Book of job1/18/2024 However, unlike the parable spoken by Nathan, in the book of Job the man is identified by the personal name “Job” (ʾiyyôb) 9. Some scholars have argued that Job may not be a real person because this introductory formula is similar to Nathan’s parable to David: “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.” (2 Samuel 12:1) 8. The book of Job opens with the words: “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job…” (Job 1:1). In contrast, parables generally don’t name the people in the story However, unlike the parable spoken by Nathan, in the book of Job the man is identified by the personal name “Job” (ʾiyyôb). Even though the dating of the book of Job is complex, there are a number of good reasons to understand Job as a historical person. Some scholars even argue for an exilic date for Job its purpose then would be to give God’s people strength during their suffering and hope for future restoration 7. Others, however, argue that, because Job is wisdom literature, it was written in the era of Solomon 5, or even in the time of Isaiah because of the book’s connection with the prophet (compare Job 9:8 with Isaiah 40:21–23, 44:24 and Job 28:20–27 with Isaiah 40:14) 6. Because the setting of Job takes place in the patriarchal period, some have suggested Moses may have been the author 4. This is one of the reasons scholars differ on when the book was written. He lived a long life-after his restoration Job lived 140 years and died “an old man, and full of days” (Job 42:10, 16–17), which hearkens back to Abraham who died at 175 and was described as “an old man and full of years” (Genesis 25:7–8).Īlthough, the setting of Job is likely in the times of the patriarchs, the book does not tell us who the author is or when it was written. He interacted with historical people groups: the Sabeans and Chaldeans (Job 1:15, 17). His wealth was measured in terms of flocks and servants (Job 1:3, 42:12). Job offered sacrifices without the benefit of a priest (Job 1:5). Although there is debate as to where and when the events of the book of Job actually take place, many of the circumstances in Job point to a setting in the early second millennium, when Job possibly was a contemporary of the patriarchs, such as Abraham. Those who want to take Job as fictional already show that they have a certain theological framework that dismisses parts of Scripture that involve the supernatural.īefore looking at the question of Job’s historicity, it is important to consider the setting of the book. The world Job lived in is God’s world (supernatural) and not Charles Darwin’s (naturalistic) 3. However, we need to remember that these things are only unrealistic if God, angels, and Satan do not exist. This is because, they would say, the events are unrealistic because of the supernatural forces (i.e., Satan, the adversary 2) involved in Job’s affliction and also his restoration. Scholars who believe Job is fictitious have argued that the narrative sections of the book of Job (chapters 1–2 42) present a fictional story 1. Scholars who believe Job is fictitious have argued that the narrative sections of the book of Job (chapters 1–2 42) present a fictional story.
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