Bramer, Job, 1

JOB
JOB
Message:
A believer must
continue to trust his
sovereign God even while
living in a cursed world in
which there is undeserved
suffering.
Title:
The Hebrew title of
this book is bwya while
the Greek and Latin title is
Iob. The Hebrew title has
two possible meanings. f
derived from the Hebrew
word for persecution, it
means !persecuted one,"
but if derived from the Arabic word meaning !to come back" or !repent" it means
!repentant one." #ither meaning would be appropriate for the book.
Author:
The author of $ob is unknown, and there are no specific te%tual clues as to his
identit&. The non'Hebraic cultural background of the book (see below) Historical
Background* ma& point to gentile authorship. However, the fact that the author (not $ob
or his friends* fre+uentl& uses the sraelite covenant name for God (Yahweh*
1
ma&
indicate that he is an sraelite. There is no consistent tradition among ,abbinic scholars
as to authorship. The author ma& have worked from a written and-or oral account about
$ob.
Recipient(s):
The book is not addressed to an&one in particular. .epending on the date of
composition (see below) .ate of /riting* various theories can be developed.
Date of Events and of Writing:
Two dates must be considered) (1* the date of the man $ob and his historical setting,
and (0* the date of the inspired writer who composed the book we now have in our
Bibles. The latter could be dated an&time from pre'1osaic da&s to the poste%ilic period
prior to the compiling of the 2ld Testament 3anon. 2ften the time of 4olomon (c. 567
B.3.* is suggested since $ob is similar to other /isdom Literature of time (cp. $ob 08
and 9rov 8*.
The date of the man $ob must take into consideration the following facts) (1* Like
the Hebrew patriarchs (Abraham lived 1:6 &ears, Gen 06):*, $ob had a long life span.
He lived more than 1;7 &ears after the events in the book (;0)1<*. (0* $ob=s wealth was
1
n the prologue (chs 1>0*, divine discourses (?8)1>;0)<* and epilogue (;0):'1:* Yahweh occurs in the
Hebrew a total of ?1 times (@A !L2,." occurs a total of 06 times*, while in the rest of the book (chs. ?>?:* it
appears onl& once (10)5*.
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Bramer, Job, 0
measured in livestock (1)?B ;0)10* rather than silver and gold. (?* He acted as priest b&
offering sacrifices for his famil& (1)6*, Cust like Abraham, saac and $acob. (;* The
social unit in $ob is the patriarchal famil&'clan. (6* The raiding of nomadic 4abean
(1)16* and 3haldean (1)1:* tribes fits the second millennium when the& had not &et
become cit&'dwellers, as does the mention of the (kesitah,* !a piece of silver," in ;0)11
(see Gen ??)15B $osh 0;)?0*. (<* There are no references to srael, the #%odus, the
1osaic Law, or the tabernacle. (:* $ob uses the characteristic patriarchal name for God,
Shaddai (!the Almight&"*, thirt&'one times. This term is onl& found seventeen times in
the rest of the 2ld Testament. The rare use of Dahweh !the L2,." also suggests a pre'
1osaic date. (8* The discover& of a Targum (Aramaic paraphrase* on $ob from the first
or second centur& B.3. (the earliest written Targum* makes a ver& late date for
authorship highl& unlikel&.
$ob was an historical person, as #Eekiel 1;)1;, 07 and $ames 6)11 would confirm,
whose setting appears to be during the second millennium B.3. (0777'1777*, and
probabl& late in that millennium (see the reference to iron in 15)0; which did not come
into common use in the ancient @ear #ast until the 10th centur& B.3.*.
istorical !onte"t:
4ee above) .ate of #vents. The land of FE (1)1B cp. Gen 17)0?* is usuall& thought
to be adCacent to 1idian, in the area of #dom, southeast of the .ead 4ea.
Theological !onte"t:
The author of $ob narrates the interaction between $ob, God, and others in response
to affliction to verif& that God and His plans cannot be reduced to a formula of human
observation and e%perienceB thus the book demonstrates the absolute sovereignt& of
God. This sovereignt& and freedom of God is the great doctrine that comes through
loud and clear in this book. The sovereign God is not re+uired to e%plain what He does
or allows to be done (;0)1'<B ??)1?B ,om 11)??'?<*. God is free not to inform $ob of
the reasons for his suffering, He is free to allow 4atan to inflict suffering on $ob, and
He is free to withhold blessings from $ob.
