Wisdom Lit Final Exam
Why do some consider Elihu a later addition?
-he is not referred to in the nook outside of this section -Job makes no reply to Elihu -Nothing before ch.32 prepares the reader for Elihu, and a short prologue is necessary to introduce him -the three friends never directly quote Job's statements or address him personally in the way Elihu does There are distinctive difference between these chapters and other sections of the book in use of language and style -it is argued that Elihu contributes nothing really significant to the content o the book
6 ways to interpret the book of songs of songs
Allegorical-God's love for Israel/Christ's love for the Church Typical -themes of love and devotion used within the interpretation Dramatic -origins from Greek theater Nuptial songs- used for wedding ceremony Liturgical rites- adapting from ancient near eastern neighbors, for religious duties love song
What animals did God mention in 40-41 & what do they mean?
Behemoth-beast, traditionally thought of as a hippopotamus Leviathan-sea creature traditionally thought of as a crocodile They are animals only tamed, controlled, and understood by God
Progression of speeches/themes of cycles
First cycle of speeches every states their thoughts and does not listen to the other, logically developed arguments, all tell Job to confess & repent. The second cycle of speeches become more strained and aggressive as the friends become impatient with Job. They focus their rhetoric on the terrible fate of Job. Job longs for reconciliation with God.The third cycle the speeches are shorter the tone of comfort has turned to condemnation, they pronounce Job guilty and give up on trying to get him to confess.
"Redeemer in Job 19"
Goal-related to kinsman-redeemer, the redeemer will stand as a witness for Job, the redeemer keeps the integrity and reputation of the individual or group intact.
Qualities of God that we learn in the book of Job
God allows evil, God is infinite and beyond human comprehension. God is sovereign and aware of everything that happens in all of creation, he is not only aware of all of it, He is in charge of all of it, from the smallest thing to the largest beast. God is personal, he answers Job. God answers to no one.
Things Job did not do in Chapter 31
He has not lusted after other women He has not been deceitful He has treated his servants well He has not turned away from helping the poor and needy He has not made wealth his trust He has not concealed his iniquity or kept sin hidden in his heart
Why did God question Job?
He is not trying to make Job seem stupid, but to let Job know that God is God and Job is human and finite, wanting Job is realize that if he cannot understand how God governs the natural world, how can he expect to understand God's ways with humans?
What two sides of God did Job see?
His glory and his nearness?
What is God's two-fold will?
His glory and our good? For us to grow to trust him and be shaped more into his image.
Who might have been related to Jacob?
Job's Wife, tradition says she's Dinah, Jacob's daughter.
Things Job did in Chapter 31
Made a promise not to lust for women He has helped the orphan and widow and taken care of those in need He has opened his door to the sojourner & traveler
Reasons for Job being an early book
No central priesthood No central shrine alluded to, their is no particular place to worship Primitive religious activity Had possessions and longevity of life that may have been during patriarchal times
Elihu
One of Job's friends who never speaks until the end and then is never addressed by God. Elihu is arrogant and pious and wrongly thinks he is the mouthpiece of God and has divine revelation. Believes God has answered Job through a dream that Job is ignoring.Elihu thinks he is the redeemer Job has been looking for.
Eliphaz
One of Job's friends, the oldest who speaks first and has the longest speech, tells Job to cheer up, there is a reason all this has happened to him. Says that his advice came from a personal divine revelation in a dream. With each speech he becomes more angry with Job and eventually states that Job is suffering due to his sin.
Bildad
One of Job's friends- the traditionalist, his speeches are characterized by rigid dualistic thinking. "This is the way it's always been" If you confess God will forgive you references the proverbs and utilizes metaphors of the papyrus, the spiders web, & the gourd. uses another proverb in his second speech. "The lamp of the wicked".
What genre is Job 28?
Poem-wisdom interlude
What genre is Job 3?
Poetry
Outline of the book of Job
Prologue (1-2) Job's Lament (3) 1st cycle of speeches (4-14) Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar 2nd cycle of speeches (15021) 3rd cycle of speeches (22-17) Wisdom mInterlude (28) Job's Soliloquy (29-31) Elihu's Intervention (32-37) Yahweh's response (38-41) Job's repentance (42:1-6) Epilogue (42:7-17)
Prologue & epilogue
Prose , name for God in prologue is Yahweh & in the body is Elohim
Who said "skin for skin"
Satan
What do we know about Satan in the book of Job?
Satan is under God's Authority, he is in control of evil but God knows and allows it
What genre is Job 29-31?
Soliloquy, Poetry
Theodicy
The justice of God
Zophar
The orthodox pragmatist, uses strict deductive logic. Man cannot understand God, Job must put away wickedness to receive blessings of God. Believes Job is being punished for his sin. Only speaks twice.
What does Job's name mean?
The persecuted one or penitent one
What areas of the book of Job are considered later by Scholars. Can these problems be resolved?
The prologue and epilogue
Reasons for Job being a later book
The theology of the prologue and epilogue is well-thought through the naming of Satan The loftiness of God (loft monotheism) Bears the stamp of wisdom literature
Job kept asking the question why, God gave him the answer
Who
Theocracy
a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.
When God spoke to Job in 38-39 what four categories of interaction did he discuss?
creation of the world, natural world, meteorological phenomena's-stars and galaxies , goes from finite to infinite, from lesser to greater
Overarching theme of the book of Job
deconstructing the lie of retribution theology, the steadfastness and endurance of Jog & the steadfastness and faithfulness of God. no one can completely understand the things of God.
Why is Chapter 5 in Lamentations not an acrostic
maybe author did not want to show completion and be aesthetically pleasing to reflect their situation
Theophany
the glory of God
Theories and understandings of Elihu
the insignificant, the buffer, the orthodox one, the problem-solver, the friend, the satan, but he most likely is not these. He is in fact an over confident, pious, foolish boy who believes he knows much more than he actually does.
yada
to know, an intimate experience with God
What three things did Job do after hearing his calamity?
tore his robe, shave his head, and fell on the ground and worshipped