Job’s sores itched so much that he scraped himself with a piece of broken pottery. The ashes
where he sat were probably a public rubbish heap, possibly even a manure pile.
Throughout the book we get more glimpses of Job’s terrible disease, as he gives poetic descriptions of his condition. He was sleepless (Job 7:4; Job 13:1 – 15:35). His skin festered (Job 19:20) and peeled off (Job 30:30). He had a bad smell (Job 19:17). He lost weight (Job 19:20), and his body ached all the time (Job 30:17). He suffered from fever (Job 30:30). The disease left Job severely depressed, wishing for death (Job 7:16).
8 Et Job prit un tesson pour se gratter et s'assit sur la cendre.