Job 1:17

17 But yet the while he spake, also another came, and said, Chaldees made three companies, and assailed the camels, and took those away, and they smited also the servants with sword; and I alone escaped to tell to thee. (And while he still spoke, also another came, and said, The Chaldeans made three companies, and assailed the camels, and took them away, and they also struck down thy servants with their swords; and I alone escaped to tell this to thee.)

Job 1:17 Meaning and Commentary

Job 1:17

While he was yet speaking, there came also another
Another messenger from another part of Job's possessions, where his camels were, and this before the last messenger had told his story out:

and said, the Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels,
and have carried them away;
these were the 3000 camels, as in ( Job 1:3 ) and perhaps they were in three separate companies and places, 1000 in each, and therefore the Chaldeans divided themselves into three bands; or "appointed three heads" ^F6, as it may be rendered; there were three bodies of them under so many leaders and commanders, and this was done, that they might the more easily take them; and they "diffused or spread themselves" ^F7, as the word signifies, upon or about the camels; they surrounded them on all sides, or otherwise, these being swift creatures, would have run away from them: these Chaldeans or Chasdim were the descendants of Chesed, a son of Nahor, who was brother to Abraham, ( Genesis 22:20 Genesis 22:22 ) , who settled in the east country, not far from Job: and this agrees with the character that Xenophon ^F8 gives of the Chaldeans, at least some of them, in later times; that they lived upon robbing and plundering others, having no knowledge of agriculture, but got their bread by force of arms; and such as these Satan could easily instigate to come and carry off Job's camels:

yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I only am
escaped alone to tell thee; (See Gill on Job 1:15).

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Myvar hvlv wmv) "posuerunt tria capita", Montanus, Bolducius, Schmidt; "duces", Pagninus, Vatablus.
F7 (wjvpyw) "et diffuderunt se", Mercerus, Schmidt "effuderunt se", Cocceius.
F8 Cyropaedia, l. 3. c. 11.

Job 1:17 In-Context

15 and (the) Sabeans felled in, and took away all (thy) things, and smited the servants with sword (and struck down thy servants with their swords); and I alone escaped to tell this to thee.

16 And when he spake yet, another came, and said, [The] Fire of God came down from heaven, and wasted [the] sheep, and [the] servants touched; and I alone escaped for to tell to thee. (And while he still spoke, another messenger came, and said, The fire of God came down from the heavens, and destroyed the sheep, and torched the servants; and I alone escaped to tell this to thee.)

17 But yet the while he spake, also another came, and said, Chaldees made three companies, and assailed the camels, and took those away, and they smited also the servants with sword; and I alone escaped to tell to thee. (And while he still spoke, also another came, and said, The Chaldeans made three companies, and assailed the camels, and took them away, and they also struck down thy servants with their swords; and I alone escaped to tell this to thee.)

18 And yet while he spake, lo! another entered, and said, While thy sons and daughters ate, and drank wine in the house of their first begotten brother, (And while he still spoke, lo! another entered, and said, While thy sons and daughters ate, and drank wine in the house of their first-born brother,)

19 a great wind felled in suddenly from the coast of (the) desert, and shook [the] four corners of the house, which felled down, and (it) oppressed thy children, and they be dead (and they all died); and I alone fled to tell (this) to thee.