Because elihus speech, which appears in the book of job chapters 3237, differs in style from the rest of the work and because he is not mentioned elsewhere in itas the other three comforters. Elihu is identified only as the son of barakel the buzite, of the family of ram job 32. Home sample bible studies why elihu is so mysterious. The book of job this book of job stands by itself, is not connected with any other, and is therefore to be considered alone. Even when job is given opportunity to speak, elihu does not hear a cross word from him job 33. The role and character of elihu in the book of job the. You will find that god does not mention elihu when he rebukes the others near the end of the book, which would seem to mean there was nothing wrong with what elihu had said. First, the name elihu is a variant spelling of the name elijah, and elihus actions in the book of job suggest a strong connection to the great prophet. That is the lesson of the book for anyone who questions god without access to all.
In job 32 elihu focuses his response on rebuking jobs three friends, eliphaz, bildad, and zophar. Before the character and role of elihu in the book of job can be considered, the question regarding whether or not the elihu speeches are an original part of the book of job must be addressed. Rabbinic tradition does not attempt to identify an author other than suggesting that the writer must have preceded moses. Biblical scholars suspect him to be a later addition to. So job influenced every other bible writer because the book was there. But this claim is rejected by many modern scholars and instead they suggest that elihu, solomon, and ezra could be the authors of the book. A key to understanding the first theme of the book is to notice the debate between god and satan in heaven and how it. Now one thing i want you to notice about the book of job job is a majestic book because, do you realize every other bible writer name a bible writer. Elihu charges job with adding to his sin by multiplying words against god without knowledge 34. Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that. The hebrew bible is organized into three main sections.
Visit the eo web site to browse and download the material for church or personal use. Some question the status of elihus interruption and didactic sermon because of his sudden appearance and disappearance. Elihu, also spelled eliu, in the hebrew bible, a comforter of job, the biblical prototype of undeserved suffering. Elihu gives several speeches that carry with them many elements of biblical wisdom, but the final wisdom to be found in this great book comes not from job s friends or from elihu, but from god himself. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a rich theological work setting out a variety of perspectives. Ones understanding of date below contributes to ones understanding of the author. The foreign tone of the book allows for it to have been written by job arabic. But the writer of the book of job is not satisfied to live that way. Jewish tradition attributes the book to moses, and other authors have been suggested job, elihu, solomon, isaiah, hezekiah, and baruch, jeremiahs scribe. Also called the books of writings include the following books. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. He expresses the desire that such a book be written. The book of job explores the nature of true piety and the problem of innocent suffering.
The bulk of elihu s speech then focuses on the justice of god, which elihu feels job has maligned. Job s counsel reaches a higher level with some deep insights by elihu. He thought job should just patiently accept his affliction as just punishment from god. Job, job, book of he is described as the son of baerachel the buzite. According to the sacred writer, the truly wise man should realize that the fear of the lord, that is wisdom. One of the captains of the thousands of manasseh, 1 chronicles 12. The most likely candidates are job, elihu, moses, and solomon. Two big statements are made by the book of job by what is not said. He is said to have descended from buz who may be from the line of abraham genesis 22.
The difficulty in the book of job is over the nature and the cause of his afflictions, it touches on the philosophical discussion about the problem of evil, and human suffering which is a classic problem that has yet to be given a classic answer. Many interpreters understand elihu as no better than eliphaz, bildad, or zophar. Interpretations of elihu in job biblical hermeneutics. Moses may have compiled the book based on job s records psalms, written by david, and several others including asaph, ezra, the sons of korah, heman, ethan, moses and a host of unnamed authors proverbs, written by solomon. The book of job was written like a historical poem, but was treated as an actual event in the bible. Because elihus speech, which appears in the book of job chapters 3237. Elihu, in the hebrew bible, a comforter of job, the biblical prototype of undeserved suffering. These were the days before scripture, so the word of god takes the form of. A fourth character then enters the story elihu, who accuses job as well chapters 3237. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the.
