Waters has made an outstanding contribution to the study of the book of. In the book of job, job has three friends approach him and condemn him for evil. With all that, there is quite a bit of truth in elihu s speech compared to the other three. Because job was suffering, they were of the opinion that job had some hidden evil. Elihu responded to jobs false assertions that god was his enemy and was unfair and unresponsive to his pleadings. He is one of jobs friends who appear after jobs three friends eliphaz, bildad, and zophar came to comfort him. A series on the book of job with youth pastor cody snow.
Job never responds to elihus speeches, though elihu asks for a response job 33. There is more to see of gods purpose in suffering than we may think. His old testament textbook, a survey of the old testament, is used in. In terms of formstructure, this speech is similar to other speeches in the book. Job was probably of an older generation than elihu. The book of job consists of a prose prologue and epilogue narrative framing poetic dialogues and monologues. So these three men ceased answering job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. If the author of the book of job is in fact job, then the inclusion of elihus discourses may have been especially pertinent to job because of the close affinity of elihus thoughts and sentiments to jobs own thinking, prior to this his change. The bulk of elihu s speech then focuses on the justice of god, which elihu feels job has maligned.
The particularity with which elihus descent is given, as contrasted with the others, led lightfoot to. Chapters 45 contain his first speech, which focuses on the theme of the innocent prospering. Redditt georgetown college the field of old testament study today is marked by disagreement over method, in particular readeror audiencebased methods and historicalcritical methods including source, form, and redaction criticism. Jun 14, 2017 a2a what is the role of elihu in the book of job. First, one can thus imagine the book without the elihu speeches, although we do not know such a book of job from the textual history. He concludes his speech with an effort to speak on gods behalf and by ascribing righteousness to the almighty. In other words, eliphaz thought that job, who was obviously. Elihu, in the hebrew bible, a comforter of job, the biblical prototype of undeserved suffering. Dec 03, 2010 the third and best understanding of elihu s role in the book of job is that he helps to prepare job for gods appearance in the whirlwind. It is elihu and the prophets isaiah and malachi who tell us the sins of job. Elihu, also spelled eliu, in the hebrew bible, a comforter of job, the biblical prototype of undeserved suffering. It is common to view the narrative frame as the original core of the book, enlarged later by the poetic dialogues and discourses, and sections of the book such as the elihu speeches and the wisdom poem of chapter 28 as late insertions, but recent trends have tended.
This estimate seems, however, to take into account only the part it plays in a didactic treatise, or a theological debate. Then the wrath of elihu, the son of barachel the buzite, of the family of ram, was aroused against job. Elihus speeches seem more a criticism of the whole book of job to this point than of job himself. However, if it can be demonstrated that elihus speeches are. Elihu was one of job s 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 bulk of this argument comes from putting god on trial. Elihu is identified only as the son of barakel the buzite, of the family of ram job 32. As with the other participants, elihu is forced to picture job as a wicked person if his theological assumptions are to stand. Job 32 new international readers version nirv the speech of elihu. Elihu waited out jobs speech, for they were all older than he. 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. Nov 11, 2014 in the book of job, job has three friends approach him and condemn him for evil.
So a young man appears on the scene in chapter 32 named elihu. Jul 24, 2015 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 jobs three friends job 45, 8, 11, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25. Elihu strongly condemns the approach taken by the three friends, and argues that job is misrepresenting gods righteousness and discrediting his loving. Jan 02, 2020 after jobs complaints in job 3, eliphaz is the first of the friends to speak. Chapter 31, which precedes the elihu speeches, presents, so to speak. He is also angry at the three friends for not being able to refute job and angry at job for justifying himself.
I admit that there are some things in elihus speeches very hard to understand. He is said to have descended from guz who may be from the line of abraham genesis 22. 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. Outline and examination of the person elihu the context of elihu speeches an outline of job 3237 the person of elihu 4. Mackey was the young elihu of the book of job chs 3237, as according to some, an enlightened prophet whose input is crucial to the dialogue, providing a bridge between job and god, or, as according to mason, an astonishingly pompous little windbag. Not only do they incur the indignation of job and his other friend elihu, but god himself rebukes them, saying to eliphaz, i am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant job has. John walton, job, lecture 20, elihus discourse job. In other words, eliphaz thought that job, who was obviously not prospering, must have done something wrong. Elihu is the spokesman of god, for 6 chapters, leading up to the summit of the book, which begins in 38. 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. In the book of job, it becomes clear that the first three of jobs friends eliphaz, blidad, and zophar speak wrongly. The role and character of elihu in the book of job the doc file.
Book of job is first of the poetic books of the old testament. How was what elihu said any different from what jobs other three friends. Waters has made an outstanding contribution to the study of the book of job and the subject of undeserved suffering. But the writer of the book of job is not satisfied to live that way. Elihu is also never rebuked by job, like his three friends were. Given the fact that elihu is never mentioned in the book of job outside of chapters 3237, and that these. Even when job is given opportunity to speak, elihu does not hear a cross word from him job 33.
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. Elihu is known as the son of barakel the buzite, of the family of ram job 32. Job chapter 32 coffmans commentary of the new testament. The bulk of elihus speech then focuses on the justice of god, which elihu feels job has maligned. Commentary on the book of job chapter thirtytwo by wm w wells. The role and character of elihu in the book of job the. Job, job, book of he is described as the son of baerachel the buzite. Elihu is a bit prideful himself when he says hear what i know. Hindi elihu is known as the son of barakel the buzite, of the family of ram job 32. Elihu charges job with adding to his sin by multiplying words against god without knowledge job 34. There is a dramatic interruption in the book of job at this spot. Some critics have considered that the elihu portion of the book of job was added by a later hand, and urge obscurities and prolixities, as well as a different style, to prove that it was the work of an inferior writer. The book of job is considered being part of the poetic books job, psalms, proverbs, ecclesiastes, and song of songs in todays bible editions.
