JOB 2:1-6

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QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
1.    Note the similarities to the first encounter between God and Satan.  A very rigid formula is used in describing their relationship.
2.    Some additions have been made that advance the story.
a.    In verse three God adds this to his evaluation of Job, "He persists in his integrity still; you achieved nothing by provoking me to ruin him."  The first part (He persists in his integrity still) has two terms which need to be considered (persists and integrity).
i.  The first is hazaq/qz:x' (participle) and is the word used in Exodus for Pharaoh hardening/strengthening his heart against God.  The fact that it is a participle shows that the author meant to convey to the reader continuance.  Here it is used of  Job strengthening his integrity against the adversity of the situation.

ii.  The second, integrity/hM'Tu, is related to the second term (tam/upright), but is the abstract noun.  It is found only in Job and Proverbs (Job 2:3, Job 2:9, Job 27:5, Job 31:6, Prov. 11:3)

b.  God borrows a word from Satan's vocabulary and turns it back on him.  Earlier Satan had asked a rhetorical question which demanded a no answer and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?"  His meaning was that Job gets paid to do it and would not do it unless he did.  Here God points out that He (God) allowed this to happen for no cause (for nothing).
3.    Satan appears in verse 4 appears to quote an otherwise unknown  proverb to God. The meaning is obvious that a man may lose what he has and still remain righteous, but that is only to save his own hide.  Satan in his request wants God to strike more than the 'skin' for he says strike his bone and his flesh.
4.    Satan is given his final opportunity to attack Job and has only one limitation: he must guard Job's life. The word guard/rm;v' is used in other contexts of people watching/tending the following things: Adam tending the garden (Gen. 2:15); man obeying the commandments of God (Exodus 34:11); a person watching his own soul (Dt. 4:9); a man guarding another man's life (I Kings 20:39); a man observing another man's life to imitate it (Psalm 37:37); a man guarding what he says (Micah 7:5).  In this context it is used as in I Kings 20:39.  If that text is examined notice that there is a penalty to pay for allowing the other person's life to be lost.  Here are two questions that need to be pondered: 1) Could Satan disobey God at this point? 2) What would be the penalty?

5.    Why would God sort of cave into Satan's plan in the first place?  To justify His actions toward Job and thus justify himself?  To magnify and glorify a faithful servant?  To bring about growth in the servant?

TEXT
KJV
Strong's Numbers
New American
Standard Version
1995
New Jerusalem Bible
1 Again there was a day <03117> when the sons <01121> of God <0430> came <0935> to present <03320>   themselves before the LORD <03068>, and Satan <07854> came <0935>  also among <08432> them to present <03320> himself before the LORD <03068>. 1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 1 Another day, the sons of God came to attend on Yahweh and Satan came with them too.
2  And the LORD <03068> said <0559>  unto Satan <07854>, From whence <0335> comest <0935> thou? And Satan <07854> answered <06030> the LORD <03068>, and said <0559>, From going to and fro <07751> in the earth <0776>, and from walking up and down <01980> in it. 2 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it." 2 So Yahweh said to Satan, 'Where have you been?' 'Prowling about on earth,' he answered, 'roaming around there.'
3  And the LORD <03068> said <0559> unto Satan <07854>, Hast thou <07760> considered <03820> my servant <05650> Job <0347>, that there is none like him in the earth <0776>, a perfect <08535> and an upright  <03477> man <0376>, one that feareth <03373> God <0430>, and escheweth <05493> evil <07451>? and still he holdeth fast <02388> his integrity <08538>, although thou movedst <05496> me against him, to destroy <01104>  him without cause <02600>. 3 The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, 
a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause."		 3 So Yahweh asked him, 'Did you pay any attention to my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil. He persists in his integrity still; you achieved nothing by provoking me to ruin him.'
4  And Satan <07854> answered <06030> the LORD <03068>, and said <0559> , Skin  <05785> for skin <05785>, yea, all that a man <0376> hath will he give <05414> for his life <05315>. 4 Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 4 'Skin after skin!' Satan replied. 'Someone will give away all he has to save his life.
5  But <0199> put forth <07971> thine hand <03027> now, and touch <05060> his bone <06106> and his flesh <01320>, and he will curse <01288> thee to thy face <06440>. 5 "However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face." 5 But stretch out your hand and lay a finger on his bone and flesh; I warrant you, he will curse you to your face.'
6  And the LORD <03068> said <0559>  unto Satan <07854>, Behold, he is in thine hand <03027>; but save <08104> his life <05315>. 6 So the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life." 6 'Very well,' Yahweh said to Satan, 'he is in your power. But spare his life.'
The Strong's numbers help the student find material in Hebrew Dictionaries and Lexicons that have been keyed to this system. NOTE:
1. The NJB is one of the few translations that attempts to transliterate the personal name of God
2. In verse two the translators chose the word 'prowling' instead of 'roaming'  This has the effect of making Satan appear malevolent.  Some interpreters of this book do not see 'the satan' as being the same as 'the Satan' of the New Testament, but rather and angel who has the Job of ensuring that divine justice is administered by testing men before God.  Obviously the NJB translators did not hold to this.