All that can be said with certainty is that the author was a loyal hebrew who was not strictly bound by the popular creed that assumed suffering was always the direct result of sin. The babylonian talmud claims, moses wrote his own book, and the passages about balaam and job baba bathra, 14b, 15a. Luke, paul, david, moses any of them every bible writer could read job first. Elihu, the forgotten prophet of job the book of job is one of the most important of the entire bible, and is a prerequisite to all discussions of christian theology, particularly theodicy. He concludes his speech with an effort to speak on gods behalf and. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of god to be revealed.
Unfortunately, two erroneous interpretations of job s theses are by far the most popular. Other suggestions have included ezra, solomon, job himself, and elihu. However, eliphaz, bildad, and zophar are not the only individuals in the book of job who illustrate the folly of speaking too quickly. Elihu s picture of god is definitely different from the three friends. Elihu, mentioned in this book, is one of the miserable comforters of job. More insights from your bible study get started with logos bible. Job is a pious believer who is struck by misfortune so great that it cannot be explained in the usual way as a prompting to repentance, a warning, let alone a punishment the arguments later. The third and best understanding of elihus role in the book of job is that he helps to prepare job for gods appearance in the whirlwind. Elihu was one of jobs friendsnot one of the three who had come to comfort job at the beginning of the book, but one who arrives later and offers the last and longest single speech to job. The book treats two major themes and many other minor ones, both in the narrative framework of the prologue chaps. Key personalities of this book include job, eliphaz the temanite, bildad the shuhite, zophar the naamathite, and elihu the buzite. Put simply, many scholars believe that the elihu speeches as we have them now were not part of the original book of job. According to albert barnes, lightfoot and others believed that the book of job was written by elihu.
Unfortunately, two erroneous interpretations of jobs theses are by far the most popular. In the book of job of the bible why is elihu not guilty. Fausset, and david brown, commentary practical and explanatory on the whole bible, p. Agur and lemuel are specifically named as the writers of proverbs 30 and 31. While there is no solid evidence as to the authorship of the book, three theories predominate. In addition, job repents of the very mistake both elihu and god had brought to his attentionspeaking words without knowledge job 42. Copeland this study guide is from the executable outlines series, a collection of sermon outlines and bible study lessons by mark a.
As to satan, this foundational book of the bible teaches us that, as god elaborated on in chs 3841, god takes responsibility for everything he has made. There is a dramatic interruption in the book of job at this spot. Elihu had just finished addressing job s friends in chapter 32 when he begins to talk directly to job in chapter 33. Book of job overview insight for living ministries. The date of the authorship of the book of job would be determined by the author of the book of job. The account of job s integrity in the bible book of job reveals satans role in human suffering and the importance of upholding jehovahs sovereignty. The objectives are usually things i plan to emphasize during the class i have found that summarizing and outlining helps me to better understand the word of god.
So these three men ceased answering job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. At its beginning, job seems to be a book about human suffering. Ancient jewish tradition credits the authorship of the book of job to moses. Instead of complaining and questioning god, as job had been doing. At a recent pastors conference on the book of job, a leader asked the attendees whether the speeches of elihu job 3237 should be trusted, like gods job 3841, or discarded, like those of job s three friends job 45, 8, 11, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25. The book of job tells how one man suddenly awakened to the anarchy rampant in the world, yet his attachment to god outlived the ruin of his tidy system. Bildad, zophar, and elihu divisions of the book description of job s trials ch. This study guide was developed in preparation for teaching adult bible classes. Elihus teaching, then, is that affliction makes a righteous person sensitive to his. It is possible that job is the oldest of any book of the bible written approximately 21001800 b. Reception of job in visual art various communities throughout history have found the book of job to be a rich resource for producing visual art that seeks to soothe sufferers, spread hope, and even encourage rebels. Job was blameless, meaning no sin was found in him.
The book of job does not specifically name its author. Elihu, the fourth friend who spoke toward the end of the story. Job bible study outlinecontents by chapter and verse. Because elihus speech, which appears in the book of job chapters 3237, differs in style from the rest of the work and because he is not mentioned elsewhere in itas the other three comforters arescholars consider his. Its author is unknown yet it is possible that job himself wrote it. The book of job is included among the wisdom writings precisely because it teaches man that pain and suffering are a mystery of divine wisdom. Elihu, isaiah, hezekiah, jeremiah, and ezra have also been suggested as possible.