The book's theme is the eternal problem of unmerited suffering, and it is named after its central character, Job, who attempts to understand the sufferings that engulf him.
#1 - TITLE
The name Job appears in ANE texts, identifying as a legendary wise man.
Since there is no genealogical identification given for Job, some scholar believes that the author is using a fictional character to make an important point.
However, given the Bible’s normal pattern of basing revelation on historical events, such an idea is questionable.
The book of Job is one of the recognized literary master pieces of the Bible.
The book of Job tells the story of a man who loses everything – his wealth, his health and his family.
#2 - AUTHORSHIP
The text of Job does not reveal the identity of its author, but the content of the book indicate that its author was a profound thinker who treats some of the most crucial and difficult problems of human existence from a mature spiritual perspective. May be Moses and Job could have written the book, but no concrete evidence for that.
#3 - CONTENTS
The book divides naturally into three parts:
The prologue
It portrays Job as a God-fearing, righteous and prosperous man, whom God allowed Satan to test to see whether his piety was motivated by selfish interests.
The testing included the loss of all his possessions, his children and his health and misunderstanding by his wife. Therefore, prologue pictures Job as enduring the test as holding on to the faith in God and not blaming God.
The discourses
It falls into three divisions:
Dialogue in three cycles of speeches
The speeches of Elihu
The discourse of God
The epilogue
It deals with God’s rebuke of Job’s friends with provisions for their deliverance from punishment, and with the full restoration of Job to wealth, health, family and long life.
#4 - LITERARY FORMS
Job is the longest poem in the OT. It is the combination of prose and poetry and utilizes both dialogue and monologue.
The prologue and epilogue are in prose whereas the discourses are in poetry.
The prose part seems to preserve an ancient, popular folktale, probably pre-Israelite, similar to ANE stories.
The poetic discourses centre in a dispute between Job and his friends. The poem show points of contact with several literary forms – laments, lawsuits, epics, tragic dramas.
#5 - MAIN THEME
The retribution principle
The retribution principle provides a framework for the philosophical discussion presented in the book of Job. As we seen, the principle is stated by means of conditional clauses: if a person is righteous, he will prosper; if a person is wicked, he will suffer.
Though the principle is widely accepted to be true by the Israelites and their neighbours, it is clear from the Psalms that theory and experience did not always mesh (interlock).
In Israel the gap between theory and experience created an especially poignant problem because of the Hebrew views of God. Since there was only one sovereign God, suffering could not come from any other source.
Because this one God was believed to be absolutely just, suffering must have a logical explanation. Furthermore, if God was really just, suffering must be in proportion to wickedness and prosperity must be in proportion to righteousness.
Therefore, the retribution principle should be accepted as an explanation of what God is like. He delights in prospering the righteous and guarantees that wicked will be punished.
It cannot provide consistent explanations for any particular person’s prosperity or adversity. It is not intended to address the issue of causation. We often cannot know what causes our suffering, but we can take comfort that all is in the hand of an infinitely wise and sovereign Lord.
OUTLINE
Job 1-2: The Prologue
Job 3:27: Dialogue between Job and his friends
Job 28-37: Three monologues
Job 38:1-42:6: God’s speeches
Job 42:7-17: The Epilogue
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