After reading chapter 17:
*Job is still talking. We get more "woe is me" stuff. He is surrounded by mockers, people spit in his face, and he is overcome by grief. Where is his hope? Will they (him and his hope) die together?
*One interesting thing: Verse 13 says, " If the only home I hope for is the grave..." Grave here is translated from the hebrew word sheol. Verse 16 says, "will it go down to the gates of death?" Death here is also translated from the word sheol. The KJV calls sheol " the pit" in verse 16. This same Sheol will be translated into "hell" in later books of the KJV.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Job chapter 16
After reading chapter 16:
*Job replies to Eliphaz. He says his friends make miserable comforters. When will their long winded speeches end? What is the matter with them anyway that they insist on continuing to argue? If Job was in their position, he could make speeches against them, but he would try to be encouraging instead. His own talking is not giving him any relief from his pain.
* Next Job uses uses lots poetic imagery to say God (el) is acting like his enemy. He has made Job his target for abuse. Job is mourning with sack cloth and tears, even though he has not committed any violence and his prayer is pure. He says that an intercessor between him and God is his true friend, in contrast to the ones calling themselves his friends. If we recall, Job was constantly interceding with God on behalf of his own children. Job is hinting at what he wants from his friends. Will they listen now? There are only a few years until he goes on a journey of no return, obviously death.
At least that's what I get from the NIV. The KJV, interlinear, and Jewish bibles are so different that it can be confusing. Will the real words of Job please stand up.
One example is the first part of verse 8:
NIV- You have bound me and it has become a witness
Interlinear- You have filled me with wrath which is a witness
KJV- Thou hast filled me with wrinkles which is a witness against me
JPS-You have shriveled me, my gauntness serves as a witness.
So which is the correct translation, and how is the average english speaker supposed to know? Not to mention, there are hundreds of similar confusions between translations like this. What if someone's salvation depended on being correct? (Thank goodness it doesn't)
*Job replies to Eliphaz. He says his friends make miserable comforters. When will their long winded speeches end? What is the matter with them anyway that they insist on continuing to argue? If Job was in their position, he could make speeches against them, but he would try to be encouraging instead. His own talking is not giving him any relief from his pain.
* Next Job uses uses lots poetic imagery to say God (el) is acting like his enemy. He has made Job his target for abuse. Job is mourning with sack cloth and tears, even though he has not committed any violence and his prayer is pure. He says that an intercessor between him and God is his true friend, in contrast to the ones calling themselves his friends. If we recall, Job was constantly interceding with God on behalf of his own children. Job is hinting at what he wants from his friends. Will they listen now? There are only a few years until he goes on a journey of no return, obviously death.
At least that's what I get from the NIV. The KJV, interlinear, and Jewish bibles are so different that it can be confusing. Will the real words of Job please stand up.
One example is the first part of verse 8:
NIV- You have bound me and it has become a witness
Interlinear- You have filled me with wrath which is a witness
KJV- Thou hast filled me with wrinkles which is a witness against me
JPS-You have shriveled me, my gauntness serves as a witness.
So which is the correct translation, and how is the average english speaker supposed to know? Not to mention, there are hundreds of similar confusions between translations like this. What if someone's salvation depended on being correct? (Thank goodness it doesn't)
Friday, August 26, 2016
Job chapter 15
After reading chapter 15:
*It's Eliphaz's turn to speak. He slams Job with insults from verse 1-13, insinuating that he is unwise, argumentative, a liar, crafty, conceited, ungrateful for god's consolations, and full of rage. He says that the old wise people are on the side of Job's "friends." They know just as much, if not more, than Job.
*Verses 14-16 are are basically a repetition of what Eliphaz said back in 4:17-19. Then he says,"let me 'splain." All his explaining in the rest of the chapter adds up to "everyone knows bad things happen to bad people." Thereby implying that maybe Job deserves his current predicament.
*It's Eliphaz's turn to speak. He slams Job with insults from verse 1-13, insinuating that he is unwise, argumentative, a liar, crafty, conceited, ungrateful for god's consolations, and full of rage. He says that the old wise people are on the side of Job's "friends." They know just as much, if not more, than Job.
*Verses 14-16 are are basically a repetition of what Eliphaz said back in 4:17-19. Then he says,"let me 'splain." All his explaining in the rest of the chapter adds up to "everyone knows bad things happen to bad people." Thereby implying that maybe Job deserves his current predicament.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Job chapter 14
After reading chapter 14:
*Job is still talking. The first few verses are well known."Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble." Job is saying people have short little lives, why does a god need to focus his attention on them. Just leave them alone, so they can put in their time. Trees that are cut down can sprout again from the roots, but when people die, that's it for them. "So man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep." So... No resurrection, reincarnation, or afterlife.
*In verse 13, Job seems to wish that some kind of resurrection would take place in a time when the God would not keep track of his sins. However, he says this God destroys man's hope in verse 19. Man is overpowered and sent away for good. He never gets a chance to know how his children's lives turn out.
*My study bible says this passage doesn't really mean Job is actually pessimistic about resurrection, he's just focusing on his present predicament. I don't see it. It seems quite clear that the author has no idea of any possibility of an afterlife.
*Job is still talking. The first few verses are well known."Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble." Job is saying people have short little lives, why does a god need to focus his attention on them. Just leave them alone, so they can put in their time. Trees that are cut down can sprout again from the roots, but when people die, that's it for them. "So man lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, men will not awake or be roused from their sleep." So... No resurrection, reincarnation, or afterlife.
*In verse 13, Job seems to wish that some kind of resurrection would take place in a time when the God would not keep track of his sins. However, he says this God destroys man's hope in verse 19. Man is overpowered and sent away for good. He never gets a chance to know how his children's lives turn out.
