Job wrap up

*Job is written by an unknown author, probably more than one because it appears to have been added to in a couple of places, based on a few variations in style and format. The book makes no claims about its divine inspiration or authorship. The date of the original writing is unknown. It may not have started out as hebrew literature, but as canaanite. Evidence of this is seen in the use of el, the name of the canaanite chief God in the poetic sections. The prose sections speak of Yahweh. The poetic main body is quite beautiful in spots, and often highly metaphorical. The end pieces are prose, written in a more concrete style. There is no evidence or reason to believe this story actually happened in real time. It reads like an extended parable.

*Yahweh/El is described in conflicting ways by the various speakers. Job's friends insist he is just, meting out discipline to the wicked and favoring the obedient. Job insists that there is evidence that this God is disinterested in the goodness or badness of people because the punishments and rewards appear random to him. Plus, everyone goes to the same place when they die, death and the grave. They all agree that this God is the creator, mighty and fearsome. At the end of the book, Yahweh/El appears very similar to an ancient storm God that was common in many cultures.

*In the first part of the book we encounter "sons of God" which are either Angels or demigods. Satan happens to be one and his job is to be a kind of prosecutor for the state, bringing charges against humans to the attention of Yahweh. We never see him again after his initial discussion of Job with Yahweh. Heaven is somewhere in the sky. There is no hell, unless you count the underground world of sheol. There is no eternal life or eternal damnation. In parts of the book, Sheol appears to have an addition called Abaddon, which is either a pit for the especially bad people or an angel of destruction in some leading capacity in the land of the dead.

*There is no hint of a savior or messiah or judgement day, no miracles, and no demons or bad spirits. There are very few religious rituals. Sacrifice and prayer are all that I remember. There are no priests, no ark of the covenant, no tabernacle. Job's sacrifices are made on a personal altar, which was forbidden after the exodus. The story takes place in a vague location east of the Jordan River and seems to be unconnected to the story arc of Genesis through Judges. As in the story of Ruth, there is a conspicuous lack of violence and prejudice against other people groups. Job could represent any ancient man who was fervent about serving his God.

*The main lesson depends on where you think the story ends. If it ends when the poetry is done, then it is clear that Job has learned that he is puny and inconsequential  and shouldn't question the almighty God. If the prose section ends the book, then the lesson is about perserverence so that your God will one day reward you for sticking to your guns.

Next up: First Samuel.