Jewish Scripture Ocr Exam - Job

Front 1

Does the text identify the author?

Back 1

No

Front 2

Who is the author of Job?

Back 2

Possibly Job, Elihu, or a contemporary of Job:


1. The date of the book leans toward a patriarchal age
2. The foreign tone of the book allows for it to have been written by Job (Arabic words, nomadic habits, illustrations from sandy plains, awareness of nature and the arts)

Front 3

What did the Biblical scholar, Jacques Bolduc (1637), say regarding the authorship of Job?

Back 3

Job may have been authored in a secondary way by Moses who found it in its original Aramaic form and translated it into Hebrew
1. This could account for:
a. Its being possessed by the Hebrews
b. Its attaining a canonical status
c. The Aramaic tone in some of the terms and modes of expression in the text

2. But the style of Job is not really Mosaic; Moses uses the name of Yahweh often whereas Job uses other names, Job uses Arabic words unlike Moses, Moses would not have been familiar with Arabic customs, opinions, and manners

Front 4

When was Job written?

Back 4

Probably pre-Mosaic, even patriarchal from the second Millennium B.C.

Front 5

Where is Job located?

Back 5

a. Uz (northern Arabia)
b. Job’s friend, Eliphaz, came from Teman, a city in Edom
c. Elihu came from the Buzites who lived next to the Chaldeans in northeast Arabia

Front 6

What support is there for a pre-Mosaic date?

Back 6

a. The patriarchal family-clan organization reflects the time of Abraham rather than after the Exodus
b. The offering of sacrifice by the head of the family rather than a priest reflects a time before the Exodus
c. The mention of a qesitah as a type of money (Job 42:11) suggests a date which is at least during the time of Joshua (cf. Jos. 24:32), if not during the patriarchal period (cf. Gen 33:19)

Front 7

What support is there for an early millennium date of Job as a contemporary with the patriarchs?

Back 7

a. The reference in Ezekiel 14:14 to Job and Daniel may be a reference to the ancient Canaanite hero Dan’el who was a prominent figure in the Ugaritic epics rather than to the contemporary prophet, Daniel

b. Other names in Job are authentic for the second millennium B.C.:
1) Bildad was short for Yabil Dadum, a name found in cuneiform sources of the second millennium B.C.
2) Job is found in the “Babylonian Job”, a cuneiform composition

Front 8

Highlight six key purposes of Job for believers

Back 8

A. To demonstrate that God is worthy of love apart from the blessings He provides
B. To explain that God may allow suffering as a means to purify and strengthen a person in godliness
C. To emphasize that man is unable to view life from God’s vast perspective

D. To explore the justice of God who treats the righteous with suffering
E. To demonstrate to the evil angels (Satan) that God’s practice of blessing the righteous is not a hindrance to the development of true righteousness
F. To address Mankind’s wrestling with affliction which defies human explanation

Front 9

• How was Job considered before God?

Back 9

Job was considered blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil.

Front 10

• What had God blessed Job with?

Back 10

God had blessed Job with seven sons, three daughters, and many animals. He was the greatest man of the land because of all his possessions.

Front 11

• What would Job do for his sons in fear of the Lord?

Back 11

Job feared his sons may have sinned or cursed God. He would sanctify them through burnt offerings on a regular basis.

Front 12

• For what reason did Satan determine that Job was faithful?

Back 12

Satan determined that Job was faithful because of all God had blessed him with and because God protected Job from harm.

Front 13

• What did God not allow Satan to do to Job? What did Satan do to Job?

Back 13

God allowed Satan to fall into Satan's hands and therefore harm, but would not allow Satan to physically hurt Job. Satan first destroyed Job's flocks and animals through human means and then killed Job's children by natural disaster.

Front 14

• What was Job's reaction to God?

Back 14

Job accepted all the calamity against him and did not blame or curse God.

Front 15

• What further harm did Satan want to try against Job? How was He limited?

Back 15

Satan wanted to harm Job physically but could not take his life.

Front 16

• With what did Satan strike Job?

Back 16

Satan struck Job with painful boils all over his body, from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head.

Front 17

• What did Job curse and for what did he long?

Back 17

Job cursed the day he was born. He long for death rather than the prolonged agony he was in.

Front 18

• What does Eliphaz tell Job about God's justice?

Back 18

Eliphaz points out that God does not punish the innocent or righteous. The wicked reap what they sow.

Front 19

• What vision did Eliphaz say he received? What was revealed to him?

Back 19

Eliphaz said a spirit appeared to him in the night. The spirit explained to him that if God can find error with the angels and His servants how much more will He find fault with mere mortal man?

Front 20

• What does Eliphaz hint is the cause of Job's troubles?

Back 20

Eliphaz believes that trouble comes from God upon someone because of their sin. He is hinting that Job must have some sin that has brought this calamity upon himself.

Front 21

• According to Eliphaz, what should Job be doing now?

Back 21

Job should be seeking God in his affliction for His pardon, favor, and help rather than accusing Him.

Front 22

• How heavy is Job's grief?

Back 22

If Job's grief could be weighed, it would be heavier than the sand of the sea.

Front 23

• What did Job wish for from God?

Back 23

He wished that God would put him out of his misery by taking his life away from him.

Front 24

• What did Job feel that his friend should show before him?

Back 24

He felt that Eliphaz should have shown compassion, kindness, and belief in him not judgment and accusation.

