The Strand Study Bible

JOB Author: Unknown (otherwise, some think Moses might have written it) Theme : Learning patience with God (through the furnace of adversity) Book’s Main Character : Job

About the Book : One day Satan (the heavenly Antagonist) accused Job of serving God for selfish reasons. God stepped back from Job’s life for a moment and allowed the Devil to interfere in Job’s affairs. Job lost his fame, fortune, friends, his family, and eventually his fitness. When Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came to see him. Their good intentions soon became destructive criticism as they claimed Job’s suffering was probably due to a wicked life. Job is known for his patience (Jms 5:11). In the end, he corrected his attitude and passed through the fires of adversity with flying colors. The Lord rewarded him for his response by giving him twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10-13). Andrew Macbeath in The Book of Job notes: What a man or woman discovers in the Book of Job may prove a milestone in their life. Unique among the writings which make up the Holy Scriptures, it has an appeal so many-sided that it reaches us at all stages of our life and in whatever condition we are. Whether we are in fellowship with God or our soul has lost touch with Him and there is no health in us, this book will speak to our condition. 1 Helpful Background : Job lived after the death of Joseph (Gen 50:22 – 1632 BC), sometime c. 1625 BC. Henrietta C. Mears in What the Bible Is All About notes: Consider the following observations: * Elihu (the young man who spoke up for God - Job 32:2) was a descendant of Buz, Abraham’ s nephew (Gen 22:20-21). Therefore, the book of Job could not have occurred before or during the time of Abraham. * Eliphaz (one of Job’s accusers - Job 2:11) was a descendant of Teman, Esau’s grandson and Abraham’s great, great grandson (Gen 36:4,11). Again, the book of Job could not have taken place until long after the time of Abraham. * Bildad (another one of Job’s accusing friends - Job 8:1) was a descendant of Shuah, one of Abraham’s sons by Keturah (Gen 25:2). Once again, the book of Job could not have taken place before or during the time of Abraham. * Job died around the age of 200 (Job 42:16-17), which would place Job around the time of Joseph, not Abraham. * Job played the role of father/priest (Job 1:5), which would place Job sometime before Moses and the Law. * Job was considered by God to be the greatest believer on earth during his day (Job 1:8). Seeing how Abraham was called the Friend of God (II Chro 20:7, Isa 41:8 and Jms 2:23), it would be hard for God to choose Job as the greatest believer if Job and Abraham were contemporaries. Notes of Interest : 1. Job is quoted in the NT 1 time (Job 5:13/I Cor 3:19). 2. Prophecies are referred to 5 times in Job (Job 14:14-15 & 19:25-27). 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 1 of those 5 times. 4. Job believed in creation (Job 26:7,13), Adam (Job 31:33), a universal Flood (Job 22:15-16 & 26:12), and the Triune Godhead: FATHER (Job 2:10), SON (Job 19:25), and HOLY SPIRIT (Job 26:13). Note - Both Ezekiel (Ezk 14:14,20) and James (Jms 5:11) make reference to the book of Job . 5. There is 1 map used in the book of Job . It is numbered chronologically (#43). Outline of Job : 1. The LORD allows Satan to attack Job (Job 1-2) There are five patriarchal fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Job, for the Book of Job must be put after the Book of Genesis and before the Book of Exodus. Job certainly lived before Moses and we read of Moses in Exodus. 2

2. Bildad, Eliphaz and Zophar come to accuse Job (Job 3-37) 3. The LORD corrects Job and then prospers him (Job 38-42) Job 1

3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 And his sons went and feasted in their- houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

1. Gen 36:28 & I Chro 1:17 & Jere 25:20 & Lam 4:21 2. Deut 18:13 3. that is, “Job took God’s Word over his own” Note - To “fear” God is to “obey” God - Gen 22:9-12 & Exo 9:19-20 & Deut 17:19 & Jere 26:18- 19 4. I Thess 5:22

Job’s love for the LORD Date - c. 1625 BC/AM 2375

1 There was a man in the land of 1 Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was 2 perfect and upright, and one that 3 feared God, and 4 eschewed evil. 2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

1:1a Job’s name means “hated; persecuted.” He is referred to 1 time in the NT (Jms 5:11). 1:1b Job was a man of unusual character. From the very first verse we are confronted by a man whose character is already “mature” ( perfect ). So marked by integrity is this man that the opening description of him is twice confirmed from the lips of God Himself (1:8 & 2:3). However, no matter how much character a person has that person is never sinless or faultless (Eccl 7:20). Therefore, God is always at work in the life of His own, perfecting the spiritual via the physical (Job 1:6-2:10).

1 Macbeath, Andrew. The Book of Job , Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Book House, 1966. Print. 2 Mears, Henrietta C. What the Bible Is All About , Glendale, CA, Regal Books, 1953. Print. 804