King James Bible
"Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him."
News of Job's catastrophic losses—family, wealth, and health—reaches his friends, prompting immediate action. The term 'evil' encompasses the totality of disasters that have befallen him, setting up the friends' response as one to extreme suffering. Each friend travels from their distinct homeland, with their geographic origins (Teman, Shuah, Naamah) suggesting they were wealthy men of standing from different regions. Their individual journeys underscore the significance of their friendship and the severity of Job's situation. The friends coordinate their arrival, demonstrating intentional solidarity rather than casual concern. Their stated purpose—mourning and comforting—follows ancient Near Eastern customs of sitting with the bereaved, though their later speeches will ironically bring more anguish than comfort.