JOB

PROLOGUE

JOB 1-2

Setting Announced Earthly Setting: • The land of Uz, in “the east.”

– Most scholars place Uz in the land of Edom.• Lam 4:21 Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who

live in the land of Uz.

– Some place it in Aram/Syria. • Gen 10:23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech.• Gen 22:21 Uz the firstborn, … Kemuel (the father of Aram)

– It is outside of Israel.

Setting Announced Earthly Setting: • May suggest time of the Patriarchs

– The setting is rural, with no hint of city life,– Job is responsible for the family, &– Job offers his own sacrifices

Land of Uz

Setting Announced Heavenly Setting (v. 6)• God’s heavenly council, when the “sons

of God came to present themselves before Yahweh.”

Characters Introduced Job• Character—Wisdom’s perfect man!

– “Blameless” ( 6 םָּת7 )—A man of integrity• The root is used 12 times in the Book of

Job.

– “Upright” (6ָׁש<6ר .A man of justice—(ָי– “Fearing God & turning away from evil”

• Job submits to God & serves Him only.

Characters Introduced Job• Possessions

– Family—• Seven sons & three daughters• 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500

female donkeys, & many servants.

Characters Introduced God• He is proud of His servant, Job. • He has control & authority. • He is willing to have His prize pupil

tested by the Satan.– Why does he allow this?

Characters Introduced “The Satan” ( ןַהLָׁש67Kָט6 , hasatan) • “The accuser”—He is “going about

on the earth & walking around in it” (1:7).

• He is “among” the Sons of God at the heavenly council.

• How does “the Satan” relate to “Satan” of later Christianity?

Characters Introduced Job’s Wife

– What a woman!!!

 Job’s Friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, & Zophar.– From silent mourners to vocal friends.

Job’s Predicament • Job’s loss is presented as a test of

Job’s faith. How did he do?– “Naked I came out from my mother’s womb,

and naked I shall return to there.“The LORD has given and the LORD has taken,Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (1:21)

• This is only use of LORD (=YHWH) in a speech except 12:8, 28:28.

Job’s Predicament • The Satan is given the right to

afflict his body, but he could not kill him.

• “Skin for skin”– From trade language, “pelt for pelt” – “His skin for Your skin”

Job’s Predicament • “On the ashes”

– Perhaps in mourning.– Perhaps because of banishment.

• Job refuses to curse God, calling his wife a “foolish woman.”– “Shall we indeed receive the good from God and the

bad we will not accept” (2:10).

•  His 3 friends sit with him for 7 days.