Job
The big question in the book of Job is why do the righteous
suffer? But this is not actually the main question in the
book, the big question is seen in Job 1:9-11..."Why does Job
remain faithful to God?"
The book goes on with the story about God and Satan arguing
over Jobs reasons for obeying God and Job has various
catastrophes which causes him to lose everything in order to
test him of his faithfulness as to whether or not Job is
serving God because of His wealth and God"s blessings of
prosperity. There are also jobs friends who make a case
against Job siding with what Satan was accusing Job of,
their point of view was the Job was only serving God because
of his wealth and prosperity. Job continually refutes them.
Joe desired to know the reason for his suffering and God
remains silent concerning this. Instead the Lord asks Job
questions that are too difficult for Job to answer, and
God's point is that there are many things that Job will
experience and mankind experiences in life that do not have
a clear explanation, and it is more wise to not question
God's wisdom. Gervis situation was no different than what is
common to man.
Link: https://bible-history.com/studybible/Job...
The principal events in Job are:
The beginning prologue Job 1:1-2:13.
Dialogs and debates 3:1-27:23.
Job's complaint 3:1-26
The first debate: 1-14:22
The second debate 15:1-21:34
The third debate 22:1-27:23
What is wisdom 28:1-28
The speeches 29:1-42:6
Job's speech 29:1-31:40
Elihu's speech 32:1-37:24
Yahweh's speech 38:1-42:6
Link: https://bible-history.com/studybible/Job...
Date - 2180 BC Approximately. It is uncertain exactly when the
book was written and who wrote it but Jewish tradition says
Job was its author. It is interesting that the name of Yahweh
appears over and over in the book of Job, and his name was
unknown prior to the time of Moses (Exodus 6:2-3). The name of
the Egypt is used in poetic form a couple times (Job 9:12-13,
Job 26:12-13) and when it is used this way there is
implications that the author of the book new about the exodus
from Egypt.
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
Study Bible featuring Job with information, images, and notes
on many important subjects from the ancient world.
Archaeological notes, geographical notes, ancient documents
and manuscripts, cultural notes, theological notes, articles
from scholars, information about ancient history, ancient
customs, ancient temples, ancient monuments, and a close look
at people, places, and events from the ancient world that are
explained in an easy to understand format.
Link: https://bible-history.com/studybible/Job...
Quick Overview of Job. – –1-2– –The historical background of
Job – – 3-31 – – Job's dialogue with his three friends – – 32-
37 – – the speeches of Elihu – – 38-41 – – God intervenes and
gives His speech– – 42 – – the conclusion of this matter
Link: https://bible-history.com/studybible/Job...
The Book of Job (Hebrew: אִיוֹב ʾ iyov) is one of the books of
the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at
the hands of Satan, his theological discussions with friends
on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to
God, and finally a response from God. The Book itself
comprises a didactic poem set in a prose framing device and
has been called "the most profound and literary work of the
entire Old Testament".[1] The Book itself, along with its
numerous exegeses, are attempts to address the problem of
evil, i.e. the problem of reconciling the existence of evil or
suffering in the world with the existence of God...
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Jo...
job ('iyobh, meaning of name doubtful; some conjecturing
"object of enmity," others "he who turns," etc., to God;
both uncertain guesses; Iob): The titular hero of the Book
of Job, represented as a wealthy and pious land-holder who
lived in patriarchal times, or at least conditions, in the
land of Uz, on the borders of Idumea. Outside of the Book of
Job he is mentioned by Ezekiel (Ezek 14:14,20) as one of 3
great personages whose representative righteousness would
presumably avail, if that of any individuals could, to
redeem the nation; the other two being Noah, an ancient
patriarch, and Daniel, a contemporary of the prophet. It is
difficult to determine whether Job was an actual personage
or not. If known through legend, it must have been on
account of some such experience as is narrated in the book,
an experience unique enough to have become a potent
household word; still, the power and influence of it is due
to the masterly vigor and exposition of the story. It was
the Job of literature, rather than the Job of legend, who
lived in the hearts of men; a character so commanding that,
albeit fictitious, it could be referred to as real, just as
we refer to Hamlet or Othello. It is not the way of Hebrew
writers, however, to evolve literary heroes from pure
imagination; they crave an authentic basis of fact. It is
probable that such a basis, in its essential outlines,
existed under the story of Job. It is not necessary to
suppose, however, that the legend or the name was known to
Israel from ancient times. Job is introduced (Job 1:1) as if
he had not been known before. The writer, who throughout the
book shows a wide acquaintance with the world, doubtless
found the legend somewhere, and drew its meanings together
for an undying message to his and all times.
