Questions re: "Job"

Why does God let Satan torment Job (p.1)?

-- Why is Satan called the "son of God" (p.1)

When Job's friends showed up to comfort him in his affliction, why did they sit with him but not speak to him, "for they saw that his affliction was very great?" (p.3)

Do the statements of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar represent separate and distinct points of view?

Interpret the line "So these three men [Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar] ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes" (p. 21).

-- At this point Elihu appears and we are told his "wrath" was kindled against Job. Does Elihu's appearance represent a significant turning point in the narrative? Why?

-- Interpret Elihu's statement, "My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God (p. 24)"

Why does God become angry with Eliphaz and the other two friends (viz. p. 29: "for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has")

Why in the end is Job exonerated?

Would you consider God as portrayed in the Book of Job to be fair? What other attributes would you ascribe to Him?

For Textual Analysis

Page 7: "Therefore I will not refrain my mouth" ... to ... "but I shall not be."

Pages 10-11: "What ye know, the same do I" ... to ... "as a garment that is moth eaten."

Pages 11-13 : "Man this is born of woman" ... to ... "the way whence I shall not return."

Page 28 : "Moreover the Lord answered Job" ... to ... "thine own right hand can save thee."

You and the Text

The book of Job holds a unique place in the Old Testament canon. Job is not considered a Prophet, and the book is grouped in the "wisdom writings" (along with Psalms, Proverbs, the Song of Songs, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, and others). Its literary form is unusual : much of the book consists of a philosophical dialogue among Job and his friends Eliphaz (the Temanite), Bildad (the Shuhite) and Zophar (the Naamathite).

Here is a suggestion as you approach the book of Job. Stick to the text at hand (in this case, the King James Version ; you may need to brush up on your early Modern English). Resist the temptation to reach for one of the numerous biblical commentaries available. Why not take a pencil in hand and write in your own chapter headings?

Build on what you already know about the book of Job. You are probably familiar with some of these famous passages that have become part of our common culture:

From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it (spoken by Satan).

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (spoken by Job)

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (the very first lines).

Let the text do its work on you.



Satan afflicts Job with boils (from William Blake's edition of the Book of Job).