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Job.
THE Book of Job is a true History, accompanied fully with all the circumstances of a true History, from first to last: and attested, Ezek. XIV. 14. and Jam. V. 11.
This Book is written, in the judgement of some, in Prose, to chap. III. v. 3. In Verse; thence, to chap. XLII. ver. 6. And then again concludes in Prose, thence to the end.
Job lived most likely when the Israelites were in Egypt; His age being one hundred and fourty years after his Affliction was ended: and he having seven sonnes, and three daughters; and being the greatest of all the men of the East, before his Affliction began; Job XLII. 16. and I. ver. 2, 3.
Jobs patience is wonderful; and so highly commended by the ho∣ly Ghost, Jam. V. 11. His Impatience too much accused, as by his friends then, so by some others now; not weighing the burden of his Afflictions, outward, and inward; from heaven, earth, and hell; and withal his fair clearing of God, and his justice; and his full acknow∣ledgement of his owne sinfulnesse; though not of that Hypocri∣sie wherewith his friends did falsely charge him, chap. VII. 20, 21. and IX. 2, 3. 14, 15, 20, 21. and XIII. 26. and XIV. 17. and XXVII. 5, 6. and XXXI. 6. 33, 35, 36, 37. and XXIII. 10. and XIII. 15. and IX. 12.
Jobs three friends most likely were of the posterity of Abraham, viz. Eliphaz, and Zophar of the posterity of Esau, Gen. XXXVI. 11, 40. Bil∣dad of Abrahams race by Ketura Gen. XXV. 2. 1 Chron. I. 32. And Eli∣hu the fourth, of the race of Nahor, Abrahams brother, Gen. XXII. 21.
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, speak in order, one after another; E∣liphaz and Bildad, thrice; Zophar, twice. To every one of which, Jobs Answers are annexed and interposed.
Elihu speaks after they ceased, without any answer made by Job to him.
Jehovah speaks last of all; And Orders all.
Uz] Uz in Idumea, [chapter I] [verse 1] or Arabia bordering upon it. So called from Uz the sonne of Dishan, of the linage of Seir, Gen. XXXVI. 28. Of this we read, Lam. IV. 21. Jer. XXV. 20. Or in that part of Arabia the Desert, near to Chaldea, where Job had such bad neighbours, the Chal∣deans