Faith & Reason Nexus

The Meaning of Job:

• Hebrew: “The persecuted one.”
• Arabic: “Repentant one.”

Authorship and Time:

• Author: Unknown
• Time of Events: Patriarchal Age, likely between Genesis 11 and 12
• Time of Writing: Unknown

Position in the Bible:

• Holy Bible
• Chapters: 42
• Verses: 1,070
• Words: 10,102

Observations about Job:

• 18th Book in the Bible
• 18th Book in the Old Testament
• 1st of 5 Poetical books (Job-Song of Solomon)
• Followed by 48 Books

Job’s Historical Context:

• Many consider it the earliest book in the Bible.
• Set during the times of the patriarchs.
  • Factors Indicating Patriarchal Age:
    • Job lived about 140 years after the events (42:14).
    • His life span estimated around 200 years.
    • Wealth measured in livestock, akin to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
    • Acts as the priest of his family, offering sacrifices.
  • Social unit: the patriarchal clan. Uses the patriarchal name for God, “Shaddai” (the Almighty”).

The Book of Job:

• No reference to Israel, the exodus, Mosaic Law, or the Tabernacle.
• Job’s loss: wealth, family, health.
• Wrestles with the question, WHY?

Job’s Location and Themes:

• Land of Uz adjacent to Midian where Moses lived.
• Explores the question of righteous suffering and God’s sovereignty over creation.

Job’s Friends and a Profound Declaration:

• Three friends (Eilhu, Ephaz, and Zophar) visit Job.
• Profound declaration in Job 13:15-16: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him; He also shall be my salvation.”