Link: https://bible-history.com/isbe/J/JOB/...
LITERATURE
I. Introductory.
1. Place in the Canon:
The greatest production of the Hebrew Wisdom literature, and
one of the supreme literary creations of the world. Its
place in the Hebrew Canon corresponds to the high estimation
in which it was held; it stands in the 3rd section, the
"writings" (kethubhim) or Hagiographa, next after the two
great anthologies Psalms and Proverbs; apparently put thus
near the head of the list for weighty reading and
meditation. In the Greek Canon (which ours follows), it is
put with the poetical books, standing at their head. It is
one of 3 Scripture books, the others being Psalms and
Proverbs, for which the later Hebrew scholars (the
Massoretes) employed a special system of punctuation to mark
its poetic character.
2. Rank and Readers:
The Book of Job was not one of the books designated for
public reading in the synagogues, as were the Pentateuch and
the Prophets, or for occasional reading at feast seasons, as
were the 5 megilloth or rolls. It was rather a book for
private reading, and one whose subject-matter would appeal
especially to the more cultivated and thoughtful classes.
Doubtless it was all the more intimately valued for this
detachment from sanctuary associations; it was, like
Proverbs, a people's book; and especially among the
cultivators of Wisdom it must have been from its first
publication a cherished classic. At any rate, the patriarch
Job (though whether from the legend or from the finished
book is not clear; see JOB) is mentioned as a well-known
national type by Ezek 14:14,20; and James, writing to Jewish
Christians (5:11), refers to the character of patriarch as
familiar to his readers. It was as one of the great classic
stories of their literature, rather than as embodying a
ritual or prophetic standard, that it was so universally
known and cherished...
Link: https://bible-history.com/isbe/J/JOB,+BO...
This book has given rise to much discussion and criticism,
some believing the book to be strictly historical; others a
religious fiction; others a composition based upon facts. By
some the authorship of the work was attributed to Moses, but
it is very uncertain. Luther first suggested the theory
which, in some form or other, is now most generally
received. He says, "I look upon the book of Job as a true
history, yet I do not believe that all took place just as it
is written, but that an ingenious, pious and learned man
brought it into its present form." The date of the book is
doubtful, and there have been many theories upon the
subject. It may be regarded as a settled point that the book
was written long before the exile, probably between the
birth of Abraham and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt
--B.C. 2000-1800. If by Moses, it was probably written
during his sojourn in Midian. "The book of Job is not only
one of the most remarkable in the Bible, but in literature.
As was said of Goliath's sword, 'There is none like it;'
none in ancient or in modern literature." --Kitto. "A book
which will one day, perhaps, be seen towering up alone far
above all the poetry of the world." --J.A. Froude. "The book
of Job is a drama, and yet subjectively true. The two ideas
are perfectly consistent. It may have the dramatic form, the
dramatic interest, the dramatic emotion, and yet be
substantially a truthful narrative. The author may have
received it in one of three ways: the writer may have been
an eyewitness; or have received it from near contemporary
testimony; or it may have reached him through a tradition of
whose substantial truthfulness he has no doubt. There is
abundant internal evidence that the scenes and events
recorded were real scenes and real events to the writer. He
gives the discussions either as he had heard them or as they
had been repeated over and over in many an ancient
consensus. The very modes of transmission show the deep
impression it had made in all the East, as a veritable as
well as marvellous event." --Tayler Lewis. the design of the
book. --Stanley says that "The whole book is a discussion of
that great problem of human life: what is the intention of
Divine Providence in allowing the good to suffer?" "The
direct object is to show that, although goodness has a
natural tendency to secure a full measure of temporal
happiness, yet that in its essence it is independent of such
a result. Selfishness in some form is declared to be the
basis on which all apparent goodness rests. That question is
tried in the case of Job." --Cook. Structure of the book.-
The book consists of five parts: -- I. Chs. 1-3. The
historical facts. II. Chs. 4-31. The discussions between Job
and his three friends. III. Chs. 32-37. Job's discussion
with Elihu. IV. Chs. 38-41. The theophany --God speaking out
of the storm. V. Ch. 42. The successful termination of the
trial. It is all in poetry except the introduction and the
close...
