from the earth at the beginning, as if from a mother's womb. Naked to the earth shall I also depart—naked not of possessions, for that would be a trivial and common thing; rather, naked of evil and sin and of the unsightly shape which follows those who have led bad lives.

Do not believe, dear brothers, that Job's gesture indicates a defeat. It is, above all, a sign of victory. Indeed, if he had done nothing, he would have appeared to be insensitive. Job actually demonstrates himself to be altogether wise, fatherly and pious. What damage did he suffer?

After the adversity of blessed Job has been narrated, the text treats the patience Job showed in adversity. As evidence of what is said here know that there was a difference of opinion among the ancient philosophers as to corporeal goods and the passions of the soul.

And he said, “Naked I came out from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken. Let the name of the LORD be blessed.”

Those who lost all their worldly possessions in the sack of Rome, if they owned their possessions as they had been taught by the apostle who himself was poor without, but rich within—that is to say, if they used the world as though not using it—they could say in the words of Job, heavily tried but not overcome, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return.

Now it may be thought that it is a great thing for a man to sell everything that he hath, and to give it to the poor, and to go forth from the world like an apostle, and yet it is natural, and it is that creation into which we enter at our first birth, and the first man also was thus created.

Job revealed the state of his mind not only by deeds, but also by words. For he rationally demonstrated that although he suffered sadness, he did not have to yield to sadness.

In all this Job did not sin, and did not charge God with unseemliness.

"Job did not sin" before God. That is, he was pure from sins committed with his tongue or in his thoughts, and he praised God by means of words in accordance with his thoughts. Actually "he did not charge God with insanity," that is, Job does not accuse the will of God or scorn the economy of the Creator, and he does not perceive insanity in the events that had occurred.

MORAL INTERPRETATION In that the mind in grief ought to watch with wariness and diligence, lest, when the temptation prompts it within, it break forth inwardly into the utterance of forbidden words, and murmur at the trial; and lest the fire, which burns it like gold, by the excesses of a lawless tongue, may turn it to the ashes of mere chaff.

Then the text therefore concludes to the innocence of Job when it says, "In all these things, Job did not sin with his lips," namely, he did not express a movement of impatience in word, "nor did he say something stupid against God," i.e., blasphemy, so that he did not blaspheme concerning divine providence.

Job1

Job’s Character and Wealth

Satan’s First Attack

Job Loses His Children and Possessions