The Author and Date of The Book of Job
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I have always had the impression that Job predated the time of the Jewish nation also. No distinction of Jew or Gentile is made. No familiar towns are mentioned. Just "a man in the Land of Uz." He was the Wonderful Wizzard of Uz.
Perhaps the names of his friends might yield some clues?Job 2:11
“Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.”
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I have always had the impression that Job predated the time of the Jewish nation also. No distinction of Jew or Gentile is made. No familiar towns are mentioned. Just "a man in the Land of Uz." He was the Wonderful Wizzard of Uz.
Perhaps the names of his friends might yield some clues?Job 2:11
“Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.”
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I have always had the impression that Job predated the time of the Jewish nation also. No distinction of Jew or Gentile is made. No familiar towns are mentioned. Just "a man in the Land of Uz." He was the Wonderful Wizzard of Uz.
Perhaps the names of his friends might yield some clues?Job 2:11
“Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.”
There is actually a company in the Philippines called "The Land of Uz Manufacturing Corporation", and it pretty much looks like a fancy pole barn. They are located close to a Catholic Church and school, so there could be some significance there!
Land of Uz Manufacturing Corporation - Google Maps
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The New American Catholic Bible really captures the essence of Job's complaints against God. No, he does not curse or reject God, but Job is deeply troubled at the perceived injustice of his suffering. His biggest fault we discover is self-righteousness (God took care of this problem when He finally answered Job ).
Here's the NIV translation (sticks pretty close to the prophetic poetry of the NKJV)
25 I know that my redeemer[a] lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[b]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[c] in[d] my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
I love the James Moffatt translation of the Bible. It has solid scholarship, and it flows like a work of literature.
The Moffatt falls more in line with the Catholic translation that focuses on Job's demand for immediate justice, not necessarily future vindication:
25 Still, I know One to champion me at last, to stand up for me upon the earth.
26 This body may break up, but even then my life will have a sight of God.
27 My heart is pining as I yearn to see him on my side, see him estranged no longer.
Dynamite poetry (from all translations!)
).Here's the NIV translation (sticks pretty close to the prophetic poetry of the NKJV)
25 I know that my redeemer[a] lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[b]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[c] in[d] my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
I love the James Moffatt translation of the Bible. It has solid scholarship, and it flows like a work of literature.
The Moffatt falls more in line with the Catholic translation that focuses on Job's demand for immediate justice, not necessarily future vindication:
25 Still, I know One to champion me at last, to stand up for me upon the earth.
26 This body may break up, but even then my life will have a sight of God.
27 My heart is pining as I yearn to see him on my side, see him estranged no longer.
Dynamite poetry (from all translations!)
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well said brother
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…
Genesis 1:27-28, 31 KJV
The curse of sin
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Genesis 3:17-19, 24
the degradation of thier offspring over the next ten generations resulting in what God created very good , into this
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.”
Genesis 6:5-7, 11-13, 17 KJV
God gave the earths realm to mankind to live and fellowship with him and made mankind the ruler having dominion and mankind chose evil and caused a once very good world created by Gods good Will for his creation
“The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's:
But the earth hath he given to the children of men.”
Psalm 115:16 KJV
and mankind over time made it into a garden of earthly and evil delights playground for every evil and wicked thought under heaven from a lie to a murder , to worshipping some fake god or some other spiritual entity
now it has become a place Identified as cursed and corrupt and must be destroyed just ten generations from adams expulsion from Eden and thier intended relationship with God . Now what God created and said was good , has become what he seems worthy of destruction because of mankinds role on earth
It turns out the only issue in creation is the rulers of the earth can’t get things right even after that first event with Noah , hundreds of years later
“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.”
Isaiah 24:5-6, 19-20 KJV
And then again one of the last things we learn in the Bibles pages we see it’s a repetitive thing
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17
“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
1 John 5:19 KJV
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV
mans wickedness is where to look to see the worlds state and it seems repetitive and perpetual until Jesus returns at the end
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…
Genesis 1:27-28, 31 KJV
The curse of sin
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Genesis 3:17-19, 24
the degradation of thier offspring over the next ten generations resulting in what God created very good , into this
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.”
