UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK OF JOB

Transcription

1 UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK OF JOB Written and study by Felicia A. Alles-MaGee September 19, 2015, Revised 09/29/2015, Minor Revisions 08/27/2017 Firstly, who is the man Job? Before engaging to understand why YHWH allowed righteous Job to be severely afflicted by Satan, the identity of Job is partly a key principle that illuminates this subject beyond the surface narrative. Although; the identity of Job is not the only fundamental principle to understanding the story of Job, his identity is important for multiple reasons. The ancient Greek Septuagint explicitly reveals the identity of Job in the book of Job chapter fortytwo and verse seventeen. Job 42:17 in the Hebrew Masoretic text (being codified approximately onethousand years after the Greek Septuagint) only contains one short sentence, "So Job died, being old and full of days." However, Job 42:17 in the Greek Septuagint reads as follows: 42:17 And Job died, an old man and full of days: and it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up. This man is described in the Syriac book [as] living in the land of Ausis*, on the borders of Idumea** and Arabia: and his name before was Jobab; and having taken an Arabian wife, he begot a son whose name was Ennon. And he himself was the son of his father Zare, one of the sons of Esau, and of his mother Bosorrha, so that he was the fifth from Abram. And these were the kings who reigned in Edom, which country he also ruled over: first, Balac, the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dennaba: but after Balac, Jobab, who is called Job, and after him Asom, who was governor out of the country of Thaeman: and after him Adad, the son of Barad, who destroyed Madiam in the plain of Moab; and the name of his city was Gethaim. And [his] friends who came to him were Eliphaz, of the children of Esau, king of the Thaemanites, Baldad son of the Sauchaeans, Sophar king of the Kinaeans. *Ausis: in the Hebrew to English text, it is the land of Uz. (Ref: Job 1:1) **Idumea: the Greek pronunciation and translation of "Edom." Outside of the ancient Greek Septuagint, within the tenth century Hebrew Masoretic text, Job 1:1 says Job lived in the land of Uz which is associated with Edom in Lamantations 4:21. Additionally, Job's three accusatory friends ostensibly lived during the same time period as did Jobab, the Edomite (who is in the geneology list with Genesis Gen36). The following are some name matches with direct location associations to the Edomites: ELIPHAZ (my god is strength), Eldest son of Esau, Gen 36:4,10 ELIPHAZ was from Teman (A place located east of Idumea [Edom]) Teman was a grandson of Esau, and son of the eldest Eliphaz, Gen 36:15 BILDAD (confusing love), the name is only listed within the Book of Job. But, this second friend of Job is a Shuite; whence, a man from Shuah. Shuah was a son of Abraham and Keturah, an Arabian tribe. Gen 25:2, 1-Ch 1:32. (F. Josephus and Jerome place Keturah s descendants in Arabia.) --Page 1 of 8--

2 ZOPHAR (sparrow or imprudent, derivation and meaning is questioned by scholars). In the Septuagint, the spelling is Sophar. Sophar is a grandson of Esau, through the wife named Adah. Zophar (aka Sophar) was the son of Eliphaz. Gen 36:11 ZOPHAR, the Naamathite (pleasantness, loveliness), from Naamah or Naam. As shown, ELIPHAZ was a son of Esau. However, Job's friend named, Eliphaz is most likely not the same individual. Eliphaz, the friend of Job, makes a curious statement to Job located in Job 15:10. It reads, "Behold, there are among us the gray-headed and the very aged men, much older in days than your father." Unless Eliphaz was speaking in the third person about himself, this Eliphaz is not one and the same as Esau's first born son. Regardless, the narrative informs us Job's friend, Eliphaz was a TEMANI - this said being a fact of record. TEMAN was the grandson of Eliphaz, the great-grandson of Esau through Adah, the Hittite. Wherefore, it is very reasonable to believe that Eliphaz, the friend of Job, was a son of Teman who was given the same name as his great-grandfather. The recordation explicity and unequivocally says Eliphaz was a TEMANI. Now notice Genesis 36: It