An important realit& that must be kept in mind when dealing with $ob is that
whenever $ob lived and whenever the book of $ob was written, the truths contained in
his life and in this book do not seem to been referred to b& other 2ld Testament writers
as part of the unfolding of special revelation (e.g., the information on 4atan contained
in $ob*. n other words, the truths in $ob were apparentl& unavailable to the other
writers of scripture until @ew Testament times, and most truths contained even in the
9entateuch seem unknown to $ob.
$ob appears to somehow be aware of such basic theological concepts as the person
of God (1)1*, the need to avoid evil (1)1*, the need of sacrifice for sins (1)6*, and the
fact that God normall& blessed the righteous though He had the right to withhold even
this (1)01*. The struggle $ob has is when the suffering continues and no blessings come
though he is blameless.
The book of $ob also rules out an& form of eternal dualism wherein 4atan and God,
or evil and good, are e+uall& locked in a cosmic struggle. There is definitel& a conflict
but it is a conflict limited b& God=s sovereignt&. These theological concepts will be
developed throughout the rest of the 2ld Testament in different &et harmonious wa&s
than in $ob.
Bramer, Job, ?
#iterar$ %eatures:
The structure of the book is fairl& straightforward. t begins and ends with narrative
prose sections. Between these two is the central poetic portions of the book (e%cept for
a small prose section in ?0)1'<* which first contains three c&cles of earthl& debates
between $ob and his friends. This central section concludes with a dramatic !divine
diagnosis."
The genre of the book could be identified as !dramatiEed legal lament." t is a
composite of man& forms of literature but dominant is the lawsuit structure and
language, the poetic lament, and the drama presenting $ob=s struggle and triumph over
undeserved suffering.
E#&'A( B&#DAD (O'AR E#&)
Characteristic:
Argument:
Basis of
Argument:
Advice to Job:
Attitude:
Voice of:
Representative
Verse:
Concept of
God:
'urpose(s):
The purpose of the book of $ob is not to answer the +uestion !wh& do the righteous
suffer" nor to demonstrate how suffering itself can or is necessar& to lead to a deeper
view of God, for apparentl& $ob never did find out wh& he suffered. The purpose of the
book of $ob is !to show that the proper relationship between God and man is based
solel& upon the sovereign grace of God and man=s response of faith and submissive
trust."
0
2
Greg /. 9arsons, !Guidelines for Fnderstanding and 9roclaiming the Book of $ob," Bibliotheca Sacra
161 (2ct ' .ec, 155;*) ?58.
Bramer, Job, ;
Descriptive Outline:
&* 'RO+E 'RO#O,)E: TE A%%#&!T&O- O% JOB (!+* ./0)
A* The ,odl$ and Blessed #ife of Jo1 (.:./2)
B* %irst eavenl$ +cene and Resulting Earthl$ Assault on Jo1 (.:3/00)
!* +econd eavenl$ +cene and Resulting Earthl$ Assault on Jo1 (0:./.4)
D* The ,athering of Jo15s Three 5!o6forters5 (0:../.7)
&&* 'OET&! D&A#O,)E/D&+')TE (!+* 7/80)
A* Jo15s Death Wish (ch* 7)
B* Three !$cles of Dispute Bet9een Jo1 and is Three %riends (chs* 8/0:)
1. Girst 3&cle of 4peeches (chs. ;'1;*
a. #liphaEHs Girst 4peech (chs. ;'6*
b. $obHs Girst ,epl& to #liphaE (chs. <':*
c. BildadHs Girst 4peech (ch. 8*
d. $obHs Girst ,epl& to Bildad (chs. 5'17*
e. IopharHs Girst 4peech (ch. 11*
f. $obHs Girst ,epl& to Iophar (chs. 10'1;*
0. 4econd 3&cle of 4peeches (chs. 16'01*
a. #liphaEHs 4econd 4peech (ch. 16*
b. $obHs 4econd ,epl& to #liphaE (chs. 1<'1:*
c. BildadHs 4econd 4peech (ch. 18*
d. $obHs 4econd ,epl& to Bildad (ch. 15*
e. IopharHs 4econd 4peech (ch. 07*
f. $obHs 4econd ,epl& to Iophar (ch. 01*
?. Third 3&cle of 4peeches (chs. 00'0:*
a. #liphaEHs Third 4peech (ch. 00*
b. $obHs Third ,epl& to #liphaE (chs. 0?'0;*
c. BildadHs Third 4peech (ch. 06*
d. $obHs Third ,epl& to Bildad (ch. 0<*
e. $obHs 3losing .iscourse (ch. 0:*
!* Enco6iu6 Of Wisdo6 (ch* 0;) [= formal statement of praise]
D* Jo15s !all %or <indication (chs* 0=/7.)
