Job 1:3

“His substance also was seven thousand sheep, etc.] For which he must have a large pasturage to feed them on, as well as these would produce much wool for clothing, and flesh for food; this part of his substance or possessions is mentioned first, as being the largest, and most useful and profitable: and three thousand camels; creatures fit to carry burdens, and travel with, and were greatly valued on that account, especially in the deserts of Arabia, near to which Job lived; and that not only because they were strong for this purpose, but because they could endure much thirst and want of water for a long time; (see Gill on “<031104>Leviticus 11:4”), it seems by this that Job carried on a…”

“she-asses--prized on account of their milk, and for riding (Jdg 5:10). Houses and lands are not mentioned among the emir's wealth, as nomadic tribes dwell in movable tents and live chiefly by pasture, the right to the soil not being appropriated by individuals. The "five hundred yoke of oxen" imply, however, that Job tilled the soil. He seems also to have had a dwelling in a town, in which respect he differed from the patriarchs. Camels are well called "ships of the desert," especially valuable for caravans, as being able to lay in a store of water that suffices them for days, and to sustain life on a very few thistles or thorns. household-- (Gen 26:14). The other rendering which the Hebrew…”

“His substance - Margin, or “cattle.” The word used here מקנה mı̂qneh is derived from קנה qânâh, to gain or acquire, to buy or purchase, and properly means anything acquired or purchased - property, possessions, riches. The wealth of nomadic tribes, however, consisted mostly in flocks and herds, and hence the word in the Scripture signifies, almost exclusively, property in cattle. The word, says Gesenius, is used “strictly” to denote sheep, goats, and neat cattle, excluding beasts of burden (compare Greek κτῆνος ktēnos, herd, used here by the Septuagint), though sometimes the word includes asses and camels, as in this place. Seven thousand sheep - In this verse we have a description of…”

“Camels - Camels in these parts were very numerous, and very useful, both for carrying burdens in these hot and dry countries, as being able to endure thirst much better than other creatures, and for service in war. Asses - He - asses also may be included in this expression, because the greatest part of them (from which the denomination is usually taken) were she asses. The greatest - That lived in those parts. The account of his piety and prosperity comes before the account of his afflictions, to shew that neither of these will secure us from the common, no, nor from the uncommon calamities of human life. Job 1:4”

“substance: or, cattle, Gen 12:5, Gen 13:6, Gen 34:23; Ch2 32:29 seven: Job 42:12; Gen 12:16; Num 31:32-34; Jdg 6:5; Sa1 25:2; Kg2 3:4; Pro 10:22 household: or, husbandry, Ch2 26:10 greatest: Job 29:9, Job 29:10, Job 29:25 men: Heb. sons, Jdg 6:3, Jdg 7:12, Jdg 8:10; Kg1 4:30 of the east: Gen 25:6, Gen 29:1; Num 23:7 Job 1:4”