Here is a question or two I might ask my Sabbath School class to get the discussion started:

1. Why did Job "hang in there" and his wife didn't?

2. What ways could Job's wife have helped him in his sufferings?

With all due respect, I can't check any one of those options.

I believe the difference between Job's pain and his wife's lay in the facts of the culture of the time: It was the man's duty to provide for the family, and the Israelites believed that one's wealth was directly related to his closeness with God. If his wealth is taken away, that meant God was displeased with him, so naturally he must be sinning. Also his health was an indication to the Jewish people that he must have been doing something terribly wrong in God's sight.

I don't think Job's wife bore any of those cultural responsibilities; she was a good wife who cooked the food and ran the household, and was not blamed (personally) for any of these ills which befell the family. She wasn't expected to strike out on a different path from her husband, spiritually speaking; though she did come to the place where she was ready to have her husband "curse God and die." I believe she felt she had no power individually, so she had to depend on Job to make the decisions.

Just my 2 cents.

Just as in the garden the devil knew which one was weaker and so the children are killed,livestock destroyed by a "fire from God"and the servants are killed by invading forces. The only remaining survivor, (remnant) is left to run back and tell the news of the destruction. The woman perceives that God has done this and tells Job to curse God and die. Job however KNOWS God and humbles himself and worships God. Suffering with God is far better then suffering without Him. We are blessed to have the entire story though Job and family were not. Therefore the lesson is for us though we must remember the warnings of adding to and taking away from scripture. So I will leave it there.

Hey ... I don't claim to know. But Ellen White felt that Satan has a special bent or ability to tempt women.

"Thus Satan used an unconsecrated woman [Jezebel] to sway the heart of the king, and through the king to cause all Israel to sin. It is a terrible thing to be an instrument in the hands of Satan. Satan chooses women, for he can use them more successfully than he can men." (Manusript Releases, vol. 10 p. 76, Ms. 29, 1911, p. 13. Released by the White Estate Washington, D. C. July 16, 1980)

Did Ellen White "feel" this or did she believe it on the basis of evidence?

My own experience is that women are quite frequently the spiritual strength in a family.

I think that it is unfortunate that we have only that account of Job's wife's words. She also went through much grieving herself, bearing those very devastating losses with her husband.

Just one more thought: "Why did Job hang in there and his wife didn't?"--- Don't we believe that there is always "one" who remains faithful?

There's a lot the text doesn't say. For instance, who had those children who replaced the ten who were lost? Perhaps Job's wife's grief was much stronger than his at the loss of those children.