*My study bible says this passage doesn't really mean Job is actually pessimistic about resurrection, he's just focusing on his present predicament. I don't see it. It seems quite clear that the author has no idea of any possibility of an afterlife.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Job chapter 13
After reading chapter 13:
*Job is still talking. He says he knows everything his friends know. He is not inferior to them. However, he wants to argue his case with God (el). His friends smear him with lies. If they would shut up, that would be wisdom. Are they going to speak deceitfully for God? Would they be able to take god's cross examination of their lives? Wouldn't they be afraid that all their fancy words wouldn't matter?
*Job tells them again to be quiet and let him speak. No matter what, he is going to defend himself. If anyone can bring a real charge against him, then he will be silent and die. Then he asks God to leave him alone and stop terrorizing him. Why is god treating him like an enemy? Is he holding him accountable for sins committed when he was young? God has fastened his feet in shackles - made him a slave.
This is getting very repetitious and tiresome.
*Job is still talking. He says he knows everything his friends know. He is not inferior to them. However, he wants to argue his case with God (el). His friends smear him with lies. If they would shut up, that would be wisdom. Are they going to speak deceitfully for God? Would they be able to take god's cross examination of their lives? Wouldn't they be afraid that all their fancy words wouldn't matter?
*Job tells them again to be quiet and let him speak. No matter what, he is going to defend himself. If anyone can bring a real charge against him, then he will be silent and die. Then he asks God to leave him alone and stop terrorizing him. Why is god treating him like an enemy? Is he holding him accountable for sins committed when he was young? God has fastened his feet in shackles - made him a slave.
This is getting very repetitious and tiresome.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Job chapter 12
After reading chapter 12:
* Job replies sarcastically to Zophar, telling him "doubtless you are the people and wisdom will die with you." In other words, you think you know it all. Ouch. He goes on to say that his mind still works as good as anyone else's and he knows whether or not he has called on God, and whether or not he is blameless. People who have an easy life often have contempt for those that experience misfortune. So true. But, there are those who provoke God, like robbers, yet they are secure in their belongings.
*Verses 7-10 tell us that the animal kingdom can teach us a lesson about the control Yahweh has over every living thing. This is the only place in these dialogs that Yahweh is mentioned. Next Job states that wisdom should come with age, possibly a dig at his friends who think they are wise.
*The rest of the chapter poetically outlines many negative aspects of god's power, especially over those who once had places of social prominence. When this chapter is read from the Jewish study bible (JPS), I get the idea that it could be referring to the history of the Israelites.
*Since the KJV turned out to be quite different in translation from the NIV, while reading Job, today I decided to check out the JPS. After all, we are reading a Jewish text, wouldn't a Jewish translation be helpful. It is also worded differently in many instances and seems very close to the KJV.
More about the JPS here. We are reminded that all the English versions of the bible are interpretations by individuals with their own biases. The Jewish translators were obviously worried about christological interpretations of Jewish texts. Those kinds of interpretations are clearly present in the NIV. There also appears to be a new JPS which is significantly different. You can find the searchable text here. I will also put a link in my link sidebar.
* Job replies sarcastically to Zophar, telling him "doubtless you are the people and wisdom will die with you." In other words, you think you know it all. Ouch. He goes on to say that his mind still works as good as anyone else's and he knows whether or not he has called on God, and whether or not he is blameless. People who have an easy life often have contempt for those that experience misfortune. So true. But, there are those who provoke God, like robbers, yet they are secure in their belongings.
*Verses 7-10 tell us that the animal kingdom can teach us a lesson about the control Yahweh has over every living thing. This is the only place in these dialogs that Yahweh is mentioned. Next Job states that wisdom should come with age, possibly a dig at his friends who think they are wise.
*The rest of the chapter poetically outlines many negative aspects of god's power, especially over those who once had places of social prominence. When this chapter is read from the Jewish study bible (JPS), I get the idea that it could be referring to the history of the Israelites.
*Since the KJV turned out to be quite different in translation from the NIV, while reading Job, today I decided to check out the JPS. After all, we are reading a Jewish text, wouldn't a Jewish translation be helpful. It is also worded differently in many instances and seems very close to the KJV.
More about the JPS here. We are reminded that all the English versions of the bible are interpretations by individuals with their own biases. The Jewish translators were obviously worried about christological interpretations of Jewish texts. Those kinds of interpretations are clearly present in the NIV. There also appears to be a new JPS which is significantly different. You can find the searchable text here. I will also put a link in my link sidebar.
Job 11
After reading chapter 11:
*The next speaker is Zophar the Naamathite. He blasts Job's "idle talk" and implies that Job needs rebuking. He also implies that Job thinks too highly of himself. Zophar wishes that God (elowah) would speak up against Job and teach him a lesson. In more poetic terms, Zophar asks Job if he thinks he knows more or can do more than God.
*Then Zophar assures Job that God knows when people are deceitful or wise. No one's heart is hidden. If Job would put away his own sin, all his troubles would vanish and a bright new day would dawn. Then Job would be safe and secure. But... Escape will elude the wicked, and their hope will become a dying gasp. (He's talking about you, Job.)
Gee, thanks for the kind words Zophar.
*The next speaker is Zophar the Naamathite. He blasts Job's "idle talk" and implies that Job needs rebuking. He also implies that Job thinks too highly of himself. Zophar wishes that God (elowah) would speak up against Job and teach him a lesson. In more poetic terms, Zophar asks Job if he thinks he knows more or can do more than God.
*Then Zophar assures Job that God knows when people are deceitful or wise. No one's heart is hidden. If Job would put away his own sin, all his troubles would vanish and a bright new day would dawn. Then Job would be safe and secure. But... Escape will elude the wicked, and their hope will become a dying gasp. (He's talking about you, Job.)
Gee, thanks for the kind words Zophar.
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