Job 1:4 f. illustrates in particular the above-given general description of Job's piety and happiness by a picture of the usual life of himself and his family. Job's sons are all like the sons of a king, each of whom has his own house and possessions (2 Samuel 13:7; 2 Samuel 14:30). Job's children are apparently all unmarried, and live for a joyous life, each day a feast. It is to be remembered, that we do not stand on the ground of mere history here. The idea shapes its material to its own ends (Davidson).
Along with this joyous life goes the most scrupulous piety. Job continually unites with his children in sacrifice, to atone even for unintentional impiety, of which they may have been guilty. The sanctification preparatory to sacrifice would consist of ablutions, change of raiment, etc. (Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:10; Exodus 19:14). The sacrifice offered is the pre-exilic sacrifice of atonement, viz. the burnt offering only; the LXX adds the sin offering, to conform Job's worship to post-exilic usage. The particular sin that Job fears is that his sons, when their hearts were loosed with wine, may have had blasphemous thoughts of God. Actual blasphemy was in ancient Israel punishable by death (1 Kings 21:13); but for Job, even blasphemous thoughts must be atoned for by sacrifice. The Volksbuch regards irreverence as the most to be dreaded of sins (Job 1:22; Job 2:10; Job 42:7). Job is so careful, that he makes atonement for unconscious and perhaps even non-existent sins. For heart-speech, cf. Psalms 14:1.