Front 25

• How does Job compare his suffering?

Back 25

Job says there is a time of hard service for man on earth but he still gets his pay and his rest. He, however, has not been comforted at all.

Front 26

• What does Job ask God concerning his transgression?

Back 26

If he has sinned against man or God what has he done and why hasn't God forgiven him by now?

Front 27

• What is Bildad's assessment of God's judgment on Job?

Back 27

Bildad states that God will not pervert justice. Judgment comes upon all who sin. Therefore, Job must have some secret sin.

Front 28

• What does Bildad tell Job to judge by concerning his own condition?

Back 28

Bildad tells Job to judge from the past. Those who forgot God perished.

Front 29

• How can man justify themselves before God according to Job?

Back 29

1. Job says that it is impossible to justify yourself before God. God is powerful, the designer of all, invisible, and does things we cannot understand.

Front 30

• How does God judge the wicked and the righteous according to Job?

Back 30

Judgment comes upon the wicked and the blameless alike.

Front 31

• What does Job ask of God?

Back 31

Job asks God to show him his sin, for why does He despise the work of his hand and smile on the wicked?

Front 32

• Job feels that God has forgotten that man was intricately designed by Him and is made a very fragile being.

Back 32

What does Job feel God has forgotten?

Front 33

• For what does Job wish?

Back 33

Job wishes that he would not have been born or would have died at birth. Then he would not have to suffer as he is now. He wishes for a few remaining days of comfort.

Front 34

• What does Zophar urge Job to do?

Back 34

Zophar urges Job to put his sin far away from him and to repent before God. Then God will hear him and his days would brighten up.

Front 35

• What does Job answer concerning his own knowledge and understanding?

Back 35

Job answers that he too has understanding not inferior to his friends. He knows the things they say and that they are true.

Front 36

• What does Job conclude to his friends about God's actions?

Back 36

Job concludes that God is in charge of everything, therefore God has done all this to him even the just and the blameless.

Front 37

• How did Job feel toward his friends?

Back 37

Job felt that they were speaking unjustifiably for God and they were not helping him by prescribing their incorrect remedies.

Front 38

• How did Job believe God regarded him?

Back 38

Job believed God regarded him as an enemy though he was like a leaf blown in the wind or dry stubble that should be of no interest to God.

Front 39

• What does Job determine about the condition of man on earth?

Back 39

Job determines that man's time is short on the earth and is determined by God. Man is in misery not only when he dies because there is no hope to live again but also while he lives because of his sufferings.

Front 40

• What does Job feel God has done to him?

Back 40

Job feels God has come against him in many areas. God has made him repulsive to his family, friends, and others. He is treated as an enemy of God.

Front 41

• What faith does Job profess?

Back 41

Job still has faith that God is his Redeemer, he will see Him in heaven, and the root of righteousness will be found in him

Front 42

• What does Job hope to hear from his friends?

Back 42

Job's profession of his faith in God and of his innocence to be found gives him a hope that his friends will speak comfort to him instead of persecuting him with their words.

Front 43

• What warning does Job give to his friends?

Back 43

His friends should be aware of their own sins and of judgment for themselves.

Front 44

• What is the first question that God asks of Job?

Back 44

Why did Job refuse counsel and spoke without knowledge?

Front 45

• What thought did God present to Job in His discourse?

Back 45

God showed Job that He is the ultimate Creator, knowledgeable about all things, places, and all knowing of all that happens. God only keeps the elements in place. How could Job question God or His justice?

Front 46

• How does Job respond to God's revealing of His omnipotence?

Back 46

Job is repentant for all that he has said against God. He seeks to humble himself in dust and ashes.

Front 47

• Why did God speak against Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar?

Back 47

Job's three friends did not speak for God correctly. Some things they said to Job were true in a general sense as it would apply to wicked people. They did not express any mercy toward Job or help him to be comforted. They should also have admitted, as Job had, that they did not know all the ways of God and therefore did not understand why God would allow this adversity upon Job.

Front 48

• Why was Elihu not reproved by God?

Back 48

Elihu had dealt more mercifully with Job. He had not condemned Job but had rebuked him for his only real fault - his rebellious attitude toward God.

Front 49

• How did God restore Job?

Back 49

God restored to Job twice as much as he had once possessed.

Front 50

• What is the lesson of Job for all people?

Back 50

We must trust and honor God whether we receive blessings or not or even when adversity comes on us. When adversity befalls us we should look inside ourselves to see if or what wrong we have committed. If we see and know of a wrong we should confess it and do what ever is necessary to make things right both before man and God. If we have done nothing wrong then we should let God be our anchor and know that He is always with the righteous. We should not become angry at God but rather seek Him for strength and security. We must not question Him severely but know that God has infinite wisdom and power. He has created all things on earth and all living beings. He is in full control of all that He has created. We must remember His greatness, love, and mercy and trust in Him to get us through any adversity. Yes, God will punish the wicked either now or later. His wisdom and timing will be supreme and appropriate. God will solely deal justice to all or may even direct us to do His work. At times the righteous may suffer for some reason. We should not instantly assume guilt upon them. We should try to comfort them while remembering that God sees and knows all and will heal the righteous. God also allows things to happen for our perfection or building up. Though a righteous person may suffer now, he should reverently, respectively, and wisely rely and trust in God's wisdom, love, and justice.