Job 1:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Esau harbored intentions to take Jacob's life, yet Job brought forth sacrifices for his offspring, wondering if they had sinned within their hearts. While Esau’s heart harbored thoughts of murder, this esteemed and valiant man, concerned that his children might embrace the insidiousness of sin, offered a sin offering and a bullock. Indeed, Job expressed, “May it be that my sons have sinned and have blasphemed God in their hearts?” Contemplate the depth of his moral training!

Consider how he engaged with his children: he was not overly indulgent as we might be, but rather insisted on their complete uprightness. If he sacrificially addressed their unknown transgressions, imagine how stringent he must have been regarding their overt actions.

He conducted these offerings in the morning, aligning with the practice of presenting sacrifices at dawn. The burnt offering, being the principal sacrifice, was specifically meant for seeking God’s favor. Job expressed his concern, contemplating, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and have departed from God in their hearts.” This righteous father, who bore the responsibility for the moral behavior of his children, feared that, perhaps under the influence of wine, they had engaged in sinful revelry that honored false deities, potentially forgetting the Lord amidst their intoxicated frivolity. This was Job's routine during those days. While he is described as a just man, it is important to note that he was not subject to punishment for the sins of his children, from which he sought to protect them and for which he sought atonement through his sacrifices.

In the presence of God alongside the faithful angels, Satan—the adversary—makes his entrance. The compassionate God, who desires not the death of a sinner, demonstrates through the devil's admission into His company that He would welcome the repentance of even the first sinner, should he choose to seek forgiveness. By standing before God among the divine council, the devil is reminded of his former glory and his initial bond with the Creator, which should evoke a sense of remorse in him. More crucially, this revelation underlines that God employs every avenue for the devil’s salvation, yet the devil persists in leading others astray and defying God.

During those early eras, there was no established priesthood; figures like Noah, Abraham, and other patriarchs (Gen. VIII:20, Gen. XII:7-8, Gen. XIII:18, Gen. XXII:13) acted as priests in their families. Similarly, the righteous Job, as a family leader, fulfilled a priestly role. He presented for his children the common burnt offerings typical of that age, signifying total devotion to God. Job sacrificially offered an appropriate number of animals, slaughtering and burning seven or possibly ten, acknowledging both his sons and daughters. Beyond individual offerings for each child, he also sacrificed a calf collectively for their sins. In his view, they were united, and thus he deemed it necessary to provide a common offering alongside the individual ones. The purpose was to seek God's favor and atonement for his children’s transgressions. Job expressed concern, saying, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” During the festive gatherings, amidst indulgent celebrations, temptations to sin were likely, either through actions, words, or even thoughts.

Job performed these acts continually, seeking to atone for his children’s sins not only after festive occasions but also at various times, highlighting his constant vigilance in seeking God’s mercy whenever he felt it was necessary. The phrase “all the days” appears frequently in Scripture, indicating ongoing actions (see Gen. LIII:9, Deut. IV:40). The reference to Job's diligent care for his children serves to demonstrate that contrary to the accusations from his friends, who claimed he had committed grave sins, he did not merit punishment for his own transgressions or for those of his children, particularly as he actively sought to cleanse them from wrongdoing.