Job (Biblical figure)

Job restored to prosperity by Laurent de la Hyre

Job (pronounced /ˈdʒoʊb/; Hebrew: אִיּוֹב, Modern Iyyov Tiberian ʾIyyôḇ, Arabic: أيّوب‎ ʾAyoub) is the central character of the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible. The Book of Job begins with an introduction to Job's character — he is described as a blessed man who lives righteously. Satan challenges Job's integrity, proposing to God that Job serves him simply because God protects him. God removes Job's protection, allowing Satan to take his wealth, his children, and his physical health in order to tempt Job to curse God. Despite his difficult circumstances, he does not curse God, but rather curses the day of his birth. And although he protests his plight and pleads for an explanation, he stops short of accusing God of injustice. Most of the book consists of conversations between Job and his three friends concerning Job's condition and its possible reasons, after which God responds to Job and his friends. God opens his speech with the famous words, "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me." [1] After God's reply, Job is overwhelmed and says, "I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth." [2] Job realizes how little he knew; he confesses to the Lord,"My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you."[3] Then Job is restored to an even better condition than his former wealthy state, and lives for another 140 years. [4].

The characters in the book of Job consist of Job, his wife, his friends, God, and Satan. Neither the patriarchs nor any other biblical characters make an appearance.

Contents

In ancient and medieval books

In addition to the Book of Job, Job appears in several books:

Job in Judaism

A clear majority of Rabbinical Torah scholars saw Job as having existed; an actual historical figure. 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.[7] However, the book of Job itself contains no indication of this, and to the prophet Ezekiel, Yahweh refers to Job as a righteous man of the same calibre as Noah and Daniel. [8]

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 [9]:

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. 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.

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

In the Qur'an, Job is Ayoub (Arabic: أيّوب‎) in Arabic 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. Job's narrative in the Qur'an is similar to the brief Qur'anic description of prophet Dhul-Kifl (most commonly identified with Ezekiel) as both men are seen as men of "patience".

There are a number of references to Job in the Qur'an. They include:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, "While Job was naked, taking a bath, a swarm of gold locusts fell on him and he started collecting them in his garment. His Lord called him, 'O Job! Have I not made you rich enough to need what you see? He said, 'Yes, O Lord! But I cannot dispense with your Blessing.Volume 4, Book 55, Number 604: Sahih Bukhari

Local traditions regarding Job

An outer view of the Druze shrine of Prophet Job
The tomb of Job, outside Salalah, Oman

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.

The Bosnian version of the name is spelt Ejub/Ejup and pronounced Eyub/Eyup.

The tomb of Job is believed to be situated 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

The Turkish city of Urfa (formerly Edessa) claims to be the location at which Job underwent his ordeal, and has a well said to be the one formed when he struck the ground with his foot as described in the Qur'an.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Job 38:3
  2. ↑ Job 40:4
  3. ↑ Job 42:5
  4. ↑ Job 42:16-17
  5. ↑ Ezekiel 14:14-18
  6. ↑ James 5:11
  7. ↑ Rabbi Yehudah Prero “The Passover Hagadah Maggid - Relating the Chain of Events Part 2”
  8. ↑ Ezekiel 14:14
  9. ↑ “Iyyov – Job” WEBSHAS Index to the Talmud

External links

Prophets in the Hebrew Bible
Pre-Patriarchs (Bible)
Adam · Abel · Kenan · Enoch · Noah (rl) · Eber
Patriarchs and Matriarchs
Abraham · Isaac · Jacob · Joseph · Sarah (rl) · Rebecca · Rachel · Leah
Israelite prophets
in the Torah
Moses (rl) · Aaron · Miriam · Eldad & Medad · Phinehas
Prophets mentioned
in the First Prophets
Joshua · Deborah · Eli · Elkanah · Hannah · Abigail · Samuel · Gad · Nathan · David · Solomon · Jeduthun · Ahiyah · Elijah · Elisha · Shemaiah · Iddo · Azariah · Hanani · Jehu · Micaiah · Jahaziel · Eliezer · Zechariah ben Jehoiada · Oded · Huldah · Uriah
Major Prophets
Isaiah (rl) · Jeremiah · Ezekiel · Daniel (rl)
Minor Prophets
Hosea · Joel · Amos · Obadiah · Jonah (rl) · Micah · Nahum · Habakkuk · Zephaniah · Haggai · Zechariah · Malachi
Noahide prophets
Beor · Balaam · Job (rl) · Eliphaz · Bildad · Zophar · Elihu
Other prophets
Amoz · Beeri · Baruch · Buzi · Mordecai · Esther (rl)
Italics denote that the status as a prophet is not universally accepted. · rl are articles dealing with the prophet within Rabbinic Literature.