The Children of Job

jeremiah1five

Active Member
Many years ago, while reading Job I found something that made me question what I had been taught using Gentile commentaries and other theology books. A question entered my mind. If Job's children had been killed as most commentaries say, why didn't he gain double the children the same way God doubled the amount of livestock Job had that was lost earlier in the narrative through his tribulations?

At The Beginning:
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. Job 1:3.

At The End:
12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. Job 42:12.

But the number of children he had at the beginning remained the same as at the end:

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. Job 1:1-2

13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.
15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
17 So Job died, being old and full of days. Job 42:13–17.

Most all the Gentile commentaries I've read say they perished. But did they?

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.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, Job 1:18–20.

Those Gentile commentaries and theology books were all wrong. And for many years I was believing a lie.

Do you see what I see?
 
I believe Scripture.

You caught me.
This is not a "gottcha."

I was focusing on commentaries and one teaching from them I found to be erroneous and it has to do with Job's kids.

Bear in mind Job had relation with the Creator and this is what he did daily and for his kids. I cannot agree that these sacrifices and offerings to the Almighty were ineffective. So, this is the first clue.

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. Job 1:5.

He did conscientiously what a father should do for his children. They were "covered."
His quiver was full of children from the LORD. Ten is a biblical number. the number ten (10) signifies ordinal perfection or a complete cycle of divine order.
For God to 'take' his children opposes that divine order.
Job's children were not killed as commentaries/commenters write in their books. If this were true - and it's not - a question or two arises. Would these be the same kids brought back to life? Different kids? It doesn't say, and to that I choose not to speculate. But a closer look into the narrative does reveal they were not killed. They lived throughout all Job's tribulations.
 
First attack:
It is about Job's "substance" (i.e. livestock, etc.)

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. 1:10–12.
 
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