Hiob 2

1 Es begab sich aber des Tages, da die Kinder Gottes kamen und traten vor den HERRN, daß der Satan auch unter ihnen kam und vor den HERRN trat.

2 Da sprach der HERR zu dem Satan: Wo kommst du her? Der Satan antwortete dem HERRN und sprach: Ich habe das Land umher durchzogen. {~}

3 Der HERR sprach zu dem Satan: Hast du nicht acht auf meinen Knecht Hiob gehabt? Denn es ist seinesgleichen im Lande nicht, schlecht und recht, gottesfürchtig und meidet das Böse und hält noch fest an seiner Frömmigkeit; du aber hast mich bewogen, daß ich ihn ohne Ursache verderbt habe.

4 Der Satan antwortete dem HERRN und sprach: Haut für Haut; und alles was ein Mann hat, läßt er für sein Leben.

5 Aber recke deine Hand aus und taste sein Gebein und Fleisch an: was gilt's, er wird dir ins Angesicht absagen?

6 Der HERR sprach zu dem Satan: Siehe da, er ist in deiner Hand; doch schone seines Lebens!

7 Da fuhr der Satan aus vom Angesicht des HERRN und schlug Hiob mit bösen Schwären von der Fußsohle an bis auf seinen Scheitel.

8 Und er nahm eine Scherbe und schabte sich und saß in der Asche.

9 Und sein Weib sprach zu ihm: Hältst du noch fest an deiner Frömmigkeit? Ja, sage Gott ab und stirb!

10 Er aber sprach zu ihr: Du redest, wie die närrischen Weiber reden. Haben wir Gutes empfangen von Gott und sollten das Böse nicht auch annehmen? In diesem allem versündigte sich Hiob nicht mit seinen Lippen.

11 Da aber die drei Freunde Hiobs hörten all das Unglück, das über ihn gekommen war, kamen sie, ein jeglicher aus seinem Ort: Eliphas von Theman, Bildad von Suah und Zophar von Naema. Denn sie wurden eins, daß sie kämen, ihn zu beklagen und zu trösten.

12 Und da sie ihre Augen aufhoben von ferne, kannten sie ihn nicht und hoben auf ihre Stimme und weinten, und ein jeglicher zerriß sein Kleid, und sie sprengten Erde auf ihr Haupt gen Himmel

13 und saßen mit ihm auf der Erde sieben Tage und sieben Nächte und redeten nichts mit ihm; denn sie sahen, daß der Schmerz sehr groß war.

Hiob 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.