Job (Bible)

William Blake's illustration of Satan inflicting boils on Job.

Job (/'dʒoʊb/; Hebrew: אִיּוֹב, Standard Iyyov Tiberian ʾIyyôḇ ; Arabic: أَيُّوبٌ‎, ʾ Ayyoub), 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 blessed man who lives righteously. Satan, however, challenges Job's integrity, arguing that Job serves God simply because of the "hedge" with which God protects him. God progressively removes that protection, allowing Satan to take his wealth, his children, and his physical health. Job remains loyal throughout, and does not curse God. The main portion of the text consists of the discourse of Job and his three friends concerning why Job was so punished, after which God steps in to answer Job and his friends. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning and he lived 140 years (Job 42:10,17).

Contents

In ancient literature

Job appears in several works of ancient literature:

Job in Judaism

Main article: Job in rabbinic literature

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 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. Job was renowned for his persistent perseverance to God through his trials. 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.

Job in Islam

The front entrance to the tomb of the Prophet Job, at the Druze region of Lebanon (Al-Chouf)
An outer view of the Druze shrine of Prophet Job
The tomb of Job, outside Salalah, Oman

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:

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 in Jabal Qara outside the city of Salalah in Southern 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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rabbi Yehudah Prero “The Passover Hagadah Maggid - Relating the Chain of Events Part 2”
  2. ↑ “Iyyov – Job” WEBSHAS Index to the Talmud
  3. ↑ Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism web page on Şanlıurfa’

External links

Prophets of Judaism & Christianity in the Hebrew Bible
Abraham · Isaac · Jacob · Moses (rl) · Aaron · Miriam · Eldad & Medad · The seventy elders of Israel · Joshua · Phinehas Black Star of David.svg
Deborah · Samuel · Saul · Saul's men · David · Jeduthun · Solomon  |  Gad · Nathan · Ahiyah · Elijah · Elisha  |  Isaiah (rl) · Jeremiah · Ezekiel
Hosea · Joel · Amos · Obadiah · Jonah (rl) · Micah · Nahum · Habakkuk · Zephaniah · Haggai · Zechariah · Malachi Christian cross.svg
Shemaiah · Iddo · Azariah · Hanani · Jehu · Micaiah · Jahaziel · Eliezer · Zechariah ben Jehoiada · Oded · Huldah · Uriah
Judaism:
Sarah (rl) · Rachel· Rebecca · Joseph · Eli · Elkanah · Hannah (mother of Samuel) · Abigail · Amoz (father of Isaiah) · Beeri (father of Hosea) · Hilkiah (father of Jeremiah) · Shallum (uncle of Jeremiah) · Hanamel (cousin of Jeremiah) · Buzi · Mordecai · Esther · (Baruch)		 Christianity:
Abel · Enoch (ancestor of Noah) · Daniel
Non-Jewish: Kenan · Noah (rl) · Eber · Bithiah · Beor · Balaam · Balak · Job · Eliphaz · Bildad · Zophar · Elihu