Job (inveterate foe) In the Bible, O.T., name of a hero and title of a book. The biblical Job is believed to be based on a figure in Near Eastern legend as well as on two Babylonian works, The Poem of the Righteous Sufferer and the Acrostic Dialogue on Theodicy. The Book of Job is largely in the form of poetry, though parts of it, the introduction and epilogue, are in prose and indicate that the work is based on a folktale. Job was a good man who worshipped God. In return God rewarded Job with many children and with material prosperity. Satan, the Adversary, who was part of God’s court, taunted God, saying Job was good only because God took such good care of him. Remove his wealth and Job would curse God, Satan contended. God took up the challenge. Job lost his children and his wealth, and finally he was afflicted with a horrible skin disease.
Three friends, Bilad, Eliphaz, and Zophar, his “comforters,” came to discuss why God had afflicted Job. They contended that Job must have sinned and that God was punishing him for his sin. This belief of reward for good in this life and punishment for evil are central to most Old Testament thought and had a great influence on Puritan and Fundamentalist beliefs. Job, however, would not accept his guilt. He argued with his friends, saying that although God was punishing him, he was innocent.
Finally, God revealed himself to Job in all of his splendor. The question “Why do the innocent suffer?” is not answered. Instead Job is awed by God and accepts all. The Book of Job concludes with a prose folk tale in which Job’s goods and health are restored, a contradiction of the main poetic theme of the book. Some critics consider Job the greatest book in the Bible.
Martin Luther called it “magnificent and sublime as no other book of the Scripture,” and Alfred, Lord Tennyson believed it to be “the greatest poem of ancient and modern times.” Major art works inspired by Job include a series of etchings by William Blake and a symphonic score, Job, a Masque for Dancing, based on the Book of Job and the Blake etchings, by the English composer Ralph Vaughn Williams. In Islamic legend Job is called Aiyub and is cited in the Koran (sura 21): “And remember Job: When he cried to his Lord.”
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. DowCopyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante