Job and His Family
Job 1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 thousand camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great household. And so, this man was the greatest of all the children of the east. His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday, and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. When the days of their feasting had run their course, Job sent for them and sanctified them. He rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.
The Adversary Asks to Test Job
Now on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, Satan also came among them. YHWH said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Then Satan answered YHWH, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
YHWH said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.”
Then Satan answered YHWH, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.”
YHWH said to Satan, “Look, all that he has is in your power. But do not lay your hand on him.”
So Satan went out from the presence of YHWH.
Job’s Integrity in Catastrophe
One day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. They have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, when suddenly, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. YHWH gave, and YHWH has taken away. Blessed be the name of YHWH.” In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.