THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
In their commitment to virtue, they also remained free from conflict regarding earthly desires, choosing to visit one another in a spirit of simplicity without engaging with outside influences. They also took their sisters as guests, representing their dedication to purity; during meals, only sisters were invited, signifying a clear commitment to chastity and propriety. However, this unity and agreement among them, despite the devil's extraordinary efforts against them, became a means for their collective downfall within the household of the elder brother.
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Unquestionably, harmony stands as one of life’s greatest blessings. They were instructed to share meals together, fostering a sense of community. Can you perceive, dear ones, the joy of such unity? Can you witness a meal characterized by brotherly love? Can you see a host unified in spirit? Such togetherness stems from profound love.
To safeguard against potential discord among them, he arranged for a shared meal every day, believing in his heart that if any grievances arose, the act of sharing bread would mend their relationships and displace any ill feelings. Thus, maintaining a daily communal meal would serve as the most effective means to eliminate any discord.
What action does he take? Recalling that their forebears, Esau and Jacob, once bore animosity toward one another—though Jacob was not to blame for Esau's resentment—Job sought to mend the rift of their ancestors in his own children through shared meals. He compelled his sons to dine together daily, confident that this frequent gathering would dissolve any bitterness. Job's sons, from their youth, cultivated a spirit of unity and practiced peace, eating and drinking among themselves and "sending and inviting their three sisters to dine with them." What significance does this hold for the listener? Why does the narrator include the participation of the sisters in the brothers’ feasts? It serves to illustrate the purity that reigned at their gatherings, demonstrating that there was no disorderly laughter or lewd behavior to tarnish the meal; if the maidens could take part, it is evident that the brothers' feasts were untainted by drunkenness and instead embellished with harmony.