Is It Possible to Understand the Book of Job? - The BAS Library
Login
Home > Magazines > Bible Review > April 1988

Is It Possible to Understand the Book of Job?

A sensitive new reading of one of the most puzzling and powerful books in the Bible

By David Noel Freedman

The book of Job, one of the world’s greatest literary works, is better known for the problems it poses and the issues it spawns than for its answers and resolutions. While to the untutored eye, Job (at least in translation) reads smoothly from the beginning to end and exhibits cohesion amid diversities, more critical investigation uncovers seams in the fabric if not rents. There are rough passages and rougher transitions. A good case can be made that various segments are intrusive and were not part of the original work. Other questions have been raised about the sequence of […]

Please join the BAS Library or become an All Access member of BAS to gain full access to this article and so much more.

Join the BAS Library!

Already a library member? Log in here.

Institution user? Log in with your IP address or Username

Endnotes

1.

A. First Cycle
1. Job: first speech, chapter 3
2. Eliphaz: first speech, chapters 4–5
3. Job’s reply chapters 6–7
4. Bildad: first speech, chapter 8
5. Job’s reply, chapters 6–7
6. Zophar: first speech, chapter 11
7. Job’s reply, chapters 12–14
B. Second Cycle
1. Eliphaz: second speech, chapter 15
2. Job’s reply, chapters 16–17
3. Bildad: second speech, chapter 18
4. Job’s reply, chapter 18
5. Zophar: second speech, chapter 20
6. Job’s reply, chapter 21
C. Third Cycle
1. Eliphaz: third speech, chapter 22
2. Job’s reply chapters 23–24
3. Bildad: third speech, chapter 25
4. Jobs reply, chapter 26
5. Job’s reply, chapter 27

2.

The idea that Elihu speaks for Satan is affirmed in “The Testament of Job,” a pseudepigraphica work of the Roman period. Cf. J. H. Charlesworth The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. I, pp. 829–868, especially pp. 860–863, where chapters. 41–43 are translated and discussed. Note especially Testament Job 41:5, “Then Elihu, inspired by Satan, spoke out against me …”; 43:5 “Elihu, the only evil one” and 43:17 “and the evil one Elihu.” I am grateful to my student John Kutsko for calling my attention to the references in the Testament of Job.