Book of Job
The Book of Job begins with an introduction to Job's character—he is described as a blessed man who lives righteously. God's praise of Job prompts Satan
(Meaning an adversary or a enemy. Does not mean the Devil) to challenge
Job's integrity, suggesting that Job serves God simply because he
protects him. God removes Job's protection, allowing Satan to take his
wealth, his children, and his physical health in order to tempt Job to
curse God. Despite his difficult circumstances, he does not curse God,
but rather curses the day of his birth. And although he protests his
plight and pleads for an explanation, he stops short of accusing God of
injustice.
Most of the book consists of conversations between Job and his three
friends concerning Job's condition and its possible reasons, after which
God responds to Job and his friends, opening his speech with the famous
words, "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall
answer me."[1] After God's reply, Job is overwhelmed and says, "I am unworthy – how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth."[2]
Many interpretations read this as Job's realizing how little he knew
when he says to the Lord, "My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes
have seen you."[3]
Other scholars and readers, however, find this explanation
unsatisfactory, since the problem of Job (the innocent man suffering at
the hand of Satan) is not addressed. Job's response to God shows none of
the anger, passion, or piety he demonstrated in the rest of the story,
even when God does not give Job the direct answer he has demanded for
much of the book.[4] Then Job is restored to an even better condition than his former wealthy state.[5] Job was also blessed to have seven sons, and three daughters named Jemimah (which means "dove"), Keziah ("cinnamon"), and Keren-happuch ("horn of eye-makeup"). His daughters were said to be the most beautiful women in the land.[6] "Job went on to live one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations."[7]
The characters in the Book of Job consist of Job, his wife, his friends, a man named Elihu, God, and Satan. Neither the patriarchs nor any other biblical characters make an appearance.
William Safire summarized the legacy of Job in his book The First Dissident:[8]
If the Book of Job reaches across two and a half millennia to teach anything to men and women who consider themselves normal, decent human beings, it is this: Human beings are sure to wander in ignorance and to fall into error, and it is better — more righteous in the eyes of God — for them to react by questioning rather than accepting. Confronted with inexplicable injustice, it is better to be irate than resigned.
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