reads, "And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. And, Jobab died, and Husham of the land of TEMANI reigned in his stead." Again; but rephrased, Temani was a great-grandson of Esau. And, when righteous Job[ab] died, a chieftain from Teman, also an Edomite territory, took Job's place as ruler / the chieftan duke of the Edomites. Recapturing and putting some of the information together thus far: BOZRAH was/is one of the chief cities of Edom. [Ref: Isa 34:6, 63:1, Jer 48:24, 49:13,22, Amo 1:12, Mic 2:12] Jobab (aka Job), who being in the lineage of Esau, was one of the duke / chieftain rulers of Bozrah. Jobab was from the lineage of Bashemath, the daughter of Ishmael, the third wife of Esau. Jobab's mother's name was Bozrah (according to the Septuagint). After Jobab died, one of the Edomite descendants of Eliphaz, the first born of Esau, took over the reign of Jobab. Eliphaz, the friend of Job, is ostensibly the great-grandson of Esau. Said Eliphaz is recorded to be a Temanite. Wherefore, Job's two relative friends, Eliphaz and Zophar were cousins, once removed. Mother was Bashemath, the daughter of Ishmael Reuel Zerah Jobab (aka Job) Teman Eliphaz Isaac Esau Eliphaz 1st born of Eliphaz Abraham See geneology of Esau in Gen 36 Mother was Ada, a Hittite. Zophar (aka Sophar) Shuah (Bildad came from the tribal group of Shuah) 3rd born of Eliphaz Mother was Keturah, an Arabian. Bildad was an Arabian. The youngest of the four friends. Nahor Buz? Barachiel Elihu CHART KEY = Job's four (4) friends = People of Interest = Righteous Job --Page 2 of 8--

3 Job's fourth and young friend: ELIUS (ELIHU), the son of Barachiel, the Buzite, of the kindred of [A]Ram, of the county of Ausis (Uz) according to Job 32:2 in the Septuagint. Gen 22:21 informs us that Buz was the son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham (Also Ref: Gen 10:23, 36:28 Shem birthed Aram who birthed Uz.) Both Abraham and Nahor are in the lineage of Shem. Consequently; its possible, but not proven, that Elihu was from the lineage of Nahor, Abraham's brother. The Edomites eventually populated the city of Uz, but Uz was founded by Shem's grandson who was named, Uz. As the facts have demonstrated outside of the ancient Greek Septuagint, Job is doubtlessly associated with the Edomites if you (the reader) choose not to accept the plain reading of the Septuagint. Additionally, Job was not a fictional character as some scholars espouse. The prophet Ezekiel mentions Job twice, in Ez 14:14 and 14:20. The apostle James also mentions Job in James 5:11. From the ancient Peshitta, the English translation, Ezekiel 14:12-14 reads, "The Word of YHWH came to me, saying, 'son of man, if a land should sin against Me and commit iniquity before Me, then I will stretch out my hand against it, and will break the staff of its wheat; and I will send famine upon it, and will destroy man and beast from it. Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in the land, they would deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, says YHWH Elohim." YHWH, Himself names the righteous person 'Job' in His proclamation to Ezekiel. Wherefore, Job[ab] was a real living and breathing person. JOB[AB], THE EDOMITE Two additional facts worth noticing about Ezekiel 14:12-14 are these: 1) YHWH is speaking about ANY land [tribe of people]. And, when doing so, YHWH names three righteous men who did not live in the land-of-israel. 2) The subject within Ezekiel 14:12-14 is ANY tribe of people on earth and if they SIN against YHWH. This is just one example from numerous examples from the OT, including the book of Job, demonstrating that YHWH laws are not isolated to the Israelite or Je/wish people, because "SIN" is the transgression of the law. (Ref: 1-John 3:4). Job knew the laws of YHWH, and he was a person from the lineage of Esau, from the very man YHWH proclaimed He hates (Ref: Romans 9:13, Malachi 1:3, Heb 12:16). WHY? Because, Esau DESPISED his firstborn birthright of carrying-on the staff of righteousness, being a priest of YHWH (Ref: Num 3:12). (Understand: the birthright of the firstborn and the blessing are not one of the same. Ref: Gen 25:36). Genesis 27:34 unequivocally and explicitly informs us that Esau DESPISED his birthright. The Hebrew word translated as "despised" is "bazah." This said Hebrew word is a primitive root verb that means: hold in contempt, disdain, despicable, vile. This said Hebrew word can also mean to trample with your feet. Esau knew about YHWH and His laws through his father, Isaac and grandfather, Abraham. Esau was not ignorant. With this last said in mind, now notice what Job 6:10 & 15 says, (v:10) "...I have not lied against the words of the Holy One." (v:15) "My brethren (relatives) have dealt deceitfully like dry brooks, like torrents which pass away." Aramaic Peshitta --Page 3 of 8--

