Who is Elihu?

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Written in the psalms

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ….Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

…For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones:

They look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, And cast lots upon my vesture.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭22:1, 7-8, 15-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

fulfilled in the gospel

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:46‬ ‭

“Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:41-43‬ ‭


“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:35‬ ‭

Job is not perfect like Jesus, of course, but Job's experience overwhelmingly depicts the coming of the perfect One, specifically in His suffering for our sins. Whether Jesus sang that Psalm or stated it, the cry is profoundly similar to Job's cry to God. Job's ordeal is a testimony of the Christ to come later.

Another possibility I have seen presented is that Moses wrote it.

I have heard this view that Elihu may be the author, too. On that note, isn't it interesting in how the author introduces Elihu and how Elihu introduces himself? The author says Elihu is "full of anger" and mentions his anger 4 times, which is significant. But when Elihu introduces himself, he *claims* to be inspired by God. So why doesn't the author say that Elihu is inspired by God? Being angry and being inspired are not necessarily the same thing. It seems to me Elihu *claims* to be inspired as a way to hide or excuse his anger. Yet another way he is trying to deceive everyone.

God says Job has thought to rebuke Him, to correct Him - accusing God of wrongdoing.
this doesn't cause Job to feel 'comfort' it makes him feel absolutely vile and worthless, to hate himself and repent.

God accuses Job of condemning Him in order to justify himself, then goes on and on grilling Job with rhetorical questions that demonstrate Jobs utter ignorance, frailty and powerlessness.
God humiliates him.

and Job hates himself for this, and repents in dust in ashes. it doesn't make Job feel good, it makes him feel small and full of regret.

anger is not sin.

isn't it interesting he is the only person in the book with an Hebrew name? a relative of Abraham?

and why Jobs gentile friends stopped answering - 32:1 - because Job "was righteous in his own eyes"

this quality is what angered Elihu and caused him to speak, and it is a quality Job no longer had when God spoke: Job no longer is righteous in his own eyes, but repents - 42:6 - repents of what?

so, what angered Elihu in Job, God removes from Job. this doesn't present itself in the text as an unfounded anger, but a righteous one.

Thank you. Yes! 1000%. The feeling is mutual. I believe there can be healthy debate here, and I am grateful for the dialogue.

And just to be clear, my intention is not to be some provocateur on this matter. I sincerely wanted to understand this story as a whole and try and figure out what was happening in light of the Gospel. Trying to figure out Elihu was a big part of that. In fact, I think the enigmatic nature of his character is by design, as if it's what the author intended. I say that because when the reader arrives at chapter 32 and is introduced to this new character, it's natural to think, "Hey, where did this guy come from? We are nearing the end of the story and now there's someone new we have not heard of yet?" That seems intentionally dramatic, as if the author is provoking us (in a good way) to really look at him. So it seems appropriate to discuss, debate and dissect him for the purpose of understanding the story and consider what God wants to reveal to us.

Also, one more thing I will point out is how the story is written. It is very different than other books of the bible in that it is very much structured as a play. If you have ever read any ancient plays, such as Antigone by Sophocles, for example, you will find the structure is very much the same. The difference is the narration in the book of Job, but that is minimal compared to the overwhelming bulk of the story, which involves speeches and characters in dialogue with each other.

Proverbs 29 verse 27, Luke 16 verse 15b ~ The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright. What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Thank you for the inspiration, dear brother posthuman... I did not care for the face on the first one and so have redone it and hope you like it better also! .

this is germane to something i tried to touch on earlier; if you look at Elihu's position in the narrative - - there are three main sections, and he is the argue between the center and the last.

we begin with God and Satan disputing in the presence of the assembly of the angels.
then we have the discussion of the mortal men, Job and his three companions.
finally we have God speaking, with a brief epilogue.

so, the structure is divinity, mortality, divinity. and Elihu is the segue between mortal men and the words of holy God - he summarizes what man has said, criticizes it and glorifies God, and his diatribe is full of distinct precursors to what God Himself says immediately afterward.

he's like a signpost, alerting the reader to the futility of all the dozens of chapters of human speech, pointing at God as the final act. like a mediator, between man and God. like a prophet bringing the message of God and pointing to Him.

his placement in the narrative - if we think of it as a play - is one of honor and import. he sums up all the dramatic energy and focuses it on the glory of God, setting the stage - preparing the way - for the LORD to finish the story.

If the Elihu words were full of knowledge as some are saying, then maybe those who agree can answer Elihu’s question to Job. Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Doest thou know when God disposed them and caused the light of his cloud to shine?”

Or maybe answer the question asked of Elihu’s “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.”

Again the LORD speaks out of the whirlwind saying, ‘Shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproves God, let him answer it.”

When Job answered, then answered the LORD unto Job out of the cloud, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

The LORD had said of Job, that “there was none like him in the flesh, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil”

Then Job answered the LORD “ therefore have I uttered that I understood not;”

So why isn’t Elihu mentioned, after the whirlwind, “As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more.” Proverbs 10:25