Link: https://bible-history.com/smiths/J/Job,+...
A great diversity of opinion exists as to the authorship of
this
book. From internal evidence, such as the similarity
of
sentiment and language to those in the Psalms and
Proverbs (see
Ps. 88 and 89), the prevalence of the idea of
"wisdom," and the
style and character of the composition, it is
supposed by some
to have been written in the time of David and
Solomon. Others
argue that it was written by Job himself, or by
Elihu, or
Isaiah, or perhaps more probably by Moses, who was
"learned in
all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and mighty in words
and deeds"
(Acts 7:22). He had opportunities in Midian for
obtaining the
knowledge of the facts related. But the authorship
is altogether
uncertain.
As to the character of the book, it is a historical
poem, one
of the greatest and sublimest poems in all
literature. Job was a
historical person, and the localities and names were
real and
not fictious. It is "one of the grandest portions of
the
inspired Scriptures, a heavenly-repleished
storehouse of comfort
and instruction, the patriarchal Bible, and a
precious monument
of primitive theology. It is to the Old Testament
what the
Epistle to the Romans is to the New." It is a
didactic narrative
in a dramatic form.
This book was apparently well known in the days of
Ezekiel,
B.C. 600 (Ezek. 14:14). It formed a part of the
sacred
Scriptures used by our Lord and his apostles, and is
referred to
as a part of the inspired Word (Heb. 12:5; 1 Cor.
3:19).
The subject of the book is the trial of Job, its
occasion,
nature, endurance, and issue. It exhibits the
harmony of the
truths of revelation and the dealings of Providence,
which are
seen to be at once inscrutable, just, and merciful.
It shows the
blessedness of the truly pious, even amid sore
afflictions, and
thus ministers comfort and hope to tried believers
of every age.
It is a book of manifold instruction, and is
profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for
instruction in
righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16).
It consists of,
(1.) An historical introduction in prose (ch. 1,2).
(2.) The controversy and its solution, in poetry
(ch. 3-42:6).
Job's desponding lamentation (ch. 3) is the occasion
of the
controversy which is carried on in three courses of
dialogues
between Job and his three friends. The first course
gives the
commencement of the controversy (ch. 4-14); the
second the
growth of the controversy (15-21); and the third the
height of
the controversy (22-27). This is followed by the
solution of the
controversy in the speeches of Elihu and the address
of Jehovah,
followed by Job's humble confession (42:1-6) of his
own fault
and folly.
(3.) The third division is the historical
conclusion, in prose
(42:7-15).
Sir J. W. Dawson in "The Expositor" says: "It would
now seem
that the language and theology of the book of Job
can be better
explained by supposing it to be a portion of Minean
[Southern
Arabia] literature obtained by Moses in Midian than
in any other
way. This view also agrees better than any other
with its
references to natural objects, the art of mining,
and other
matters."
Link: https://bible-history.com/eastons/J/Job,...
persecuted, an Arabian patriarch who resided in the land of Uz
(q.v.). While living in the midst of great prosperity,
he was
suddenly overwhelmed by a series of sore trials that
fell upon
him. Amid all his sufferings he maintained his
integrity. Once
more God visited him with the rich tokens of his
goodness and
even greater prosperity than he had enjoyed before. He
survived
the period of trial for one hundred and forty years,
and died in
a good old age, an example to succeeding generations
of
integrity (Ezek. 14:14, 20) and of submissive patience
under the
sorest calamities (James 5:11). His history, so far as
it is
known, is recorded in his book.
Link: https://bible-history.com/eastons/J/Job/...