However, the identity of names does not necessarily prove the identity of persons. His speech uses material and language from the other speeches that. Elihus speech comes after the final words of job in the third speech cycle 31. Job is the perfect target for this because his speeches pose questions. Also waterss discussion of elihus four speeches shows that critics are wrong in suggesting elihus view of suffering was no different from that of jobs three companions. Just in the nick of time, elihu pops in to tell job that he may not have sinned, but he still has no right to question his fate.
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. He exhorted job to look at suffering from a different. In job 3237 elihu offers a response to job that lifts up the lord, condemns jobs three friends, and rightly confronts job. Interpretations of elihu in job biblical hermeneutics. Dec 03, 2010 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. Interpretations of elihu in job biblical hermeneutics stack. Many of these problems relate to the structure of the book itself.
Evidence that elihu prepared job for god the bible meditator. There are a lot of students of the book of job who think elihu is no better than jobs three comforters, repeating their same mistakes. Elihu charges job with adding to his sin by multiplying words against god without knowledge 34. It goes like a play and deals with an old question puzzling everyone, the problem of human suffering. He thinks that the doctrine of retribution is the answer to jobs situation. Elihu is not mentioned either before or after his speech. Reading the speech cycles in the book of job by paul l.
First, the name elihu is a variant spelling of the name elijah, and elihu s actions in the book of job suggest a strong connection to the great prophet. Elihu takes a mediators path he attempts to maintain the sovereignty and righteousness and gracious mercy of god. And he wants his readers to know that god has not concealed all of his ways. Free online bible classes the elihu speech chapters 3237. 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. The story of job opens with a scene in heaven where the devil comes to accuse job before god. Elihu by arthur davis on 28 march 2010 10 comments. Yet much of elihu s speech seems similar to the speeches of the first three. After jobs complaints in job 3, eliphaz is the first of the friends to speak.
Elihu definition, a young man who entered into discourse with job. John walton, job, lecture 20, elihus discourse job 32. Recently, i read through the book of job again and saw some things in elihus speech that i had not noticed before, which i believe provide insight into whether he was a johnthebaptistlike figure or not, as some scholars think, preparing the. Thats because job said he himself was right instead of god. A final indication that elihu is speaking for god is his theology, which is extraordinary, especially as it unfolds in chapters 34 and 35. Elihu thinks that the other three did not convince job because they did not give a satisfactory answer, but elihu ends up repeating what they have already said. Aug 30, 2012 recently, i read through the book of job again and saw some things in elihus speech that i had not noticed before, which i believe provide insight into whether he was a johnthebaptistlike figure or not, as some scholars think, preparing the heart of job for an appearance from god. Analysis of the elihu speeches and his view of suffering part one i. In addition, job repents of the very mistake both elihu and god had brought to his attentionspeaking words without knowledge job 42. And god must get job not only to stop justifying himself but also to begin justifying god.
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. He isnt mentioned as one of jobs friends, but apparently he was there listening in on their conversation, because he knows all about it when he chimes in. Interpretations of elihu in job biblical hermeneutics stack exchange. He has published major commentaries on genesis and job in the nivac series. After all, gods universe is still endowed with immortal power.
Elihu was the only person in the book of job to speak any length of words and be entirely without condemnation in the eyes of god, insofar as the book of job has told us. It is generally agreed by scholars that the elihu speeches in the book of job chaps. In his third speech elihu responds to two questions he has heard job ask. Unfortunately, two erroneous interpretations of jobs theses are by far the most popular. The authenticity of the elihu speeches in job 3237 29 allotted to elihu in comparison to the four chapters assigned to eliphaz, the three to bildad, and the two to zophar, b the placement of the elihu speeches in the book, and c the reaction the speeches have drawn from critical circles on the question of authenticity. 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.
Aug 18, 2016 he has published major commentaries on genesis and job in the nivac series. His old testament textbook, a survey of the old testament, is used in colleges across the country. Yet even if god speaks to us through a little child, or perhaps a donkey, he always gives us enough evidence to discern his voice. His speech uses material and language from the other speeches that we heard first. With large parts of job being the arguments of his friends which are afterwards being repudiated by god himself, and job repen. Job refutes every speech of the three with eight speeches of his own. When it comes down to it, job is asking the wrong questions of god. Elihus picture of god is definitely different from the three friends. We also know without a doubt by what is said in the last chapter of the book of job. 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. With all that, there is quite a bit of truth in elihus speech compared to the other three. After a few rounds of back and forth, the friends quite down.
Gods wisdom is not limited by human assumptiona defense of elihus intrusion ii. In job 32 elihu focuses his response on rebuking jobs three. Oct 23, 2014 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. So job releases his selfjustification after gods first speech.
A series on the book of job part 3 interlude of wisdom. Aug 07, 2015 in other words, job has justified himself job 31. It is common to view the narrative frame as the original core of the book, enlarged later by the poetic dialogues and discourses, and sections of the book such as the elihu speeches and the wisdom poem of chapter 28 as late insertions, but recent trends have tended to concentrate on the. Weve just written essays on the book of job, and ive been looking at whether or not the text answers questions of suffering. Apr 18, 2020 a series on the book of job with youth pastor cody snow. Chapter 32 of the book of job is directed at jobs three friends.
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