Job 1:4

4 And his sons went, and made feasts by their houses, each man in his day; and they sent, and called their three sisters, to eat, and to drink wine with them. (And his sons held feasts at their houses, each one in his turn; and they sent, and called their three sisters, to come and eat, and drink wine with them.)

Job 1:4 Meaning and Commentary

Job 1:4

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, everyone his
day
It appears by this that Job's sons were grown up to men's estate, that they were from him, and were for themselves, and carried on a separate business on their own accounts, and had houses of their own, and, perhaps, were married; and being at some distance from each other, they met by appointment at certain times in their own houses, and had friendly and family entertainments in turn; for such were their feasts, not designed for intemperance, luxury, and wantonness, for then they would not have been encouraged, nor even connived at, by Job; but to cherish love and affection, and maintain harmony and unity among themselves, which must be very pleasing to their parent; for a pleasant thing it is for any, and especially for parents, to behold brethren dwelling together in unity, ( Psalms 133:1 ) , besides, these feasts were kept, not in public houses, much less in houses of ill fame, but in their own houses, among themselves, at certain seasons, which they took in turn; and these were either at their time of sheep shearing, which was a time of feasting, ( 1 Samuel 25:2 1 Samuel 25:36 ) , or at the weaning of a child, ( Genesis 21:8 ) , or rather on each of their birthdays, which in those early times were observed, especially those of persons of figure, ( Genesis 40:20 ) , and the rather, as Job's birthday is called his day, as here, ( Job 3:1 ) ,

and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with
them;
not to make a feast in their turn, but to partake of their entertainment; which, as is commonly observed, showed humanity, kindness, tenderness, and affection in them to their sisters, to invite them to take part with them in their innocent and social recreations, and modesty in their sisters not to thrust themselves into their company, or go without an invitation; these very probably were with Job, and went to the feasts with his leave, being very likely unmarried, or otherwise their husbands would have been invited also.

Job 1:4 In-Context

2 And there were seven sons and three daughters born to him;
3 and his possession was seven thousand of sheep, and three thousand of camels, and five hundred yokes of oxen, and five hundred of female asses (and five hundred female donkeys), and full much household; and this Job was a great man among all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went, and made feasts by their houses, each man in his day; and they sent, and called their three sisters, to eat, and to drink wine with them. (And his sons held feasts at their houses, each one in his turn; and they sent, and called their three sisters, to come and eat, and drink wine with them.)
5 And when the days of feast had passed into the world, that is, in(to) the end of the week, Job sent to them, and hallowed them, and he rose early, and offered burnt sacrifices by all (And when the days of feasting had ended, Job sent for them, and sanctified them, and he rose up early, and offered burnt sacrifices for all of them). For he said, Lest peradventure my sons do sin, and curse God in their hearts [Forsooth he said, Lest peradventure my sons sin, and bless to God in their hearts]. Job did so in all (the) days.
6 And in a day, when the sons of God were come to be present before the Lord, also Satan came among them. (Now on a day, when the sons of God came and were present before the Lord, Satan also came among them.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.