Read the Passage: Job 1-2

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Job 1-2

Authorship and Date – The book of Job is technically anonymous, however many in the Jewish and Christian tradition have identified the author as Job himself. Other popular suggestions for the authorship of this book include Moses and Solomon. In any event, it is clear that the author is a well-educated, eloquent writer, who was familiar with wisdom themes. This book is not clearly dated, yet this narrative is generally recognized as having occurred during the patriarchal period, before 1000 BC. As such, the book of Job is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, book in the Bible. Since Job was familiar with Adam (cf. Job 31:33) and the flood (cf. Job 12:15), some have suggested that the events in this book occurred after Babel and before Abraham, which would place the book between Gen. 11:9 and Gen. 11:10. Job is recognized as a real person at Ezek. 14:14, 20 and Jas. 5:11. The name “Job” may mean either “persecuted one” or “repentant one.”

Theme and Purpose – The overarching theme of the book of Job is suffering and evil, with a particular focus on the connection between righteousness, sin, and suffering. Interestingly, this book does not answer the question, “Why do the righteous suffer?” Rather, it changes the question to, “Do believers serve a God worthy enough for whom to suffer?” Note other key biblical passages on suffering include: Ps. 73; Luke 13:1–5; John 9:1–3; Rom. 8:18–39; 2 Cor. 1:3–5; 12:7–10. A related secondary theme in this book is the sovereignty of God. Note that this book does not refer to important Old Testament topics such as the Abrahamic Covenant, the history of Israel, or biblical law. The book of Job is quoted in the New Testament at Rom. 11:35 and 1 Cor. 3:19. Furthermore, Jas. 5:11 reveals that a purpose of the book of Job is to show how persevering in a time of suffering can lead to a display of God’s mercy and compassion.

Structure and Outline – The Book of Job is classified as wisdom literature. As such, it is a poetic narrative and can be thematically outlined as follows:

• Introduction (1–2)
• First Cycle (3–14)
• Second Cycle (15–21)
• Third Cycle (22–26)
• Job’s Defense (27–31)
• Elihu’s Speech (32–37)
• God’s Interrogation (38–41)
• Job’s Response (42)

Introduction of Job (1:1–5)

Job is introduced as a man who lived in the land of Uz, which is in the northern part of modern-day Arabia. He is depicted as being very wealthy, as having ten adult children, and as being well-known and respected. More importantly, Job’s character is described as “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). Job 1:4 reveals that Job’s children had a custom of regularly gathering together to feast, including eating and drinking. Since Job was aware that such gatherings could lead to sin, he made regular burnt offerings on behalf of his family. The fact that Job’s material wealth was measured in livestock and children, as well as him serving as a priest for his family, is an indicator that the events in this book happened apart from Israel, either before or during the patriarchal era. Note that Mosaic law later limited the priesthood to the Aaronic line.

Accusations of Satan (1:6–2:10)

Job 1:6–2:10 narrates two separate times that Satan appeared before God and accused Job of only serving God with utilitarian or mercenary intentions. In the first interchange between Satan and God (cf. Job 1:6–22), Satan claimed that Job’s allegiance to God was the result of God’s protection and blessing of Job. God then gave Satan permission to affect Job’s life, but to spare his person. Job 1:13–22 records how Satan then took all things from Job, including his material possessions and his children. Job’s response was to worship God (cf. Job 1:20) and to accept these events as being from the hand of God (cf. Job. 1:21). In the second interchange between Satan and God (cf. Job 2:1–10), Satan claimed that Job’s allegiance was the result of his good health. God then gave Satan the power to affect Job’s person, but not his life. The book of Job details Job’s response.

Arrival of Friends (2:11–13)

Job 2:11–13 records the arrival of Job’s three friends: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Nothing is known about these three men apart from what is revealed in the following chapters, as these men do not appear in Scripture apart from this book. Note, however, that Paul’s citation of the book of Job at 1 Cor. 3:19 actually quote the words of Eliphaz from Job 5:13. Interestingly, Elihu’s presence is not reported in this passage; thus, the reader is not even aware of Elihu’s presence until he begins to speak in Job 32. This passage notes that Job’s friends’ intent was to “mourn with him and comfort him” (Job 2:11), yet their astonishment at Job’s condition and grief was so great that they did not speak for seven days. Job 2:12 records that Job’s friends observed all of the usual marks of mourning, including: wailing, weeping, tearing of clothes, and sprinkling of ashes.

Application Questions:

1. What do you know about the book of Job? What verses, passages, or general topics from this book come to mind?
2. Was Job truly redeemed? If so, how was Job saved apart from Israel, before the arrival of Jesus?
3. When your material possessions, family, or health have suffered, what has been your reaction towards God?
4. How can believers best comfort those who are grieving and mourning? How does the Holy Spirit Comfort the bereft?
5. What is true friendship? Where did Job’s friends err in their attempt to comfort Job during his time of loss?