Job 1:13-19 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Job 1:13-19: 1:13-19 These attacks destroyed the blessings enumerated in 1:2-3 ; Job was left alone with the four ominous messengers who came to report and a wife who offered misguided counsel. • The repetition of while he was still speaking emphasizes the relentlessness of the attacks (see Jer 51:31 ). The repetition of I am the only one who escaped to tell you emphasizes the total obliteration of Job’s resources.

Summary for Job 1:13-19: 1:13-19 ^a These attacks destroyed the blessings enumerated in 1:2-3 ^b; Job was left alone with the four ominous messengers who came to report and a wife who offered misguided counsel.

• The repetition of while he was still speaking emphasizes the relentlessness of the attacks (see Jer 51:31 ^c). The repetition of I am the only one who escaped to tell you emphasizes the total obliteration of Job’s resources.
1:15 ^d The Sabeans were marauding bandit tribes from the desert (cp. Judg 6:3 ^e). By the 700s BC, the southern Sabeans would become a national power that traded in gold, precious stones, perfume, and slaves (Ps 72:10 ^f; Isa 43:3 ^g; 45:14 ^h; 60:6 ⁱ; Jer 6:20 ^j).
1:16 ^k The fire of God ... from heaven (20:26 ^l) might have been lightning (Lev 10:2 ^m; 1 Kgs 18:38 ⁿ; 2 Kgs 1:10-14 ^o), wildfire (Num 11:1-3 ^p), or volcanic activity (Gen 19:24 ^q).
1:19 ^r That the wind ... hit the house on all sides suggests that Job and his children were settled farmers living in houses rather than nomads living in tents.