Names of the Book
English: | Job |
Hebrew: | איוֹב |
Transliterated: | Yov |
Other names: |
Who
Wrote the book: | unknown, possibly Job, Moses, or Solomon. |
Are the key people: | Job, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar the Naamathite, Elihu the Buzite |
Is it written to: | The people of Israel |
What
Job tested (Job 1:1-2:13) |
Job's three friends answer him (Job 3:1-31:40) |
A young man answers Job (Job 32;1-37:24) |
G-d answers Job (Job 38:1-41:34) |
Job is restored (Job 42:1-17) |
When
Was it written: | unknown < 200 BCE |
Did the events occur: | c 2000-1800 BCE |
Was it canonized: | c 499-100 BCE |
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh) |
Where
Was it written: | unknown |
Did the events occur: | The land of Uz |
Why
Job was written to inform us that: |
G-d allows suffering. |
Satan must obtain permission to harm anyone. |
G-d is good. |
Pride blinds us to our errors. |
G-d desires for us to trust Him. |
Introduction
The book of Job is a historical narrative that describes the events that unfolded when G-d allowed a good man (Job) to suffer. Job's test of faith, permitted by G-d in response to a challenge from Satan, reveals G-d's loving sovereignty and the supremacy of His divine wisdom over human wisdom (which is personified by Job's friends). Job believes that G-d is good in spite the apparent evidence to the contrary and, by faith, he trusts in G-d. Even in the midst of great emotional and physical agony Job proclaims, "I know that my Redeemer lives". The book concludes with G-d silencing all discussion and argument with the truth that He alone is wise. At the same time, G-d vindicates Job's faith in Him, proving that genuine faith cannot be destroyed.
Scripture- Book Selection