Wisdom Texts

Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes, as well asapocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus andWisdom of Solomon

hokmah = “wisdom” ≈ knowledge enablingsuccess in life, based on experience

Book of Job

Arrangement of Job:

Poetic dialogues (Job 3-42: 6)

Prose narrative (Job 1-2 and 42: 7-17)

Ancient folk tale, poem from 6th c. BC, andlater additions (incl. Job 40: 6-41: 34)

Prose Narrative (Job 1-2 and 42: 7-17)

Job is non-Jew, from Uz (i.e. Edomite)

Satan as cynical angel, not yet tempter (seeBooks of Chronicles, dating from 4th c.BC), permitted to afflict Job to discoverbasis of Job’s faith

Job as model of patient endurance in face ofadversity

Prose Narrative (Job 1-2 and 42: 7-17)

Job’s friends: Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.Unclear rationale for God’s treatmentof them (Job 42: 7-9)

Restoration of Job’s losses, including 7 sonsand 3 daughters. Daughters are namedand described as most beautiful womenin land (Job 42: 13-15). Reason?

Poetic Dialogues (Job 3-42: 6)

Job’s laments, dialogues with Eliphaz, Bildad,Zophar, Elihu and eventually God

Belief in reward and punishment in this life,not next, but system is flawed. Job asembodiment of reality of humancondition

Job as unrepentant sinner?(Job 4: 17)

Job’s appeal for mediator(Job 9: 32-33)

Poetic Dialogues (Job 3-42: 6)

Poetic Dialogues (Job 3-42: 6)

God speaking from whirlwind. Acting assubject rather than object in discussion

Dismissing explanations of Job’s friends(Job 42: 7)

God’s rebuke of Job (Job 38: 2-3),demonstrating inadequacy of human mind

Job’s repentance and realisation (Job 42: 3-5)

Behemoth and Leviathan(Job 40: 15-41: 34) - recalling NearEastern myths?

Other questions:

Pessimism and skepticism?

Presentation of women?

Religious texts?