We do not know at what time Job lived or where the land of Uz is located. There are some indications that these events took place around the time of Abraham.
Job was probably not an Israelite, and yet his history was recorded in order to teach the people of Israel. The name used for God in Job 1:1–22 and Job 2:1–13 is Yahweh.
With this name God revealed himself to Israel as their God who always keeps his covenant (Exodus 3:1–22).
Job is introduced as an upright, God-fearing man. The word blameless
does not mean sinless.
Job himself knew that he was not sinless (Job 14:4). Rather, the word indicates a whole, undivided heart, free from secrets and ulterior motives.
This testimony about Job’s character is of crucial importance for understanding the rest of the book. We have to keep it in mind as we listen to the words of Job’s friends. Job was indeed blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil,
which shows us that his friends were wrong in their accusations and that Job was right to defend himself.
In Job 29:1–31:40 we will see what Job’s uprightness looked like in daily life. Surrounded as he must have been by sexual debauchery, Job kept his marriage pure. He says, I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl
(Job 31:1). He used his riches and influence to help many people in need. He was honest and just in all his dealings. He never came close to worshipping the sun and moon, as was common practice in the ancient Near East.
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.