Job 1:15

¹³ One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

¹⁴ a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,

the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
KJV: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
WEB: and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
ASV: and the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
DARBY: and [they of] Sheba fell [upon them] and took them, and the servants have they smitten with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
BLB: when the Sabeans fell on them and took them, and they struck the servants with the mouth of the sword—and only I have escaped, by myself alone, to declare [it] to you.”

ÅB: da kom sabeerne over dem og tok dem, og drengene hugg de ned med sverdet, og bare jeg alene slapp unna, så jeg kunne melde deg det.
OTB: da sabéerne angrep og tok dem bort. De slo tjenerne med sverd, og jeg alene har unnsluppet for å fortelle deg det."
B1930: da kom sabeerne over dem og tok dem, og drengene hugg de ned med sverdet, og bare jeg alene slapp unda, så jeg kunde melde dig det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 10:7
The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
Read in context
Job 6:19
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
Read in context
Joel 3:8
I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.
Read in context
1 Samuel 22:20–21
But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
Read in context
Ezekiel 23:42
accompanied by the sound of a carefree crowd. Drunkards were brought in from the desert along with men from the rabble, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your head.
Read in context
Genesis 25:3
Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.
Read in context
Isaiah 45:14
This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”
Read in context
Job 1:19
when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
Read in context