Job’s friends heard of his loss and his illness and decided to go mourn with him and comfort him. This was the right thing to do. The Bible teaches that we are to weep with them that weep. (See Romans 12:15)
“And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.” (2:12)
Job must have looked far worse than his friends had expected. The boils had disfigured him so badly that they could not even recognize him from a distance. This was such a shock to them that each friend tore his own mantle and began to weep before they even got close to Job.
“So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.” (2:13)
At this point, Job’s friends were good friends. They did not make light of his situation or tell him that everything would be all right. They were simply there for him. For seven days they did not speak a word to him, but their presence comforted and supported him.