Articles and Notes
Job 42
Epilogue - Job Is Blessed (42:7-17)
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION
1) To review the conclusion of this book, and how Job is blessed in his
latter days
2) To see what is said about Job's three friends, and how they were
forgiven
3) To note how the author of the book speaks of "the adversity that the
LORD had brought upon" Job, even though Satan was the immediate
cause of Job's suffering
SUMMARY
With Job admitting he had spoken of things he did not understand and
having repented, the Lord now addresses Eliphaz as the representative
of Job's three friends. They angered the Lord by saying things that
were not right about God. They are therefore instructed to offer seven
bulls and seven rams, with Job praying in their behalf (42:7-9).
When Job has prayed for his friends, the Lord begins to restore his
losses. Job is comforted by his family and friends for the adversity
the Lord has brought upon him. The Lord then blesses Job by giving him
twice the number of livestock he had in the beginning. He is also
blessed with seven sons and three daughters, the latter being named and
described as the most beautiful in the land, even receiving an
inheritance along with their brothers. The book of Job closes with a
mention of how Job lived another 140 years, seeing his descendants to
the fourth generation before finally dying (42:10-17).
OUTLINE
I. JOB'S FRIENDS REBUKED (42:7-9)
A. GOD REBUKES ELIPHAZ & HIS TWO COMPANIONS (42:7)
1. God's wrath was aroused against them for their "folly" (cf. 42:8)
2. They had not spoken what is right about God, unlike Job
3. In what way, for hadn't Job accused God of injustice?
a. Perhaps in regards to the debate over the cause of suffering
1) They had argued that suffering is always sent by God in
response to sin
2) Job had denied that; in this he was right and they were wrong
b. Or in that Job had repented, whereas the three friends had
not yet done so
B. THE THREE FRIENDS RESTORED (42:8-9)
1. God instructs them to offer seven bulls and seven rams, and
have Job pray for them
2. This they did, for the Lord had accepted Job
II. JOB RESTORED, COMFORTED, AND BLESSED (42:10-17)
A. RESTORED BY GOD (42:10)
1. Upon praying for his friends, the Lord restores what he lost
2. The Lord restored twice as much as he had lost
B. COMFORTED BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS (42:11)
1. His brothers, sisters, and former acquaintances come to eat
with him and comfort him
a. Note that it says "for all the adversity the LORD had brought upon him"
b. While Satan was the instigator of Job's suffering, the LORD
bore ultimate responsibility by allowing Satan to test Job
2. They each bring a piece of silver and ring of gold
C. BLESSED BY GOD (42:12-17)
1. Job's latter days blessed more than his beginning
2. His livestock is doubled (14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000
yoke of oxen, 1,000 female donkeys)
3. He is blessed with 7 sons and 3 beautiful daughters, the
latter to whom he provided an inheritance along with their brothers
4. He lived 140 years, saw descendants to the fourth generation,
and died full of days
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION
1) What did the Lord say to Eliphaz concerning his words and those of
his friends? (42:7)
- "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends"
- "You have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has"
2) As suggested in the above outline, in what ways might Job spoken
right about God?
- Perhaps in regards to whether suffering is always the consequence of sin
- Or in that Job had repented, whereas the three friends had not yet done so
3) What were Eliphaz and his two friends instructed to do? (42:8)
- To offer seven bulls and seven rams, having Job to pray for them
4) What did the Lord do when Job prayed for his friends? (42:10)
- He restored Job's losses, giving him twice as much as what he had before
5) Who came to comfort Job? Why? (42:11)
- His brothers, sisters, and acquaintances
- For all the adversity the Lord had brought upon him
6) How did the Lord bless the latter days of Job? (42:12-13)
- More so than his beginning
- Doubling the number of sheep, camels, oxen and female donkeys
- Giving him seven sons and three daughters
7) What were the names of his three daughters? (42:14)
- Jemimah, Keziah, Keren-Happuch
8) What is said regarding the daughters of Job? (42:15)
- In all the land there were no women as beautiful as Job's daughters
- Job gave them an inheritance along with their brothers
9) How long did Job live after his suffering? (42:16)
- One hundred and forty years
10) What was he blessed to see? (42:16)
- His children and grandchildren for four generations
11) What are the last words of the book? (42:17)
- So Job died, old and full of days
Job's repentance and restoration
[Job 42:1-17 NASB] 1 Then Job answered the LORD and said, 2 "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 3 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' "Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." 4 'Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.' 5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; 6 Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes."
7 It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. 8 "Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you [according to your] folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has." 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite [and] Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job. 10 The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. 11 Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. 12 The LORD blessed the latter [days] of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He had seven sons and three daughters. 14 He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were found so fair as Job's daughters; and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man and full of days.