The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-23

On the eastern limits of Arabs they showed
me the grave of job, close to l3e Euphrates,
and near tie Heleh. one hour sodth from Baby
lon"
The following approve of the Uz in the
HaBrsn: Gesenius, Rosenmuller, Spanheim,
Boehart, Noyes, Umbreit, Lee. DR.. a. Barnes.
4. AHthor
Some hold the book was written by Job;
others think he was the hero of the story. Jos
was a most wonderful man. Personally be was
good man. We get Il: Il four facts in regard
to him. a. He was perfect. B. He was upright.
c lie feared sGGd. q. He eschewed evil.
Other facts are mentioned: e. He worshiped
God. !. He was servant Of God. Q. He
siuned not. h He had integrity. !. We may
add lie was wealthy. On perfect" ses / : g.;
2 3; on upright" 1: 8; 3; on feared
God" 1:3. 9; 2:3; on eschswed evil, L: g;
2;3 on worshiped God, LIS, 20; on servant
of God, 1:s; on not SHINING, l.: %; 2: 10; on
integrity, 2: 3, 9; on wealth. / 8, 10.
We in what his wealth consisted. He
hsd 1000 sheep, 3, 900 eames. 500 yoke of oxen,
500 she-asses. and great household; that is to
say, probably large number of servants.
u:3, I0l He may have had much real estate,
and yet in those days land seems to have been
practically in common, and owners of stock
Toyed about quite rs they pleased. He was the
greatest lin wealthy Of all the men of the
East-ths Crdsus, the Vanderbilt of his day.
U:3)
Il is interesting, in connection with the
statement that job surpassed all other men 10
wealth, to read also that there was none like
him in all the earth " in respect of character,
goodness, acceptabIeness with God. l2:3) so
one ces5 be good and also rich.
{. Notes
l. Sons of God. ~ Angels (See %: ~
These were evidently celestial beings.
2 Satan. When good men DrOsDAr the en-
vious are disturbed. A tendency to fauIt-6nd-
ing is developed The mans success may be
due to great personal ability, honesty. and in
dustry; and yet many on-lookers will suggest
ali sorts of explanations discroditable to the
wealthy man. Then, if the man be righteous
it will be said No wsnderl He has nothing
to disturb him." So he gets no credit for
equanimity and goodness Then. there are
some who 90 so far as to suggest that il things
were turned-if the man became harasssd, dis
tressed. poor, and siek-he would soon leave of
devotion. Before trouble the man himself
thought his success due TO God, and felt dis
posed to maintain piety which paid fnan-
cially. III be fail. and suspect God caused or
permitted his want OF success; that God could
have helped aud prevented. but refused, he
would soon suspend attentions to Deity. His
goodness was not on principle. This spirit is
well represented in the character of Satan.
II the world imagine piety TO be based on mere
be removed. Here is the utility of the story of
job We find true religion. principle per
Sc asserting itself Men can be good for the
riches of righteousness az their sole reward.
3. Skin for skin ". a.. This for that-a
good exchsnge-qaid pro qn0. that was the
principle of Job. So Satan intimated. As re-
ligiOn was to him business matter. Tesoly-
ing itself into an equation-this equals that,
so life was a mere question of equivalents.
and not matter of principle. He would
give up religion if it so pay. So he would
seek life at any cost of morals
A. Curse thee. (y. 5; ILL If the equation
did not balance in his favOr-if Job could
not get enough out OF religion to Offset its
calls for devotion and sacrifice. he would
change in his attitude toward Deity. and in
stead of worshipiDg Him. denounce Him. II
was we'll to settle this question. 1t was done
at the expense of Job.
5. Bone and flesh. (5.l The whole body.
6. Boils. ". ~ We have looked on these
somewhat amusingly. Sufferers, however, fud
them not only inconyenient bat exceedingly
painful. But more is meant in the case of
Job than what we ordinarily cover in the
word. Some think it was sort of leprosy,
universal ulcer, eruption of entire person,
very offensive. making the body grimy.
causing great pain aud uneeasing restlessness.
Z. Potsherd. 49, A piece of broken pottery.
6. Reflection.
Job stands out the embodiment of patience;
the model of religion under embarrassing
conditions; the proof of possible fidelity with,
out the prior assurance of its being paying
investment; case of persecution without re-
nunciation of the faith; martyr in the Old
Testament dispeBsation; worthy study for
Christians