Job 1:1-5; 3:1-10, Introduction to Job

We now come to the Books of Poetry (Job through Song of Solomon).  I would like to give a brief introduction to forms of Hebrew poetry here; when we come to Psalms we hope to add to this.  The following is from my notes from Prof. Mitchell.

There is poetry in all languages, from the earliest form of composition.  Commonly it is designed by rhythm or meter.  Hebrew poetry is unique, appearing 4 ways.. 

1.    Alphabetical arrangement, like an acrostic.  Lam. 1 and Psalm 37 are some of many Biblical illustrations.

2.    Same verses repeated at intervals.  Psalm 107:1,8,15,21 and v2,9,16,22 appeal to a group of individuals to give thanks for a certain reason.

3.    Carrying forward of a thought from the preceding verse to the following one.  E.g. in Ps. 121, v1 (His help) carries over to v2 (my help).  Verse 3 carries to v4 etc.

4.    Parallelism.  There are three kinds.

o   Antithetic: the second clause is the reverse of the first.  E.g.. Prov. 10:1.

o   Synonymous: the second part is the same as the first without an increase in support; a simple repetition. 

o   Synthetic: Where there is a correspondence between different propositions (Job. 3:3-9: v3 day; v4 day; v3 night; v4 darkness; v5 darkness, shadow, cloud/blackness). 

Now, let us begin to work through a few “introductory” matters.

·       Authorship:  Some suggest Job himself wrote the book.  He did live 140 years after the events (42:16).  The writer does make reference to “book making” (Job 19:23-24; 31:35).  Whoever the author, here are a few things we know about him.

o   He is from the land of Arabia rather than Israel  (1:1).

o   He speaks with extreme politeness, not what we might call “cave man style.” 

o   There are an unusual number of Arabic word roots.

o   There are no allusions to Hebrew history or to the Torah (Mosaic Law).

·       When did the events occur?  It appears to be around the time of Abraham.  Why?

o   Job’s age is typical of the patriarchs (around 200 years old).

o   There are allusions only to earliest forms of idolatry (sun, heavens; no idols).

o   There is a reference to sacrificing of 7 oxen and rams, something not so specified in the law.

o   The Language (Hebrew) has many Syrian and Arabic phrases and roots.

o   The wealth is measured by cattle.

o   There are no references to Hebrew history.  Job 22:16 might indicate the “flood” had already occurred.

o   Job is head of his family in religious affairs; there is no priesthood, altar or law.

o   Jews say it was the time of Isaac and Jacob.