Whereas other interpreters would argue for a longer editorial process of job, he argues for the unity, not only of individual passages but of the book as a whole prose and poetry sections. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Through these three rounds, a certain movement can be detected. This we must keep in mind if we would understand what passed. This is the question, the answering of which is made the theme of the book of job looking to the conclusion of the book, the answer stands. In the book of job the problem of human pain confronts the person of god. There are no references to the law of moses, the tabernacle, the priesthood, the judges or kings, etc. Commentary on the book of job with translation logos.
In the first cycle the friends are content to talk generalities, without venturing to apply their doctrine directly to job. Job chapter 40 coffmans commentary of the new testament. Jobs first lament job 3 bible commentary theology of work. God says to job, now i want you to pray for your friends these three dear men, so stubborn, so sure that they had all the answers, so well meaning, so sincere, so. Lets open our bibles to job chapter 15 for this job 15 commentary. The last of the book is a beautiful picture of what james calls the tender mercies of god toward job james 5. He systematically goes over each section of job as a drama, highlighting the contentions and resolutions throughout. So job arose, and rent his garments, and shaved the hair of his head, and fell on the earth, and worshipped, 21 and said, i myself came forth naked from my mothers womb, and naked shall i return thither.
The book of job has long been praised as a masterpiece of literature. An outstandingly comprehensive introduction to the book of job and exegesis of ch. In the book of genesis, god placed a curse on adam and eve subsequent to the fall, saying, i will put enmity between you and the woman genesis 3. Job 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.
He is blameless and upright, always careful to avoid. Is god to be held to a strict set of regulations based on human interpretations of his relationship with mankind. Commentary on the book of job sermon by eric hanson, job 1. He also examines the date and history of job as well. Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed and it was left to me to retain one work only, i should save job. The use of this preexisting material very cleverly placed the problem outside of palestine, thereby excluding the possible objection of orthodox theology that such a casea perfectly righteous man persecuted by yhwh. It should be kept in mind that job is not the author. Jul 01, 2015 commentary on the book of job here is my rather lengthy work concerning the book of job. This begins a third and shortened round of debate between job and his three friends eliphaz, bildad, and zophar. Another great doctrine of the faith, particularly set forth in the book of job, is that of providence. The contributors are scholars of international standing. We also saw the multiple blessings that god had bestowed upon him. Internet archive bookreader commentary on the book of job.
Job, book ofcommentaries, commentaries old testament. The old testament library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of old testament study through commentaries and general surveys. In this post, we look at the deeply profound book of job. On the contrary, god speaks directly to job, just as he does in the patriarchal age with noah, abraham, isaac, jacob, and other heads of households see job 3842. Commentary on the book of job chapter four by wm w wells. In this case pages and pages of bibliography even more than many other volumes in the series interspersed throughout instead at. The book of job new international commentary on the old. Hartley deals carefully with this book whose language, text, and theology are not only among the most intriguing in the old testament but also among the most difficult to grasp. I have found that excellent commentaries on the book of job are hard to come by.
A major difficulty in understanding the meaning of the book is, what insight leads job to submit so humbly to god at the end. So job thought that god caused the problems job 19. Satan undertook to prove job a hypocrite by afflicting him. You can find the best commentary on job for you using the tools on the right side. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Buy book of job new international commentary on the old testament 2nd edition by hartley, john e. The book of job has long been hailed by biblical scholars as a literary masterpiece. The instructions to be learned from the patience of job, and from his trials. Robert aldens commentary serves as a skillful and sensitive guide through this highly relevant handbook for suffering servants of god. It is found in the third section of the biblical canon. This commentary on job follows in the tradition of the nicot series by providing an uptodate evangelical commentary based on thorough scholarship. The book of job tells the story of a man called job. This is true whether the term or idiom is repeated within the same line or verse e.
One downside is a lack of pastoral implications and theological interpretation. Commentary on the book of job by matthew henry old. The loss of jobs property, and the death of his children. There was a man in the land of uz, whose name was job we have observed in the argument, that the firstborn son of nahor, abrahams brother, was called uz. Book of job new international commentary on the old. Declares he looks for no ease but in the grave, ver. The name job indicates one who is hated or persecuted. Job in this chapter suddenly passes from one thing to another as is usual for men in much trouble. It is plain, from this history, that the lord watched over his servant job with the affection of a wise and loving father. Many a sufferer has found consolation and strength in it in his distress. Although most of the book consists of the words of job and his friends, job himself was not the author.
