The patriarch's third trial; or the coming of the friends.
I. THE HONOURABLE NAMES THEY BORE.
1. Eliphaz the Temanite. Probably a descendant of Teman, the son of Eliphaz, the son of Esau by his wife Adah (Genesis 36:10, Genesis 36:11; 1 Chronicles 1:35, 1 Chronicles 1:36); belonging to the race of Teman, which extended over a considerable portion of Arabia, about midway between Palestine and the Euphrates; very likely the oldest of the three friends.
2. Bildad the Shuhite. Perhaps sprung from Shush, the youngest son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2), and residing in a district of Arabia, not far from the Temanite country; may be reasonably supposed the second oldest of the friends.
3. Zophar the Naamathite. Otherwise unknown except through this book; though, from his acquaintance with Bildad, Eliphaz, and Job, it may be inferred he also was a person of distinction. Probably all three were, like the patriarch in his prosperity, powerful Arabian sheiks.
II. THE EXCELLENT CHARACTERS THEY POSSESSED.
1. Points of agreement.
2. Points of difference.
III. THE MELANCHOLY TIDINGS THEY RECEIVED. How they learnt the news of Job's evil fortunes is not related, but the fact that they did reminds us of:
1. The rapidity with which evil tidings usually spread; since it was obviously not long before the report of their friend's calamities reached their ears.
2. The organic unity of society; which renders it impossible for any one to either suffer or rejoice alone (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26).
3. The special susceptibility of friendly hearts for learning of others' woes.
IV. THE MUTUAL APPOINTMENT THEY MADE. A token of:
1. Lively interest in the patriarch's welfare. Seeing they must have communicated with each other concerning their neighbour's evil hap, thus showing they were not indifferent to what had occurred.
2. Loving sympathy with the patriarch's distress. For they meant to mourn with him and to comfort him, not to treat him to a mere call of ceremony.
3. High appreciation of the patriarch's worth. Since they planned to go together to the scene of sorrow, which, if it did spring from a due regard to their own dignity as princes, was perhaps also traceable to their Sense of what was owing to the rank and worth of their old friend. It says much for the three neighbours that they did not neglect Job now that he was a poor, diseased leper.
V. THE FERVENT EMOTION THEY DISPLAYED.
1. Tearful sympathy. Catching a sight of their former neighbour, whom they had known and revered in his prosperity, now sitting on the ash-heap, outside his house, and hardly recognizing, in the emaciated features on which they gazed, the noble form of the quondam prince whose glory outshone the radiance of all his contemporaries, they lifted up their voices and wept. Orientals are proverbially more emotional and lachrymose than phlegmatic Occidentals; but still it must have been an affecting spectacle to behold the three great princes moved to tears by the patriarch's distress.
2. Genuine amazement. "They rent every one his mantle." A symbol of horror and astonishment, as in the case of Jacob (Genesis 37:34), Joshua 7:6, Ezra 9:3, Caiaphas (Matthew 26:65).
3. Profound sorrow. "They sprinkled dust upon their heads towards heaven;" i.e. threw handfuls of dust into the air, as the Arabs still do, that it might fall upon their heads, in token that they were deeply moved by the troubles and calamities that had fallen on their friend.
VI. THE PECULIAR ATTITUDE THEY ASSUMED. It is unnecessary to suppose that they were absolutely silent, but merely that they spake nothing to him during all that period, certainly not in any way alluding to the cause of his distress. And this silent attitude may have been expressive of
Learn:
1. That good men may often misunderstand God's truth, misconstrue God's providence, and misjudge God's people.
2. That good men should always study to be distinguished for sympathy towards the suffering and sorrowing.
3. That good men who aspire to be brothers of consolation should not forget that silence is sometimes more soothing than speech.
4. That good men should never cherish secret suspicious of those whom they seek to comfort.
HOMILIES BY E. JOHNSON