Albert Barnes Commentary


Albert Barnes Commentary
"And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." — Job 2:3 (ASV)
Have you considered - Notes, (Job 1:8).
That there is none like him in the earth - The same addition is made here by the Septuagint which occurs in (Job 1:1); see the notes at that verse.
And still he holds fast his integrity - Notwithstanding all the efforts made to show that his piety was the result of mere selfishness. The word “integrity” here תמה tûmmâh means “perfection;” another form of the word which is rendered “perfect” in (Job 1:1); see the notes at that verse.
Although you moved me - The word rendered “moved” סוּת sûth means to incite, to impel, to urge, to irritate against anyone (Joshua 15:18; Judges 1:14; 2 Chronicles 18:2; 1 Samuel 26:19; Jeremiah 43:3). The Septuagint renders this in a special manner, “And you have ordered (εἶπας eipas) his property to be destroyed in vain” (διακενῆς diakenēs), that is, without accomplishing the purpose intended.
To destroy him - The word used here (from בלע bela‛) means properly to swallow, to devour, with the idea of eagerness or greediness. It is then used in the sense of to consume, or destroy; compare Job 20:18; Proverbs 1:12; Numbers 16:30; Psalms 69:15. In the margin it is rendered “swallow him up.”
Without cause - Without any sufficient reason. The cause assigned by Satan (Job 1:9–11) was that the piety of Job was selfish, and that if God should remove his possessions, he would show that he had no true religion. God says now that it was demonstrated that there was no reason for having made the trial. The result had shown that the charge was unfounded, and that his piety still remained, though he was stripped of all that he had. This passage may remind us of the speech of Neptune in favor of Aeneas, Iliad Book 5, line 297:
And can you see this righteous chief atone
With guiltless blood for vices not his own?
To all the gods his constant vows were paid;
Sure though he wars for Troy he claims our aid.
Fate wills not this - Pope