Genesis 6:5-7, 11-13, 17 KJV
God gave the earths realm to mankind to live and fellowship with him and made mankind the ruler having dominion and mankind chose evil and caused a once very good world created by Gods good Will for his creation
“The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's:
But the earth hath he given to the children of men.”
Psalm 115:16 KJV
and mankind over time made it into a garden of earthly and evil delights playground for every evil and wicked thought under heaven from a lie to a murder , to worshipping some fake god or some other spiritual entity
now it has become a place Identified as cursed and corrupt and must be destroyed just ten generations from adams expulsion from Eden and thier intended relationship with God . Now what God created and said was good , has become what he seems worthy of destruction because of mankinds role on earth
It turns out the only issue in creation is the rulers of the earth can’t get things right even after that first event with Noah , hundreds of years later
“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.”
Isaiah 24:5-6, 19-20 KJV
And then again one of the last things we learn in the Bibles pages we see it’s a repetitive thing
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17
“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
1 John 5:19 KJV
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV
mans wickedness is where to look to see the worlds state and it seems repetitive and perpetual until Jesus returns at the end
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This sure hit home for us this week with the senseless shootings at Michigan State University last Monday that cost the lives of three beautiful students. I have friends and colleagues at MSU, and I hope this tragedy will help to prompt some real change.
While I have hope in God's redemption ultimately to eradicate evil like this in the future, I'm not as confident we can solve this issue by our own strength.
While I have hope in God's redemption ultimately to eradicate evil like this in the future, I'm not as confident we can solve this issue by our own strength.
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amen he has a plan
from this
“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
1 John 5:19 KJV
To this
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
John 18:36 KJV
And so this
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17 KJV
“but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
(and this )
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
2 Peter 3:7, 13 KJV
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
Revelation 21:1, 3-7 KJV
What manking messed up God became man to restore
from this
“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
1 John 5:19 KJV
To this
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
John 18:36 KJV
And so this
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17 KJV
“but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
(and this )
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
2 Peter 3:7, 13 KJV
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
Revelation 21:1, 3-7 KJV
What manking messed up God became man to restore
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It’s wonderful to imagine isn’t it ? Really there’s a lot about it even from Isaiah forward
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:
and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Isaiah 65:17 KJV
It’s just such a wonderful thought a perfect world without death or sorrow or pain where he wipes away all tears no ginger and thirst no famine or pestilence or war everything that we love done wrong will be forgotten and everything he made forever will be there
eternal life makes me wonder if he has plans for all that other space in the universe eternity is a long long time
“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:
and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Isaiah 65:17 KJV
It’s just such a wonderful thought a perfect world without death or sorrow or pain where he wipes away all tears no ginger and thirst no famine or pestilence or war everything that we love done wrong will be forgotten and everything he made forever will be there
eternal life makes me wonder if he has plans for all that other space in the universe eternity is a long long time
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Amen as I've gotten old life became sort of like a long trial to determine whether a person will repent and use the gift of life in a decent and good way loving others in Jesus name
or if they use it to do evil and harm others and only live for self gratification
Sort of earthly life has this shape and shadow hanging over us
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
or if they use it to do evil and harm others and only live for self gratification
Sort of earthly life has this shape and shadow hanging over us
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
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Here are a few sections of Matthew Poole's commentary that I really enjoy (thank you for sharing this incredible resource--I've saved it to my favorites for future study too!):
"That this is a canonical book of Scripture [The Book of Job}, which is manifest both from the style and matter of it, and from the tacit approbation given to it by Ezekiel and James, in the places now cited, and from that quotation taken from it as such, 1 Corinthians 3:19 (NAS) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness '"
I didn't realize Paul quoted The Book of Job, too, which adds even more credence to Job as a worthy addition to the Canon.
"From his long life, which, by comparing Job 1:0 with Job 42:16, could not want much of two hundred years; whereas, after Moses, men's lives were far shorter, as is manifest."
