Job 2:11

“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, etc.] Of the loss of his substance, servants, and children, and of his own health; the news of which soon spread in the adjacent countries, Job being a person of great note, and his calamity so very extraordinary and uncommon: who these three friends were is after observed; they living at some distance from him, held a correspondence with him, and he with them, being good men; and now act the friendly part in paying him a visit under such circumstances; (<201717>Proverbs 17:17); they came everyone from his own place; from the country, city, town, or habitations where they lived; whether they walked or rode is not…”

“Eliphaz--The view of RAWLINSON that "the names of Job's three friends represent the Chaldean times, about 700 B.C.," cannot be accepted. Eliphaz is an Idumean name, Esau's oldest son (Gen 36:4); and Teman, son of Eliphaz (Gen 36:15), called "duke." EUSEBIUS places Teman in Arabia-PetrÃ&brvbra (but see on Job 6:19). Teman means "at the right hand"; and then the south, namely, part of Idumea; capital of Edom (Amo 1:12). Hebrew geographers faced the east, not the north as we do; hence with them "the right hand" was the south. Temanites were famed for wisdom (Jer 49:7). BARUCH mentions them as "authors of fables" (namely, proverbs embodying the results of observation), and "searchers out of…”

“Now when Job’s three friends heard - It would seem from this that these men were his particular friends. They came every one from his own place - His residence. This was the result of agreement or appointment thus to meet together. Eliphaz the Temanite - This was the most prominent of his friends. In the ensuing discussion he regularly takes the lead, advances the most important and impressive considerations, and is followed and sustained by the others. The Septuagint renders this Ελιφὰζ ὁ Θαιμαινῶν βασιλεὺς Elifaz ho Thaimainōn basileus - Eliphaz, the king of the Themanites. The Hebrew does not intimate that he held any office or rank. The word rendered “Temanite” תימני têymânı̂y is…”

“They - Who were persons eminent for birth and quality, for wisdom and knowledge, and for the profession of the true religion, being probably of the posterity of Abraham, a - kin to Job, and living in the same country. Eliphaz descended from Teman, the grandson of Esau, Gen 36:11. Bildad probably from Shuah, Abraham's son by Keturah, Gen 25:2. Zophar is thought to be same with Zepho, ( Gen 36:11.) a descendant from Esau. The preserving of so much wisdom and piety among those who were not children of the promise, was an happy presage of God's grace to the Gentiles, when the partition wall should be taken down. Job 2:13”

“2:11 It might have taken several months for Job’s friends (see study note on 6:14-27) to hear of his afflictions (see 7:3). • The text implies that Job’s friends were Edomites, a people who were famous for their wisdom (Jer 49:7; Obad 1:8). • Eliphaz the Temanite was probably a descendant of Esau’s grandson Teman (Gen 36:10-11, 15); his land was located in Edom (Ezek 25:13; Amos 1:11-12). • The Bil- element in Bildad would remind Hebrew readers of names like Bilhan, a descendant of Esau (Gen 36:27; 1 Chr 1:42). The -dad element would remind them of names like Bedad, father of the Edomite king Hadad (Gen 36:35; 1 Chr 1:46). • Shuhite: No place named Shuah is known, but Abraham’s son Shuah was…”

“friends: Job 6:14, Job 16:20, Job 19:19, Job 19:21, Job 42:7; Pro 17:17, Pro 18:24, Pro 27:10 Temanite: Job 6:19, Job 15:1; Gen 36:11, Gen 36:15; Jer 49:7 Shuhite: Job 8:1, Job 18:1; Gen 25:2; Ch1 1:32 to come: Job 42:11; Gen 37:35; Isa 51:19; Joh 11:19; Rom 12:15; Co1 12:26; Heb 13:3 to comfort: Job 13:4, Job 16:2 Job 2:12”

“After the sixth temptation there comes a seventh; and now the real conflict begins, through which the hero of the book passes, not indeed without sinning, but still triumphantly. 11 When Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz from Teman, and Bildad from Shuach, and Zophar from Naama: for they had made an appointment to come together to go and sympathize with him, and comfort him. אליפז is, according to Gen 36, an old Idumaean name (transposed = Phasal in the history of the Herodeans; according to Michaelis, Suppl. p. 87; cui Deus aurum est, comp. Job 22:25), and תּימן a district of Idumaea, celebrated for its native…”