Though it is hard and rare, it is not impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom. The book of job is one of the most problematic portions of the bible and has called forth a variety of interpretations. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This book is so called from job, whose prosperity, afflictions, and restoration, are here recorded. This summary of the book of job provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of job. Top 5 commentaries on the book of job ligonier ministries. The book of job has times and times again been numbered amidst the best works of this worlds literature. It is certainly not a sermon actually, but could serve to help prepare wither a single sermon or a series regarding this book. Wells page 3 of 162 introductory comments introduction o the justification of job o the salvation of job job as psychology o job is a window o job as a theodicy the story of job o in search of job o the authorship of job o the law of first mention jobs world o jobs cosmology a general note. Saint gregorys commentary on job, or moralia, sive expositio in job, sometimes called moralia in job or magna moralia but not to be confused with aristotles magna moralia, was written between 578 and 595, begun when gregory was at the court of tiberius ii at constantinople, but finished only after he had already been in rome for several years. Job is a wealthy man living in a land called uz with his large family and extensive flocks.
While the main theme of the book can be rather simply stated, the interpretation of various passages and the intentions of the speakers are not. Commentary on the book of job chapter one by wm w wells. There was a man in the land of uz, whose name was job. Waters ritten by an unknown author, possibly the most ancient literary account in the bible,1 the book of job is a mixture of divine and human wisdom that addresses a major life issue.
Brief definitions of hebrew verbal forms that impact exegesis. Brief explanations of the technical resources used in this commentary. Too many christians want to put themselves into the role of a job. This is the most singular book in the whole of the sacred code. Our job 2 commentary last time in chapter 1 we saw jobs righteous character. Job, possibly the strangest book in the bible, is based on legends going back thousands of years, and is written in a very unusual form of. The book of job, book of hebrew scripture that is often counted among the masterpieces of world literature. Martin luther shall have termed it great and exalted as no other book of scripture. In the introduction to this commentary, therefore, we provide a preliminary exploration of the literary characteristics of the book of job and their significance for interpreting the major theological. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in gods sight. On the contrary, god speaks directly to job, just as he does in the. German bible scholar georg ewald turns his attention to the book of job in this commentary.
To bring us up to speed, for the last few lessons weve seen job speak in response to his friends assertions concerning him. If you have not read this series from the beginning, i would highly recommend that you go back and start with part 1. In rabbinical literature, job is called one of the prophets of the. Commentary on the book of job with translation logos bible. He had written earlier on the book of job, but supersedes all his previous efforts here. He lived soon after abraham, or perhaps before that patriarch. And there is a reality called satan who challenges god that his man is not as good as he thinks he is. The following are five of the most helpful commentaries on this book of scripture. Reflections on suffering from the book of job 3 undeserved suffering, therefore, serves as a dependable, useful model12 for the believer of any generation in dealing with the problem of theodicy. God says to job, now i want you to pray for your friends these three dear men, so stubborn, so sure that they had all the answers, so well meaning, so sincere, so dedicated, but such utter blunderers. Matthew henrys concise commentary on the book of job. Job is the central figure of the book of job in the bible.
Even better, this book is more conservative than several others in this series. The word enmity here is eybah strong, h342 and also derives from the root word ayab. Hartleys commentary goes a long way to filling the gap. Most likely it was written by job himself, and it is the most ancient book in existence.
His story is a difficult one to understand in all its specifics, but we can glean useful and soulsaving nuggets from it. Victor hugo the greatest poem, whether of ancient or modern literature. May 01, 1985 in this volume, norman habel takes on the humbling task of writing a commentary on such a classic work as the book of job a text that is complex and unclear at many points. The book of job is a very tough book of the bible to understand using just the reasoning found within your human mind. The book leads to the conclusion that gods goodness and greatness deserves and demands our love and worship. In a new translation of the book of job, the famously repentant hero gives god a piece. Divisions of the book description of job s trials ch. As readers of this series of blog posts will know, i find the layout of the word biblical commentaries a bit exasperating.
This is a good approach with wisdom literature and much of. We continue our study in the book of job in the second chapter. The only issue i have with this volume is the word biblical commentary format, which isnt user friendly at the best of times. Yet very few have taken the literary dimensions of the text into account in their exegetical analysis. In the introduction, ewald gives context to the format, content, and style of the book as poem.
The book of job is a book in the ketuvim writings section of the hebrew bible tanakh, and the first poetic book in the old testament of the christian bible. In this volume, norman habel takes on the humbling task of writing a commentary on such a classic work as the book of joba text that is complex and unclear at many points. Why do afflictions upon afflictions befall the righteous man. The contents of the book, together with its artistic structure and elegant style, place it among the literary masterpieces of all time. Job 40 god concludes his speech to job job 4041 this concluding speech of god to job falls into three parts. The loss of job s property, and the death of his children. Commentary on the book of job here is my rather lengthy work concerning the book of job.
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