Who Wrote Job in the Bible?
The Bible does not name Job the author, but many scholars believe Moses may have been responsible for the book. Job did not know anything about the events that took place in heaven and how they related to his ordeal, so he is an unlikely candidate. Another option is the Talmudic tradition, which points to Moses. Moses spent 40 years in the land of Midian. Also, Solomon, the author of the Wisdom books, may have written the Book of Job.
Moses
Moses wrote Job in the Bible to teach the Israelites about the power of God’s word. Among other things, the book teaches Job about the suffering and loss that he endures. It is a work of wisdom, containing many terms not found anywhere else in the Bible. Most of the book is written in parallel lines, with the first part being a prologue that tells Job’s background. The second half of the book consists of dialogues, which are usually arranged in groups of three. Job’s monologues attempt to explain the unexplainable, while his final three-part dialogue reveals God’s voice.
Job is the oldest book in the Bible, containing more references to primeval events than any other book. It also gives the most insight into the age-old conflict between God and Satan. The book also seems to have more scientific insights than any other book in the Bible. The book may have been written long after the events that it describes, but no one knows for sure.
While the Bible largely supports the idea that Moses wrote Job, some have questioned how Moses knew about the patriarchs. One possible explanation is that Moses received information about these stories before writing them. This could be through divine revelation, previously written texts, or oral tradition from his ancestors. In any case, Moses was a writer under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Bildad
In Job’s first reading, the counselor Bildad suggests that Job should not be so hard on himself, and instead, respect the wisdom of the ancients. He cites the example of a fragile plant, which would not survive without water. Yet, Bildad also implies that Job is suffering. In this way, he gives Job an excuse for his previous foolishness. But, he was also wrong.
In the book of Job, Bildad tries to persuade Job that his children died because of his sin, not because of them. He also tries to persuade Job to admit his sin. Job can not understand his own suffering, so Bildad attempts to convince him to confess his secret sin. But, even though Job’s life is terribly hard, he believes that his children brought their own deaths. This portrays the dominant view of suffering.
Job’s chastisement comes in three different forms. The first speech is focused on God’s justice. Job’s younger friend accuses him of saying God’s judgement is unfair, and Bildad believes in the principle of retribution. Job then responds by saying that God’s justice is a good thing.
Bildad’s message is blunter than Eliphaz’s, but the main message is the same: Job must turn to God to find peace and joy again. His contentious dialogues with his friends caused Job to become depressed and frustrated. Yet, in his final speech, Bildad stops accusing Job, believing the truth would speak for itself.
Elihu
Elihu’s speech is not only a powerful argument for the power of God, but also a powerful message of mercy and justice. He argues that God is sovereign and works for the good of those who suffer. In fact, the righteous are not punished, but they are exalted and sit on thrones with kings. Elihu also argues that Job is not guilty, and that he should stop obsessing about justice.
In the next section, Elihu talks about Job’s dreams and illness, and does so with a different tone than his three friends. He says that Job is using too much energy to defend himself and his faith in God. He also explains that God communicates with humans through visions and physical pain, and that such suffering provides a platform for individuals to realize God’s love. However, Elihu makes it clear that he is not advocating a sinful lifestyle, and that Job’s excessive talking is an act of rebellion against God.
In his prayer, Elihu states that if he had suffered such pain and misery, God would be just. He would send a special messenger to the sick man and deliver him from death. The suffering man is suffering due to his sins, but the divine intervention will bring a ransom for him.
Bildad’s sons
The sons of Bildad are also credited with writing the book of Job. Job, however, does not know what his sons’ fates are. His first speech focuses on God’s justice. While Job was accused of saying that God’s judgment was unfair, Bildad believed that the principle of retribution was at work and that the punishment Job suffered was just.
Bildad’s approach to Job’s problems is both unhelpful and insensitive. He misunderstood Job’s situation and rushed to judgment. He was an intellectual debater and thought life in black and white. He accused Job of being a windbag and argued that he was in a position to defend God.
Bildad was the second friend of Job. He is mentioned alongside Eliphaz in Job 2:11. Bildad was also involved in the same controversy that Eliphaz did. While the three men disagreed on the specific part each should bear, they tended to agree on the sentiment of the story. Job’s friends were like messengers who came to him before he could finish his reply.
Job’s sons also disagree with Bildad’s approach to the story. Bildad argues that Job did not fulfill his obligations as high priest of his family, and that he failed to make the right sacrifices. He claims that God allowed Job’s afflictions because of his inability to acknowledge his hidden sins.
Job’s friends
In the Bible, Job’s friends were an important part of his story. They went to visit him during his suffering. They listened to his lamentations, wept, and sprinkled dust on their heads. Their presence, despite their presencelessness, brought Job a sense of comfort.
Job’s friends sat with him for seven days and seven nights, comforting him, and offering him comfort. They were also willing to stay silent with him for as long as he needed. Their actions revealed their love for Job and their loyalty to him. The friends even sprinkled dust toward the heavens to give him comfort.
The discussion between Job’s friends reflects Christian world views and provides theological background for Job’s suffering. This book was published in 1988 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. Hartley also authored The Old Testament Survey. The book explores the message and form of the Old Testament.
Job’s friends are not the only ones to blame Job for his suffering. They also accuse Job of sin and blame God for it. These friends also accuse Job of wrongdoing and urged him to repent. Sadly, this advice did not do him any good. Instead, they only helped to harden his heart against God.
God was angry with Job’s friends for making statements about him that were untrue. Job’s friends did not realize that he had made the right choice in accepting God’s promises. God would tame evil and bring Job justice.
Satan
In this book, Satan challenges Job’s piety. Satan insinuates that Job worships God for selfish reasons, as a means to obtain material blessings. This contradicts the idea that true worship is motivated by love. A child of God should love God because of His merits, not because of his own self-interest.
Ultimately, Job demonstrates his ability to endure suffering, as the narrator describes it. Throughout his life, Satan tries to destroy Job, and he does not immediately realize he is engaged in a spiritual battle. Nonetheless, Satan is able to accomplish his purpose by working through fallen man.
While later Jewish writings depict Satan as a non-human entity, they also portray him as a single spiritual being. In contrast, the original Hebrew Bible does not identify Satan as a serpent. The title Fuhrer was often used by Germans to refer to Adolf Hitler.
This is because Satan has access to heaven and earth, and he has an active interest in the happenings on earth. It is thus not surprising that God mentioned Job as a subject for discussion. In the book of Job, God even boasted about Job’s godliness. In Job 1:1, God confirms the description Job gives himself in the Bible.
The Book of Job is an artful work of literature. It includes poetic disputations and prose set within an ancient story from outside of Israel about a prosperous Job. The role of Satan in this story is as an agent provocateur, testing Job’s character and morality. Job, despite the fact that he has suffered enormously, refuses to curse God. Three friends eventually come to comfort him, but Job is undeterred.