Job 42 Study Notes

42:1-2 Job confessed God’s rightful sovereignty over all matters, including his situation. He had questioned God’s actions previously (16:12-14). God’s speeches about his ordering of the world caused Job’s capitulation.

42:3 Job had questioned the equity and justice of God’s dealings (7:20; 21:7-34). God’s wise handling of the physical and natural worlds convinced him that though he may have committed no overt sin, he had dabbled in questions beyond his understanding and experience.

42:4-5 Job now understood something of God’s justice and wise dealings with the strongest of creatures. Although Job had previously considered himself to be upright, he confessed that he had been influenced by traditional but errant understandings (15:17-19; 16:2). By saying he now saw God, he meant that he had experienced God’s presence and understood him better.

42:6 Job was humbled that the Lord of the universe had spoken to him. This went beyond his fondest wish for reestablished fellowship (9:32-35; 19:26-27; 23:3-5; 29:2-6). With genuine contrition he abandoned self in full dependence on God.

42:7 God rebuked Eliphaz and his friends for their treatment of Job. While defending God, they had attributed false reasons for Job’s condition. They did not consider it possible that his suffering was not directly due to sin. They also misrepresented God, as an insensitive enforcer of justice. Elihu, however, was not included in the Lord’s rebuke.

42:8-9 The friends had left Job. They must return to him and offer large sacrifices for their transgression so Job could intercede in prayer for them. Job’s health apparently had been restored by now. Rather than bearing enmity against his friends, Job graciously prayed for them.

42:10 Job’s restoration was complete. Because he was now pure in his attitude toward God and had demonstrated spiritual maturity toward his friends, the Lord accepted him into full fellowship. The doubled possessions (v. 12) reflect God’s full acceptance of Job as his own (Dt 21:17; 2Kg 2:9). Not only had Job found God to be sufficient for his every need, but Satan had been proven wrong. Job had remained blameless throughout his long ordeal (Jb 27:4-6; 28:28). Although he had questioned God’s dealings with him (10:18-21; 27:2) and had even accused the Lord of attacking him (13:20-27; 16:12-14; 23:2), he did not curse God as Satan had predicted he would (1:11; 2:5) or as his wife had urged him to do (2:9). In this at least, Job proved to be exemplary (Jms 5:11). By remembering Job’s suffering and its outcome, believers can be encouraged to rejoice in times of their trials and testing (Jms 1:2-4; 1Pt 1:6-7). Rather than complaining or doubting God, they can humbly trust in God and his sufficiency so that Satan will not be given any advantage over them (1Pt 5:6-9).

42:11 Job’s family and friends believed that the Lord controls and causes all events. They offered him the comfort they had formerly withheld (12:4; 16:20; 19:14). The piece of silver (Hb qesitah) was a unit of silver used in the period covered in some of the earliest biblical accounts (Gn 33:19; Jos 24:32).

42:12-15 The fact that the number of Job’s children was not doubled may be meant to indicate that at least the souls of his deceased children lived on after death. In a sense, then, his children now numbered twice what they were. Job’s fairness toward everyone (29:12-17,21-25) is seen in his concern that his daughters would share the inheritance with their brothers.

42:16-17 Job’s 140 years may indicate that he was seventy at the time of his testing and may reflect the number of added years that he lived. His epitaph is the same accorded other godly men (Gn 25:8; 1Ch 29:28; 2Ch 24:15). The Septuagint (LXX) adds that Job “will rise again with the ones whom the Lord raises up.”