Giobbe 2

1 Or avvenne un dì, che i figliuoli di Dio vennero a presentarsi davanti al Signore; e Satana venne anch’egli per mezzo loro a presentarsi davanti al Signore.

2 E il Signore disse a Satana: Onde vieni? E Satana rispose al Signore, e disse: Da aggirar la terra, e da passeggiar per essa.

3 E il Signore disse a Satana: Hai tu posto mente al mio servitore Giobbe? come nella terra non vi è uomo intiero e diritto, che tema Iddio, e si ritragga dal male, come esso? ed anche persevera egli nella sua integrità, benchè tu mi abbi incitato contro a lui, per distruggerlo senza cagione.

4 E Satana rispose al Signore, e disse: Pelle per pelle; ma l’uomo darà tutto ciò ch’egli ha per la sua vita.

5 Ma ora, stendi pur la mano, e tocca le sue ossa, e la sua carne; e vedrai se non ti maledice in faccia.

6 E il Signore disse a Satana: Eccolo in man tua; sol guardati di toccar la sua vita.

7 E Satana, partitosi dal cospetto del Signore, percosse Giobbe d’un’ulcera maligna, dalla pianta del piè infino alla sommità del capo.

8 Ed egli si prese un testo per grattarsi, ed era assiso per mezzo le ceneri.

9 E la sua moglie gli disse: Ancora perseveri tu nella tua integrità? benedici Iddio, e muori.

10 Ma egli le disse: Tu parli come una d’infra le donne stolte; sì avremmo noi ricevuto da Dio il bene, e non riceveremmo il male? In tutto ciò Giobbe non peccò con le sue labbra.

11 OR tre amici di Giobbe: Elifaz Temanita, Bildad Suhita, e Sofar Naamatita, avendo udito tutto questo male che gli era sopraggiunto, se ne vennero, ciascuno dal suo luogo; e si trovarono insieme, per venire a condolersi con lui, ed a consolarlo.

12 E levati gli occhi da lungi, nol riconobbero; e alzarono la voce, e piansero; e ciascun di loro stracciò il suo mantello, e si sparsero della polvere in su la testa, gittandola verso il cielo.

13 E sedettero con lui in terra per sette giorni, e per sette notti; e niuno gli disse alcuna parola; perciocchè vedevano che la doglia era molto grande.

Giobbe 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

Satan obtains leave to try Job. (1-6) Job's sufferings. (7-10) His friends come to comfort him. (11-13)

1-6. How well is it for us, that neither men nor devils are to be our judges! but all our judgment comes from the Lord, who never errs. Job holds fast his integrity still, as his weapon. God speaks with pleasure of the power of his own grace. Self-love and self-preservation are powerful in the hearts of men. But Satan accuses Job, representing him as wholly selfish, and minding nothing but his own ease and safety. Thus are the ways and people of God often falsely blamed by the devil and his agents. Permission is granted to Satan to make trial, but with a limit. If God did not chain up the roaring lion, how soon would he devour us! Job, thus slandered by Satan, was a type of Christ, the first prophecy of whom was, that Satan should bruise his heel, and be foiled.

Verses 7-10 The devil tempts his own children, and draws them to sin, and afterwards torments, when he has brought them to ruin; but this child of God he tormented with affliction, and then tempted to make a bad use of his affliction. He provoked Job to curse God. The disease was very grievous. If at any time we are tried with sore and grievous distempers, let us not think ourselves dealt with otherwise than as God sometimes deals with the best of his saints and servants. Job humbled himself under the mighty hand of God, and brought his mind to his condition. His wife was spared to him, to be a troubler and tempter to him. Satan still endeavours to draw men from God, as he did our first parents, by suggesting hard thoughts of Him, than which nothing is more false. But Job resisted and overcame the temptation. Shall we, guilty, polluted, worthless creatures, receive so many unmerited blessings from a just and holy God, and shall we refuse to accept the punishment of our sins, when we suffer so much less than we deserve? Let murmuring, as well as boasting, be for ever done away. Thus far Job stood the trial, and appeared brightest in the furnace of affliction. There might be risings of corruption in his heart, but grace had the upper hand.

Verses 11-13 The friends of Job seem noted for their rank, as well as for wisdom and piety. Much of the comfort of this life lies in friendship with the prudent and virtuous. Coming to mourn with him, they vented grief which they really felt. Coming to comfort him, they sat down with him. It would appear that they suspected his unexampled troubles were judgments for some crimes, which he had vailed under his professions of godliness. Many look upon it only as a compliment to visit their friends in sorrow; we must look life. And if the example of Job's friends is not enough to lead us to pity the afflicted, let us seek the mind that was in Christ.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 2

This chapter gives an account of a second trial of Job's constancy and integrity, the time and occasion of it, Job 2:1-3; the motion made for it by Satan, which being granted, he smote him from head to foot with sore boils, which he endured very patiently, Job 2:4-8; during which sad affliction he is urged by his wife to give up his integrity, which he bravely resisted, Job 2:9,10; and the chapter is concluded with an account of a visit of three of Job's friends, and of their conduct and behaviour towards him, Job 2:11-13.