4 Know and understand: dealing deceitfully means you know right from wrong, but do despicable, contemptuous wrongful acts anyway. The Hebrew verb translated as "deceitful" is "bagad" and means, treacherous dealer, transgressor, unfaithful, offend. The Hebrew word "bagad" is a covert action verb, to cover with fraud, be perfidious deliberately faithless and treacherous. Again: Job 6:10 reads, From the Aramaic Peshitta: "...I have not lied against the words of the Holy One." From the Greek Septuagint: "...I have not denied the Holy words of my God." From the Hebrew Masora: "...I have not hidden the words of the Holy One." From the Latin Vulgate: "...I have not transgressed the commands of the Holy One." Again: in Job 6:15, both the ancient Aramaic Peshitta and the Hebrew Masoretic text inform us, Job's brethren deal deceitfully. And, the Greek Septuagint defines brethren as, "my nearest relatives." Paraphrased, Job's relatives knew who YHWH was, but purposely did despicable, contemptuous wrongful acts anyway. It is not unreasonable to say that many of Job's Edomite relatives... 1) lied against the words of the Holy One, 2) denied the Holy words of God, 3) hid the words of the Holy One, and 4) transgresses the commands of the Holy One. Wherefore; in Job 6:10, Job made his defense against his brethren, his Edomite relatives. Paraphrased; Job said, "hey, look I am not like one of my sinful Edomite kinfolk." THE FACT JOB[AB] WAS A DESCENDANT OF ESAU - FROM A DELIBERATE PROFANE AND ANTI-GOD LINEAGE, IS A BACKDROP OF WHY JOB[AB] WAS TESTED BY YHWH. As already demonstrated, Job was a descendant of Esau - the man that YHWH hated (Ref: Mal 1:3 and Romans 9:13). And, as previously quoted, Job said in 6:15 the following about his relatives, (v:15) "My brethren (relatives) have dealt deceitfully like dry brooks, like torrents which pass away." Aramaic Peshitta Esau and his descendants are purposely deceitful and despise YHWH. Job[ab] becomes an anomaly. He deviates from the bad bloodline of Esau. Although, it appears he veared off from the path of Esau's wicked ways later in his life given Job[ab]'s statement about himself in 13:26. It reads, "For You decree chastisement against me, and make me remember the iniquities of my youth." At some point in time during Job's earlier life, he sinned, but Job repented of his sins expecting forgiveness. Where did Job[ab] learn about sin and repentance? Someone put the fear of YHWH into Job[ab]. Job 3:25 reads, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of has befallen me." In Genesis 18:19, we're informed Abraham commanded his children and his household AFTER him, to guard the way of YHWH, to do righteousness and right-ruling. Job[ab] was the fifth from Abraham. Abraham would have been dead when Job was born. Was it Isaac, based on Job 15:10? --Page 4 of 8--

5 Or was it someone else, a person who was not recorded and unknown to us? Job 7:20-21 reads, "If I have sinned; what have I done to You, O thou Creator of men? Why hast You caused me to encounter You? You hast become a burden to me. Until when wilt You not forgive my transgressions and remove my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the dust; and You shalt seek me, but I shall be no more." Job[ab] does question whether or not he has been forgiven during his trial based on Job 7:20-21, quoted above. But, it appears Job didn't always have an easy life before the time of his great wealth and protected state of being. Elihu, the young friend, makes a curious statement to Job[ab] in Job 34:5. It reads, "For Job has said, 'I am righteous; and God has turned aside my judgment.'" Job[ab], it appears, has encounter YHWH before. Its plausible to believe that