E* The &ntervention Of Elihu (chs* 70/7:)
1. Girst 4peech b& #lihu (chs. ?0'??*
Bramer, Job, 6
0. 4econd 4peech b& #lihu (ch. ?;*
?. Third 4peech b& #lihu (ch. ?6*
;. Gourth 4peech b& #lihu (chs ?<'?:*
%* Divine Discourses>Responses B$ Jo1 (chs* 7;/80:3)
1. Girst 4peech b& God (?8)1';7)0*
0. Girst ,esponse b& $ob (;7)?'6*
?. 4econd 4peech b& God (;7)<';1)?;*
;. 4econd ,esponse b& $ob (;0)1'<*
&&&* 'RO+E E'&#O,)E: TE RE+TORAT&O- O% JOB (!* 80::/.:)
A* ,od5s !onde6nation of Jo15s %riends (80::/=)
B* ,od5s Restoration of Jo15s 'rosperit$ and %a6il$ (80:.4/.:)
JOB / Annotated Outline
&* 'RO+E 'RO#O,)E: The Affliction of Jo1 (chs* ./0)
4erving as the introduction to the book, this prose section contains information for
the reader but this information was not available to $ob or his friends. t must not be
used to Cudge the reaction of the earthl& characters but it helps the reader to understand
wh& $ob is afflicted. t contains the historical development of the tension between $obHs
belief in God and his personal e%perience.
A* The ,odl$ and Blessed #ife of Jo1 (.:./2)
God had prospered $ob, a blameless, upright man who feared God and shunned evil
b& having a large famil& and man& material possessions. He sought to act carefull& and
consistentl& as a priest for his famil& to maintain their right standing with God.
B* %irst eavenl$ +cene and Resulting Earthl$ Assault on Jo1 (.:3/00)
Fnknown to $ob, in the heavens 4atan responds to GodHs commendation of $ob b&
accusing $ob of serving God with righteousness onl& because it was self'serving. /ith
GodHs permission, 4atan takes awa& all $obHs earthl& possessions and his children in
sudden catastrophes. $ob responds not in cursing God but in worship of Him. @ow $ob
still fears God but is afflicted.
!* +econd eavenl$ +cene and Resulting Earthl$ Assault on Jo1 (0:./.4)
4atan ne%t declares to God that $ob is still serves Him onl& because his life and
health have not been touched. This accusation of callous selfishness is answered b&
God with permission for 4atan to afflict $ob but to spare his life. 2n earth $obHs bod& is
devastated b& unremitting pain until even his wife wants him to provoke God to
Bramer, Job, <
administer death to him. $ob remains submissive to God and careful not even to sin in
speech.
D* The ,athering of Jo15s Three 5!o6forters5 (0:../.7)
Having heard of $obHs condition, three friends visit him with the intent to both
s&mpathiEe and comfort him with their presence and their wisdom-theolog&.
&&* 'OET&! D&A#O,)E/D&+')TE (chs* 7/80)
This poetical section serves as the bod& to the book of $ob and contains primaril&
speeches both b& $ob and his friends and b& God.
A* Jo15s Death Wish (ch* 7)
n this loud, but sad solilo+u& of a death wish, $ob does not curse God or
contemplate suicide. @or does he complain of inCustice or lament his integrit&. He does
however regret his birth, wish he had been born dead and longs to die.
B* Three !$cles of Dispute Bet9een Jo1 and is Three %riends (chs* 8/0:)
These three c&cles contain the theolog& of $obHs friends and the insistence b& $ob
that it doesnHt appl& in his case.
1. First Cycle of Speeches (chs. 414!
Although $obHs friends will maintain their theolog& in all three c&cles, in this first
c&cle the& hint and suggest at $obHs sin (6)8B 8)<B 11B1;* and urge him to repent.
a. #liphaEHs Girst 4peech (chs. ;'6*
Genuinel& concerned about $ob, #liphaE counsels $ob to be confident that his
godliness will count with God, that though God is now disciplining him for some sin, it
will turn out fine for God will not destro& him along with the wicked. Jcause-effect,
sin-disciplineK
b. $obHs Girst ,epl& to #liphaE (chs. <':*
Although $ob agrees with #liphaE that what is happening is from God, in an
emotional outburst he defends himself, protesting that somewhere in his life there must
be some sin or fault which needs correction in order to terminate GodHs discipline.
c. BildadHs Girst 4peech (ch. 8*
Bildad, somewhat harshl&, declares that God is Cust and that the reason for $obHs
condition and the death of his children is because $ob has sinned. Histor&, he insist,
demonstrates the truth of his theolog& and would prove him right if $ob would look. 4o
Bildad urges $ob to admit his sin and be restored to God.
d. $obHs Girst ,epl& to Bildad (chs. 5'17*
$ob does not believe he is sinless but he wishes he could have a chance to prove to
God that he is innocent of the kind of sin that deserves the suffering he is enduring.
