Scripture Daily

Context No. 110 of 4322 · Job

Context · Reflection

Job 2:1-5: in context

1Again, on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, and said, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” 3The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause.” 4Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5But stretch out your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face.”

Job has already lost his children, his servants, and his livestock in a single day, and has responded by saying the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. This passage is the second scene in the heavenly court, and it repeats the first almost word for word.

The sons of God come to present themselves, and the satan comes among them. The Hebrew has the definite article, ha-satan, the accuser, a title rather than a name, describing a role in a royal court: the official who investigates and brings charges. Asked where he has been, he gives the same answer as before, going to and fro on the earth and walking up and down on it.

Then God speaks first, as he did the first time, and points to Job. He still holds fast his integrity, God says, although you incited me against him to destroy him without cause. That last phrase is remarkable. God says the ruin was without cause, agreeing with what Job will spend the whole book insisting. The accuser answers with the proverb: skin for skin, all that a man has he will give for his life. Touch his bone and flesh and he will curse you. The wager is about whether anyone loves God for nothing. Would I still want what I want from God if there were nothing coming back?

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