Job[ab] suffered during his youth when he was sinning but then repented. And, when Job[ab] repented, the inference is that YHWH blessed Job at the time of his repentance. Recapturing: Job[ab] is a descendant of Esau who despised YHWH, Job's relatives purposely sin, Job knows about sin (thus understands YHWH has laws that people are required to obey), Job had repented of his sins after he committed them during his youthful years expecting forgiveness, and YHWH had blessed Job tremendously with great wealth and children. (Ref: Job 1:5, Ps 32:1) Now; therefore, Satan arrives from roaming the earth to appear before YHWH during one of the angelic meetings. (Ref: Job 1:6, Ps 82 - especially in the Aramaic Peshitta and the Dead Sea Scrolls) Satan isn't the one who brings YHWH's attention to Job, but rather YHWH asks for Satan's opinion of Job[ab]. "Have you considered My servant Job?..." in Job 1:8. Reading between the lines, YHWH was contemplating the strength of Job[ab]. Satan believes Job is merely obeying YHWH because YHWH protects him and had bountifully blessed him. (Ref: Job 1:8-11) Satan was sure Job[ab] would curse YHWH if YHWH removed the protection and blessings. In other words; and paraprased, "Jobab is a son of Esau! Jobab will surely curse You and give you the middle finger if you remove the protection and blessings!" You, the reader, if you are familiar with the story of Esau and his father, Isaac, please recall at this moment that Esau did not care about his firstborn birthright, but sold it to Jacob for red stew. However! Esau expected and wanted YHWH's blessings! Read Genesis 27:36. In other words, Esau did not want to be the firstborn-priest, the one who carried the staff of YHWH. But, Esau wanted and expected the bountiful physical blessings. With this fact of record, I (this author) suspect that YHWH did not question Job's motive for obedience since YWH knows the hearts of all men. But,... since Job had the blood of Esau, would Job curse YHWH if the protection and blessings were removed - if Job was put under great pressure? Was Job's heart steadfast or would it change? (Ref: Ps 7:9) YHWH isn't just playing with Satan. YHWH uses Satan to put Job[ab] to the test. The apostle Peter wrote in 1-Pe 1:6-7, "Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: THAT THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, being more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." (Emphasis my own.) Also, 1-Pe 4:12 reads, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, as though some strange thing --Page 5 of 8--

6 happened unto you." (Emphasis my own.) Undoubtedly, YHWH tests His followers. With the above said paragraph being fact, YHWH allows Satan to bring about unfavorable circumstances in order to test our faith as He allowed Job[ab] to be tested and tried. Now, there are a multitude of preachers and their head-bobbing audiences who believe Job was guilty of self-righteousness. Because of Job's SELF-righteousness, YHWH allowed Satan to harm him or rather, punish him... so goes the false promulgated belief. No where in the book of Job does it say that Job was SELF-righteous; nor, is it implied. But, there are plenty of false accusers of Job who continue to be the mouth pieces for Job's three friends. Satan is determined to slander Job[ab] and has continued to do so through vacuous Christians. YHWH CALLED JOB RIGHTEOUS. Consequently, Job was and is not SELF-righteous. Know the difference! Job 1:1 reads, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was innocent and upright, and one who revered God and turned away from evil." Aramaic Peshitta. Job 2:3 reads, "And YHWH said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil? HE STILL HOLDS FAST TO HIS INTEGRITY, ALTHOUGH YOU [Satan] PROVOKED ME AGAINST HIM WITHOUT CAUSE." Aramaic Peshitta. Job was righteous. He had YHWH's righteousness. The bible definition of "righteousness" is this: "legally right, correct and lawful." When someone follows the commandments and has faith in YHWH, they are righteous. They have YHWH's righteousness, not their own because it's YHWH's laws and YHWH's Spirit they are following. On the other side of the coin, SELF-righteousness is when someone contrives their own set of do's and don'ts (your own contrived laws