An Analysis of The Book of Job
Uploaded by frollypoo on Jun 13, 2002
The book of Job is found in the Old Testament and is an epic poem written by many anonymous authors about a man of God named Job. Some Jews speculate that the author was Moses Rabbeinu other speculate the prophet Isaiah; others just accept that it was sent down by the Holy Spirit. Job lived in the land of Uz during the times of the Patriarchs; he was most likely a contemporary of Abraham. The structure of Job is in the manner of a poem, with a prologue at the beginning and the end of the book. Each verse is written in prose and many versus in the form of questions. This is most likely because the Book of Job deals with questions that mankind has; the questioning structure in the beginning and middle of Job foreshadows the end when God speaks and answers some of these questions. Job was a practical ordinary man who was not sinless, but knew how to deal with his sins in essence making him blameless. Job was renowned for his riches, his love of his children and God-fearing beliefs. Job lived a comfortable life until Satan begins inflicting pain and suffering upon him.
The major conflict in the Book of Job occurs in the first few versus where Satan challenges Job’s commitment to God. Satan insisted that Job would curse God in his heart for taking away his possessions; God accepts the challenge and Job is put to the test. At first, God gives the condition that Job himself is not to be harmed, Satan concurs and Job’s crops, livestock and children and devastated. After these events, Job does not curse God but falls to his knees and gives thanks for the good times that he has had. Job acknowledges God’s right to give him things and take them away at his own whims. Satan then insists that since God put up the condition of not harming Job the test was biased in God’s favor. God then allows Satan to give Job sores all over his body contending that any man can give up his possessions but once his health is in jeopardy, he will denounce God. Satan uses Job’s wife as an instrument to convince him to condemn God. She tells Job to curse God so he can die and be rid of pain, but Job refuses still full of faith. While Job...