And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
Every one his day - namely, the birthday, (Job 3:1). (Umbreit.) Implying the love and harmony of the members of the family, as contrasted with the ruin which soon broke up such a scene of happiness. The sisters are specified, since these feasts were not for revelry, which would be inconsistent with the presence of sisters. These latter were invited by the brothers, though they gave no invitations in return. The sisters, according to Eastern custom, lived in their mother's home (Genesis 24:67). The Hebrew perfects, "feasted, sent, called," imply that this was their regular custom, each in his turn (namely, on his birthday) to feast the rest. Maurer objects that, as the birthdays must have fallen at different times in the year, it is not intelligible in Umbreit's view why Job, who was as solicitous that no offence of his children should be unatoned, should not after each birthday, and not merely at the close of the whole year, offer the atonements. The narrative implies the series of feasts was at one anniversary season each year, and lasted for seven days, and each of the seven sons was the entertainer on one day of the seven, beginning with the oldest son.