that you follow and judge everyone else by) and declare yourself right. (Ref: James 4:11) Moreover, YHWH, Himself declared Job as being righteous. Consider Malachi 3:18. It reads, "Then you shall return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves Him not." As stated in Malachi 3:18, the righteous are defined as the ones who serve YHWH. These said righteous people are not SELF-righteous. What the false accusers call "self-righteousness", YHWH has called, "INTEGRITY in Job 2:3." And, YHWH Himself said, "...WITHOUT CAUSE." In other words, Job[ab] did not commit a sin worthy of punishment. Anyone who brings a false accusation against Job[ab] has slandered Job's good reputation and integrity, and has opposed the very words of YHWH, Himself. Anyone who has done so, will give an account to YHWH for it unless they sincerely repent. (Read Matt 12:36) The catalyst of Job's narrative is when YHWH pays restitution to Job[ab]. YHWH restored double of what was taken from Job. YHWH has RESTITUTION laws. (You can find restitution laws in the OT.) Restitution means: "reparation made by giving an equivalent or compensation for loss, damage, or injury caused; indemnification." YHWH is not above His own laws. If He was above His own laws, --Page 6 of 8--

7 then He cannot be trusted! Although, last said is ludicrous. IF Job was self-righteous separate from YHWH's righteousness, YHWH may not have paid Job[ab] restitution. Additionally, YHWH showed His kindness and mercy by giving Job double of what he previously had. In other words, YHWH paid Job for his pain and suffering by the double portion. For, YHWH, Himself said to Satan, "...ALTHOUGH YOU [Satan] PROVOKED ME AGAINST HIM WITHOUT CAUSE." Aramaic Peshitta. Again, last said are YHWH's words, not my own. "WITHOUT CAUSE" stands as an absolute fact whether or not the false-witness accusers choose to accept it or not. (Ref: Ex 20:16) WHY DID YHWH GIVE JOB[AB] A CHASTIMENT AT THE END OF THE BOOK, STARTING IN CHAPTER 38? Throughout the book, Job holds fast to his innocence, rather "his integrity" as YHWH labeled it in Job 2:3. (Read Job 10:7, 13:18, 17:2). Although, Job 38:1-2 reads, "Then YHWH answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said 'Who is this that gives counsel by words without knowledge?'" Job[ab] made statements to his three friends without knowing all of the facts. For several examples: Job said in 19:6, "Know then that God has condemned me, and spread his net over me." (21:4) "I will utter my complaint to men, why my spirit is distressed." (21:19) "God reserves man's iniquity for his children; He pays it back to him, and he shall know it." [Based on 21:19 - there is a possibility that Job believed he was being punished for the sins of Esau.] Job then becomes quite bold in chapter 23. (23:2-7) Job said, "Even today is my complaint bitter; God's hand is heavier and increases my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to His seat! I would lay my cause in order before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me, and understand what He would say to me. Would He contend with me with His great power? If He would not, then He will put His fear into me. There I might contend justly with Him; and I might be justified and acquitted." Consequently, Job believes that YHWH didn't have a legal right to allow him[job] to be hurt and suffer. For this reason, YHWH said in 40:2, "Many are the counsels of God; he who reproves God must answer for it." And, in 41:11 YHWH said to Job, "Who has preeminence over Me, so that I should surrender?" In other words, if YHWH chooses to test you, who are you to say to Him, "This is not fair! This is unjust treatment!" There are people who believe Job's attitude is self-righteous. But, this is not true. Job WAS innocent. Job was not punished for sinning. Job was not punished for self-righteousness. JOB WAS NOT PUNISHED, PERIOD! Job was TESTED, and YHWH used Satan to perform the test. The entire ordeal Job endured was a test to see whether or not he would curse YHWH. Job passed the test. He never, not once cursed YHWH. Additionally, Job[ab] repented for giving counsel and making statements without knowledge in 42:3-6. In other words - paraphrased, Job told His four friends if he (Job) was given the chance, he