Job 2 Commentary

Satan appears before God's throne again. God speaks of Job's continued righteousness, despite the loss of his children and wealth due to Satan's attacks. Job has not sinned, even though he has lost so much. God says this to prove to Satan that Job truly is a good man, and does not view God as a transactional vending machine. Job follows God by faith, whatever the circumstance.

Satan downplays his own failure to break Job, and asks God for permission to harm Job's body, saying that the suffering of physical pain will cause Job to turn from God. God allows this, forbidding Satan from killing Job.

Satan afflicts Job's body with boils from his head to his feet. Job sits in ashes scratching his sores with broken pottery. His wife asks him why he won't blame God and succumb to his illness by dying. Job rebukes her as speaking foolishly. He accepts the good and the difficulties God allows into his life. He does not sin. He is not provoked to anger toward God by his wife's despair.

Three of Job's friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—come to visit him in his suffering, hoping to comfort him. They do not even recognize Job when they first see him, due to the boils all over his body. Each man tears his clothing and throws dust, weeping and mourning their friend's condition. They sit with him for a week silently waiting for him to speak. They see that Job is in severe pain.