God is apparentl& doing whatever He wants and in his despair $ob voices awful
complaints against God. God, to $ob, is unCust.
Bramer, Job, :
e. IopharHs Girst 4peech (ch. 11*
4tanding with the theolog& of his two friends that suffering is a result of sin, Iophar
is sarcastic with $ob and declares that God is not even giving $ob all that $ob deserves.
The solution according to Iophar is again repentance and restoration is waiting.
f. $obHs Girst ,epl& to Iophar (chs. 10'1;*
n $obHs longest speech so far, he condemn his HfriendsH who are acting as his Curors
and their view of God (10)1'1?)15*. He desperatel& wants to plead his case before God
and starting at 1?)07 speaks directl& to God concerning this(1?)07'1;)00*.
". Second Cycle of Speeches (chs. 1#"1!
n this second c&cle $obHs friends move from suggestion to insinuation, speaking of
both $ob and what happens to the wicked, hoping for $ob to understand the& were
speaking of him and his situation. @othing is said about repentance.
a. #liphaEHs 4econd 4peech (ch. 16*
This time lacking courtes& or decorum, #liphaE blasts the deCected sufferer $ob with
the notion that he was a hardened sinner, disrespectful of his elders and defiant toward
God. He ends b& describing the fate of the wicked.
b. $obHs 4econd ,epl& to #liphaE (chs. 1<'1:*
$ob replies with disgust and goes on to bemoan the fact that he is isolated from God,
that God will not respond to him nor vindicate him. 2n somewhat of a roller coaster
emotion ride, $ob declares his desire for an advocate, but ends his speech with another
dirge about death.
c. BildadHs 4econd 4peech (ch. 18*
Bildad repeats man& of the things #liphaE has said and goes on to describe in detail
the fate of the wicked. He implies that such a fate awaits $ob.
d. $obHs 4econd ,epl& to Bildad (ch. 15*
$ob begins his repl& b& bemoaning the reCection of his friends, his God and his
remaining relatives and servants. He goes on to state with apparent great faith his
famous confession that he is sure that God his redeemer lives and that someda& God,
even after $obHs life has ended, will vindicate his faithful servant $ob from all false
accusations.
e. IopharHs 4econd 4peech (ch. 07*
mmediatel& following $obHs great confession is perhaps the most pointed of all the
accusations. nfuriated and insulted, Iophar condemns $ob, seeking to convince him
that his wealth had vanished because that is what happens to those who deprive the
poor.
f. $obHs 4econd ,epl& to Iophar (ch. 01*
Bramer, Job, 8
Although in this speech $ob refutes man& of IopharHs accusations, he speaks to all
three HfriendsH as seen b& his use of the plural L&ouL (vv. 0, 0:'05, ?;* and plural verbs
(vv. 0'?a, 6, 05, ?;*. He reCects their common view concerning the destruction of the
wicked b& showing that sometimes the& prosper, live long and enCo& their descendants.
$ob, unlike his other speeches, sa&s nothing directl& to God.
$. %hird Cycle of Speeches (chs. """&!
n this third c&cle, $obHs Hfriends,H (now onl& two of them speak with Iophar having
no speech recorded* frustrated no doubt b& $obHs inabilit& to see his sin in their general
accusations, now accuse him of specific sins. 2nl& #liphaE gives a call for repentance.
a. #liphaEHs Third 4peech (ch. 00*
1aintaining his theolog& based on the logic that with God there can be no deviation
from Custice, #liphaE begins to accuse $ob of various HsocialH sins, with spiritual
defiance, and ends with a call for repentance.
b. $obHs Third ,epl& to #liphaE (chs. 0?'0;*
This speech b& $ob ignores the accusations of #liphaE (see chapter ?1 for where $ob
finall& replies to them* and instead reflects on ine+uities in life and the disturbing
silence of God in light of them. $ob is sure of the eventual punishment of the wicked
but wh& the& should prosper at all baffles him.
c. BildadHs Third 4peech (ch. 06*
n this brief speech, Bildad declares that God is so powerful and terrible that $ob
should not dare to criticiEe Him, or claim innocence, as he has done, since man is
almost nothing in the sight of God.
d. $obHs Third ,epl& to Bildad (ch. 0<*
Girst $ob rebukes Bildad for his attitude b& sarcasticall& using his words against him
b& declaring that Bildad himself was useless. He goes on then to speak of the vast
power of God and the severe limitations of manHs understanding.
e. $obHs 3losing .iscourse (ch. 0:*
$ob reasserts his own innocence and elo+uentl& describes the ultimate fate of the
wicked, agreeing with much of what his HfriendsH have said.