Additional support for cv5's great observations about Job being alive in pre-Moses Biblical times.
I love Poole's detailed analysis of Job 19:25-27 (a few ideas from Poole quoted below):
"Quest. What redeemer and what deliverance doth Job speak of in this and the two following verses?
Answ. Some late interpreters understand this place metaphorically, of God’s delivering Job out of his doleful and desperate condition, and restoring him to his former splendour and happiness in the world...But the most interpreters, both ancient and modern, understand it of Christ, and of his resurrection, and of Job’s resurrection to life by his power and favour; which seems most probable for many reasons."
Both ideas work fine for me--Job wanted immediate vindication from his awful (and unjust in his eyes) suffering. More importantly, the prophecy of meeting the ultimate Redeemer, Jesus Christ, at His second coming in power and glory where "...He will stand upon the earth" (v. 25) is even more significant in Job's soul, especially in the midst of a fiery trial where he was brought to the brink of death. God is with us, and His revelations intensify during our darkest hours.
"From that known rule, that a proper and literal interpretation of Scripture is always to be preferred before the metaphorical, where it suits with the text and with other scriptures."
I agree wholeheartedly--a literal interpretation is the best rule for accuracy and sound doctrinal interpretation of Scripture. I love dabbling in the metaphorical, too, especially with prophecy, but I approach that strictly as enjoyment, theoretical and speculative.
"From the Hebrew word goel, here used; which although sometimes it be used of God absolutely, or essentially considered, yet it most properly agrees to Jesus Christ;"
Amen! Jesus Christ is Job's Redeemer and ours as well. Vindication doesn't get any better than that! We can't wait for His return, when He will stand on the earth:
"On that day his feet [Jesus!] will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south (Zech 14:4; NIV)."
"That this is a canonical book of Scripture [The Book of Job}, which is manifest both from the style and matter of it, and from the tacit approbation given to it by Ezekiel and James, in the places now cited, and from that quotation taken from it as such, 1 Corinthians 3:19 (NAS) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness '"
I didn't realize Paul quoted The Book of Job, too, which adds even more credence to Job as a worthy addition to the Canon.
"From his long life, which, by comparing Job 1:0 with Job 42:16, could not want much of two hundred years; whereas, after Moses, men's lives were far shorter, as is manifest."
Additional support for cv5's great observations about Job being alive in pre-Moses Biblical times.
I love Poole's detailed analysis of Job 19:25-27 (a few ideas from Poole quoted below):
"Quest. What redeemer and what deliverance doth Job speak of in this and the two following verses?
Answ. Some late interpreters understand this place metaphorically, of God’s delivering Job out of his doleful and desperate condition, and restoring him to his former splendour and happiness in the world...But the most interpreters, both ancient and modern, understand it of Christ, and of his resurrection, and of Job’s resurrection to life by his power and favour; which seems most probable for many reasons."
Both ideas work fine for me--Job wanted immediate vindication from his awful (and unjust in his eyes) suffering. More importantly, the prophecy of meeting the ultimate Redeemer, Jesus Christ, at His second coming in power and glory where "...He will stand upon the earth" (v. 25) is even more significant in Job's soul, especially in the midst of a fiery trial where he was brought to the brink of death. God is with us, and His revelations intensify during our darkest hours.
"From that known rule, that a proper and literal interpretation of Scripture is always to be preferred before the metaphorical, where it suits with the text and with other scriptures."
I agree wholeheartedly--a literal interpretation is the best rule for accuracy and sound doctrinal interpretation of Scripture. I love dabbling in the metaphorical, too, especially with prophecy, but I approach that strictly as enjoyment, theoretical and speculative.
"From the Hebrew word goel, here used; which although sometimes it be used of God absolutely, or essentially considered, yet it most properly agrees to Jesus Christ;"
Amen! Jesus Christ is Job's Redeemer and ours as well. Vindication doesn't get any better than that! We can't wait for His return, when He will stand on the earth:
"On that day his feet [Jesus!] will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south (Zech 14:4; NIV)."