would put God on trial in the highest court - using YHWH's own laws (not conjuring up any of his own) to declare himself right. Job[ab] was on the right side of the law. (Read Job chapter 31 where Job[ab] makes his defense.) One characteristic Job[ab] doubtlessly inherited from his forefather, Esau was... BOLD GUTS! Don't be like Job's accusatory three friends who YHWH's wrath was kindled against because they had not spoken which is right as like Job had spoken. (Read 42:7-8) Essentially, Job's friends accused Job of sinning. Job was not. Be mindful of who you wag your finger at and label a sinner. If someone is enduring a trial, it doesn't automatically mean they are being punished by YHWH for a sin. --Page 7 of 8--

8 JOB'S REQUEST WAS GRANTED Chapter 19:23-24 reads, "Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a scroll! That they were engraved with an iron pen on lead or in the rock forever! For I know that my Saviour lives, and at the end He will reveal Himself upon the earth." Firstly, the man Job was not an Israelite. The Israelites were through Jacob. All of the OT books came from or through an Israelite, excepting the book of Job. Moses wrote the first five books by the Word of YHWH. Who wrote the book of Job? Did Job? The book of Job is believed (by scholars) to have been originally written in Aramaic due to its Aramaic tones and expressions. Wherefore, this author finds the reading of the book of Job much easier and with a better understanding in the ancient Aramaic Peshitta. You can find an English translation of the OT Peshitta on-line through the Peshitta Institute or on Amazon.com. Its well worth the purchase. If you have the Septuagint, you might obtain a better understanding from it also. (Both the Peshitta and the Septuagint are much older base texts than the Hebrew Masoretic tenth century base text.) Notice, Job wanted his story written with an iron pen on lead. Its possible it was written on lead with an iron pen. There have been discoveries of ancient writings engraved on lead. When were the ancient engraved lead tables given to the Israelites, when Job's story was rewritten on an animal skin known as a scroll? Job's story was ostensibly written on both materials based on 19: I, (this author), suspects the recording occurred on ancient lead tables first. I base my suspicion on 19:3. Job makes a curious statement. Job said to his friends, "For behold, these ten times you have rebuked me; and you are not ashamed that you made me sad." Uh? Ten times? If you count the number of statements from his three friends, the sum number is not ten at the time Job makes this statement in 19:23-24, at least according to the order passed down to us within our bibles. Additionally, I, (this author), believe that Job's answers to his three friends are not harmonious in thought. It appears, and many scholars agree, the order of the statements by Job's three friends and Job's replies are out of sync and have not been preserved in the correct order. Wherefore; I draw the conclusion that Job's story was first written in Aramaic on lead tables with an iron pen; sometime afterward, given to a scribal Israelite to copy the story onto an animal skin scroll. But, in so doing, the tables were accidently out of order when the copying took place. Nonetheless, the Isrealite scribes made Job's story part of the compiled OT books upon the direction of YHWH. The prophet Ezekiel was later instructed by divine utterance to record the righteousness of Job in Ezekiel 14: Job was a very real character whom YHWH honored with his own book within the OT. Secondly, Job[ab] knew and understood the general overall plan of YHWH. Job[ab] is an ancient witness outside the tribes of Israel and outside of the NT apostolic testimonies. Again, Chapter 19:24 reads, "For I know that my Saviour lives, and at the end He will reveal Himself upon the earth." Chapter 30:23 reads, "And yet I know that You will bring me back from death to the meeting place for all living." In the Septuagint, Job 42:17 reads, "And Job died, an old man and full of days: and it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up." Consequently, no matter what abhorrent lineage you're from, in YHWH and the Christ, you have hope. Job[ab] is proof. --Page 8 of 8--