!* Enco6iu6 Of Wisdo6 (ch* 0;)?@ for6al state6ent of praiseA
$obHs friendsH application of traditional wisdom to human suffering has been most
unsatisf&ing (as well as $obHs untraditional response*, not onl& for $ob but also for the
reader who knows the heavenl& contest. n chapter 08, $ob or the unknown author
inserts a striking h&mn that answers the +uestion, L/here can wisdom be foundM" The
conclusion is that wisdom is found onl& in God and in the fear of him. t will be in God
that the answer to the m&ster& that $ob and his friends have sought will be found.
D* Jo15s !all %or <indication (chs* 0=/7.)
Bramer, Job, 5
n this $obHs closing petition to God, he summariEes his case b& reviewing his past
happiness, wealth and honor. He then delineates his present suffering and loss, and in
conclusion he delivers his final oath of innocence.
E* The &ntervention Of Elihu (chs* 70/7:)
#lihu, a &ounger counselor who has been listening to the debate and $obHs repeated
declarations of innocence, is angered b& both sides. Taking advantage of the silence due
to GodHs refusal to speak, he declares himself read& to show that both $ob and the three
other counselors are in the wrong. He seeks to defend GodHs Custice and sovereignt&.
His four poetic speeches are preceded b& a prose introduction.
1. First Speech by 'lih( (chs. $"$$!
After a defense of wh& he should be able to speak, #lihu, as he will in all his
speeches, responds to what $ob has said. n this first speech he criticiEes $ob for sa&ing
that God is silent because He hasnHt responded to him. #lihu declares that God does
speak through dreams and pain. 4uffering, though related to sin, was given to teach that
one might be diverted from sin and resultant death.
". Second Speech by 'lih( (ch. $4!
#lihuH second speech was a defense of GodHs Custice and impartialit&. He accuratel&
points out that $ob was not right in +uestioning GodHs Custice, demanding God answer
Him and show him where he had sinned
$. %hird Speech by 'lih( (ch. $#!
#lihu responds now to the charge b& $ob that God did not reward him for his
innocence. His answer was twofold) one, since God is sovereign, He is not affected one
wa& or the other b& manHs innocence or sin, and two, God is not answering $obHs cries
because of his pride.
4. Fo(rth Speech by 'lih( (chs $)$&!
n his final speech #lihu again announces GodHs Custice in His dealings with man,
and secondl& His sovereignt& and care in His dealings with nature.
%* Divine Discourses>Responses B$ Jo1 (chs* 7;/80:3)
At last God speaks though it is nothing like $ob e%pected. $obHs response will be one
of humilit&, silence and repentance.
1. First Speech by *od ($+,14-,"!
God uses rhetorical +uestions to show $ob his ignorance of the wa& things work in
nature. He does not address $obHs problems or suffering. God is seeking to bring $ob to
complete faith in Himself without $ob receiving a direct answer to his +uestions. t
ends with a rebuke and challenge.
". First .esponse by Job (4-,$#!
3onfronted with GodHs onslaught, $ob acknowledges his insignificance and his
inabilit& to defend himself further. He is humbled &et not &et repentant.
Bramer, Job, 17
$. Second Speech by *od (4-,)41,$4!
Like His first speech, this second speech b& God includes a challenge, and rebuke
and +uestions about nature, two animals in particular, the Behemoth and the Leviathan.
4. Second .esponse by Job (4",1)!
$ob now confesses that which he had not in his first repl&, that God is sovereign and
that he had committed the sin of pride. He has a whole new view of God and how
incomparable He was to an&thing he had thought.
&&&* 'RO+E E'&#O,)E: The Restoration of Jo1 (ch* 80::/.:)
This section like the opening section is written in prose but unlike the first section
$ob is well aware of what is now happening.
A* ,od5s !onde6nation of Jo15s %riends (80::/=)
God points out to $obHs three friend'critics that b& insisting that suffering was
alwa&s retributive the& had limited GodHs sovereign abilit& to use suffering for some
other purpose. As a result the& had cruell& indicted GodHs innocent servant $ob. n order
for them to be forgiven the& had to offer sacrifices and ask $ob to pra& for their
forgiveness.
B* ,od5s Restoration of Jo15s 'rosperit$ and %a6il$ (80:.4/.:)
God restored $obHs material possessions twofold, his relatives were brought back
into happ& fellowship with him, God blessed him with another seven sons and three
daughters and $ob ended up living a long life and seeing to his fourth generation.