Job 2:11

11 Now when Job's ['Iyowb] three [shalowsh] friends [rea`] heard [shama`] of all this evil [ra`] that was come [bow'] upon him, they came [bow'] every one ['iysh] from his own place [maqowm]; Eliphaz ['Eliyphaz] the Temanite [Teymaniy], and Bildad [Bildad] the Shuhite [Shuchiy], and Zophar [Tsowphar] the Naamathite [Na`amathiy]: for they had made an appointment [ya`ad] together [yachad] to come [bow'] to mourn [nuwd] with him and to comfort [nacham] him. KJV-Interlinear

11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him. NASB

Exit Satan. Satan has now lost two in a row, as Job did not turn against God. Jobs affliction is continuing however, but Satan, who represents evil, and also who represents the power of this world, is absent.

No matter who you are, no matter how popular you think you are, no matter how smart you are, no matter how seriously you take yourself, the world doesn't care for you whatsoever. The jungle of the world will use its residents to its own advantage, and when you are no longer useful, then you will be discarded.

Satan had his way with Job. Satan believes that he has destroyed the greatest man in all the east. Satan thinks he has ruined Job's family and his marriage. And even though Job did not turn against God, Satan doesn't really care.

Guess what Satan is doing now? Roaming about on the earth, coming and going, looking for another victim. Hummm! Maybe he is looking for you!

As for Job? He is still in a bad way. His wife can't stand him. She detests his foul odor, Job 19:17. She thinks he should simply curse God and then die. That, in her mind, will cure all of their problems. But then, if Job died, she would be a poor widow. Probably not a good thing back in those days. Her troubles would only get worse as others would try to take advantage of her situation.

Oddly, though it may seem, her best support and future, is with Job. Her stinky husband.

Job and his three friends will be engaged in a conversation for several days. The first seven days will be a silent meeting. During that time, Job and his guests will need to be fed, and they will need a place to sleep. We can probably assume that Job's wife, even though she is really ticked off now, will still provide some care for her guests and her husband, despite her anger.

Three friends of Job, have heard of his misfortune. They know of the attacks on his property, and they know of the death of his children. They also know of his illness, but when they arrive, they will not be prepared for what see.

Each of the friends came from their own homeland. They neared Job's home, in a prearranged meeting, then they traveled the final part of the journey together.

Word of Job was carried far and wide to the distant lands of the Middle East. Remember that Job was a business trader. His caravans probably traveled throughout the nearby lands.

Eliphaz is the first of the three friends. His name means 'God is fine gold,' or 'God of strength,' with emphasis on the earthly nature of these meanings. Eliphaz is the most prominent of the three friends. His speeches demonstrate greater weight and originality. He is a Temanite, which means southerner. His arguments represent the best wisdom of the world. His wisdom is described as the result of ages of thought and experience, Job 15:17-19, of long and ripened study, 5:27, and he claims the ability of revelation.

By the way, the locations of the homelands of these three friends are vague.

Bildad, is the second of the three friends. His name means, 'son of contention,' or 'Bel has loved.' Bel means, 'wisdom of the distant East.' Though the location of his homeland is not known, it apparently is east of Job's home. Bildad's speeches generally echo the words of Eliphaz, but are delivered with more severity and sternness.

The third friend is Zophar. Zophar means 'chirping' or 'to leap.' His home, too, is uncertain as to its location, however Naamah was place to the west of Arabia, near the place of the future Judah. He is the most impulsive and inflexible of the three. He speaks only twice. His words are intense and are somewhat reckless exaggerations. He will be the first to accuse Job of wickedness. Like the rest of the friends, Zophar promises peace and restoration on condition of Job's repentance.

So now, we have the friends who have come to visit and give comfort to Job. That concern will quickly change to criticism, which is meant well, in order to help Job find his way back from his bad behavior. Whatever that has been.

It won't be until the whirlwind in Job 38, that all of this gets sorted out by God Himself.

Previous Page

Table of Contents

Donation

Next Page

Now is the time to post a prayer.