Job (NICOT) by John E. Hartley

Author:John E. Hartley [Hartley, John E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion, Biblical Commentary, Old Testament
ISBN: 9780802825285
Google: f-m5GnRjDckC
Amazon: B002FBELCK
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Published: 1988-05-17T16:00:00+00:00

Aim

In his first speech Zophar described the destiny of both the wicked and the righteous. He painted for Job a striking contrast of their differing fates in order that Job might throw off his claim to innocence and adopt the way of the righteous. Job would again experience God’s blessings. In this speech Zophar treats only the negative tenet of the doctrine of retribution, the certain punishment of the wicked. No matter how high a sinner may seem to rise, his downfall will come quickly. The deceitful deeds that have led to his success bear in themselves a deadly poison that will destroy their doer. God himself enters the fray as a mighty warrior to bring down this arrogant foe. Then God holds court to pronounce the final sentence against that evildoer. In the end a torment sweeps away that guilty party and all that he has.

While speaking in principle, Zophar definitely has Job in mind. Much of his description of the woes of the evildoer alludes to Job’s calamity and to the wording in his laments. It is obvious that he is interpreting Job’s suffering as just, deserved punishment for arrogant sins.1 In his view Job’s crime would be oppressing the poor to amass his great wealth. If Job remains unconvinced, the divine court will soon convict him of his sins. Possibly Zophar hopes that his description of the woes of the wicked will move Job to repentance, but he extends no call to repentance. Perhaps then he has abandoned hope for Job and is defining his fate and its significance in order that Job might be aware of the outcome of his affliction. If this is true, Zophar has closed his thinking in reference to Job’s guilt. That is why he would have no reason to deliver a third speech. Having made up his mind that Job’s fate is sealed, he would have nothing more to say.

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