Job 1:13

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 1:13 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother`s house,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother`s house,
Job 1:13 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother`s house,

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And there was a day, etc.] Which according to the Targum was the first day of the week, but this is not certain, nor material; nor can it be said whether it was the day following that, Satan had leave to do what he would with Job’s substance, nor how long this was after that; for though Satan was no doubt eager upon it, and in haste to do mischief; yet besides its requiring some time to get the Sabeans and Chaldeans to march out of their own country into Job’s, so he would contrive and fix upon the most proper time to answer his ends and purposes, which was when his (Job’s) sons and daughters were eating, and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house; it should rather be rendered, “in…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“JOB, IN AFFLICTION, BLESSES GOD, &c. (Job 1:13-22) wine--not specified in Job 1:4. The mirth inspired by the "wine" here contrasts the more sadly with the alarm which interrupted it.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And there was a day - That is, on the day on which the regular turn came for the banquet to be held in the house of the older brother; compare the notes at Job 1:4. And drinking wine - This circumstance is omitted in Job 1:4. It shows that wine was regarded as an essential part of the banquet, and it was from its use that Job apprehended the unhappy results referred to in Job 1:5. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“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.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“when: Job 1:4; Pro 27:1; Ecc 9:12; Luk 12:19, Luk 12:20, Luk 17:27-29, Luk 21:34 Job 1:14”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“13-15 And it came to pass one day, when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, that a messenger came to Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them, when the Sabeans fell upon them, and carried them away, and smote the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. The principal clause, היּום ויהי, in which the art. of היּום has no more reference to anything preceding than in Job 1:6, is immediately followed by an adverbial clause, which may be expressed by participles, Lat. filiis ejus filiabusque convivantibus. The details which follow are important. Job had celebrated the…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification