Job (Bible)
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Job (/'dʒoʊb/; Hebrew: אִיּוֹב, Standard Iyyov Tiberian ʾIyyôḇ ; Arabic: أَيُّوبٌ, ʾ Ayoub), is a character in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible, as well as a prophet in Islam. In brief, the book begins with an introduction to Job's character — he is described as a rich, blessed man who fears God and lives righteously. Satan, however, challenges Job's integrity, and so it is revealed to Satan by God that Job exceeded the protective hedge with the word "behold". In effect, God says that Job is outside His protective boundary, resulting in tragedy for Job: the loss of his children, wealth, and physical soundness. The main portion of the text consists of the discourse of Job and his three friends concerning why Job was so punished, ending in God answering Job. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning and he lived 140 years (Job 42:10,17).
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[edit] The Testament of Job
Job (named Jobab) is also the protagonist of a book in the Apocrypha called the Testament of Job.
[edit] Jewish view of Job
A clear majority of Rabbinical Torah scholars saw Job as having existed in real life. He was seen as a real and powerful figure. Some scholars of Orthodox Judaism maintain that Job was in fact one of three advisors that Pharaoh consulted, prior to taking action against the increasingly multiplying "Children of Israel" mentioned in the Book of Exodus during the time of Moses' birth. The episode is mentioned in the Talmud (Tractate Sotah): Balaam gives evil advice urging Pharaoh to kill the Hebrew male new-born babies; Jethro opposes Pharaoh and tells him not to harm the Hebrews at all, and Job keeps silent and does not reveal his mind even though he was personally opposed to Pharaoh's destructive plans. It is for his silence that God subsequently punishes him with his bitter afflictions.[1]
There is a minority view among Rabbinical scholars, for instance that of Rabbi Simeon ben Laqish, that says Job never existed (Midrash Genesis Rabbah LXVII). In this view, Job was a literary creation by a prophet who used this form of writing to convey a divine message. On the other hand, the Talmud (in Tractate Baba Batra 15a-16b) goes to great lengths trying to ascertain when Job actually lived, citing many opinions and interpretations by the leading sages. Job is further mentioned in the Talmud as follows [2]:
- Job's resignation to his fate (in Tractate Pesachim 2b).
- When Job was prosperous, anyone who associated with him even to buy from him or sell to him, was blessed (in Tractate Pesachim 112a).
- Job's reward for being generous (in Tractate Megillah 28a).
- King David, Job and Ezekiel described the Torah's length without putting a number to it (in Tractate Eruvin 21a).
[edit] In Christianity
Christianity accepts the Book of Job as canon in the Old Testament and thus contains the same information regarding Job as discussed above in the Hebrew Bible. In addition, Job is mentioned in the New Testament: the Epistle of James 5:11 cites Job as an example of perseverance in suffering. The New Testament also quotes and references the Book of Job throughout.
Job's declaration "I know that my Redeemer lives" (Job 19:25) is considered by Christians to be a proto-Christian statement of belief, and is the basis of several Christian hymns.
Some hold that Job was not a real historical figure. In this view, the narrative is a parable, written under divine inspiration in order to teach theological truths, but was never meant to be taken as literally true in a historical sense.
He is commemorated as a patriarch by the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in their Calendar of Saints on May 9, and in the Calendar of saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on August 30.
[edit] In Islam
In the Qur'an, Job is known as Ayoub (Arabic: أيوب ), which is Arabic for Job, and is considered a prophet in Islam. In the Arabic language the name of Job (Ayyūb) is symbolic of the virtue of patience, though it does not mean patience in itself.
There are a number of references to Job in the Qur'an. They include:
[edit] In Mormonism
Belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) about Job parallels that of other Christian faiths which affirms that Job existed in real life. This comes from reference to standard biblical sources on Job. Another basis for viewing Job as real and his story as having occurred historically, comes from a revelation given to Mormon founder and prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. , in which, Christ referred to Job. The revelation is dated March 20, 1839, while Smith was a prisoner at Liberty Jail, Missouri. In response to Smith's plea ("O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? ... How long shall [thy people] suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?..."), Christ reminded Smith that his sufferings were not as severe as were Job's: "Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands. Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgressions, as they did Job" (Doctrine and Covenants 121:1-3, 9-10).
[edit] Local traditions regarding Job
In Palestinian folk tradition Job's place of trial is Al-Joura, a village outside the town of Al Majdal. It was there God rewarded him with a fountain of youth that removed whatever illnesses he had, and gave him back his youth. The town of Al-Joura was a place of annual festivities (4 days in all) when people of many faiths gathered and bathed in a natural spring.
In Turkish tradition, Job is known as Eyyûb or Eyüp and lived in Şanlıurfa’[3].
There is also a tomb of Job outside the city of Salalah in Oman.
Additionally, the Druze community also maintains a tomb for the Prophet Job in the El-Chouf mountain district in Lebanon. (See photo on right) Cultural Heritage
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Rabbi Yehudah Prero “The Passover Hagadah Maggid - Relating the Chain of Events Part 2”
- ^ “Iyyov – Job” WEBSHAS Index to the Talmud
- ^ Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism web page on Şanlıurfa’
[edit] External links
- Book of Job (English)
- Book of Job with Hebrew and English
- Themes of Job
- Summary of Job's life.
- A resource page network on Job
- Putting God on Trial - The Biblical Book of Job complete online commentary
- Aristeas identifies Job with the Jobab mentioned in Genesis 36:33, a great-grandson of Esau
- An international fraternal organization for young women based on the teachings of the book of Job.
- The Story of Ayyub (Job). The same page is also available here
| Prophets of Islam in the Qur'an | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam | Idris | Nuh | Hud | Saleh | Ibrahim | Lut | Ismail | Is'haq | Yaqub | Yusuf | Ayoub |  |
|
| آدم | إدريس | نوح | هود | صالح | إبراهيم | لوط | إسماعيل | إسحاق | يعقوب | يوسف | أيوب | ||
| Adam | Enoch | Noah | Eber | Shelah | Abraham | Lot | Ishmael | Isaac | Jacob | Joseph | Job | ||
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Shoaib | Musa | Harun | Dhul-Kifl | Daud | Sulayman | Ilyas | Al-Yasa | Yunus | Zakariya | Yahya | Isa | Muhammad | |
| شُعيب | موسى | هارون | ذو الكفل | داود | سليمان | إلياس | إليسع | يونس | زكريا | يحيى | عيسى | مُحمد | |
| Jethro | Moses | Aaron | Ezekiel | David | Solomon | Elijah | Elisha | Jonah | Zechariah | John | Jesus | Joshua |
|
