Job 1 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Job 1 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

Job and his family
(James Tissot, 1895-1900)

5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

"The sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them."
Why then does the New Testament claim that Jesus was God's only son?
How many sons does God have?
How are Jesus and Satan alike?
Why the New Testament writers claim that God has only one son? Because they didn't know the Old Testament perhaps? But that is rather unlikely. We shouldn't look at the characters, but at the meaning of words and phrases. The phrase “sons of God” can mean humans, but also angels as per chapter 38:7 . But there is only one begotten Son of God, see John 1:12.
With John Gill I believe that the phrase “sons of God” in this verse refers to people who gathered on the sabbath day to worship God. In that case Satan was not in heaven having this conversation, but on earth
The author of the SAB seems to believe that the sons of God refers to devils. This text clearly indicates that is not the case. The sons of God came, and Satan came among them, he wasn't part of them.
On the author of the SAB's pityful comparison between Jesus and Satan, see 1 Pet. 5:8.

7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

God asks where Satan has been lately (apparently God didn't know), and Satan answered saying, "From walking to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down on it." This verse inspired Mark Twain's Letters From the Earth.
Does God know everything?
God knew, but this question was asked for the benefit of those that were not omniscient, i.e. the angels in God's presence

8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

God gives Satan power over all that Job possesses.
This clearly indicates that God is almighty. Nothing can happen to those who believe in him that he is unaware of and has not approved.

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

(1:14-17) To start off God and Satan's gruesome game, Job's slaves and animals are killed.
This world is subject to death. That is not God's fault. And by our deeds and sins we continually earn the wrath of an holy God. That we are allowed to live in order that we should repent is an act of mercy. The author of the SAB has forgotten that we have chosen sin. And the punishment of sin is death. All else we receive is only grace, not something we're entitled to.
But this was not a game as the author of the SAB calls it. This whole book demonstrates that Job did not serve God because he had blessed him with riches and sons and daughters, but because of God self. Satan was just an instrument.

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:

19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

(1:18-19) God (or Satan -- it's hard to tell them apart) sends a wind that kills Job's sons and daughters.
Who has killed more, God or Satan?
It is of course Satan that is killing Job's sons and daughters as the author of the SAB recognizes in the link.

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

God kills (or allows Satan to kill) Job's children, but Job doesn't "foolishly" blame God. Since God was responsible, why would it be foolish to blame God?
As the author of the SAB recognizes, there is indeed nothing that happens without God. But the argument is flawed. We do no longer have a right to live. We have forfeited that by our sins. Our sins are done against an holy and just God, and the punishment for that is death. That this punishment is not enacted immediately is in order that we should repent and live.
Job didn't charge God as he recognized God as the giver of all his goods. Job's possessions were not his. He had them on loan. God was entirely justified in taking them back.