Job 2:12 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

When they lifted up their eyes afar off Namely, at some convenient distance from him; whom they found sitting upon the ground, probably in the open air. And knew him not His countenance being so dreadfully changed and disfigured by the ulcers. They lifted up their voice and wept Through their sympathy with him, and great grief for his heavy affliction. And they rent every one his mantle As it was usual for people to do in great and sudden calamities. And sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven Either on the upper part of their heads toward heaven, or threw it up into the air, so that it fell upon their heads, and showed the confusion they were in: all which things were marks of great grief and affliction, and were the usual ways of expressing sorrow in those days.

Job 2:12

12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.