Elihu in the book of job

In this paper i discuss whether the elihu speeches are later interpolations or original to. In essence, job is an essay on the problem of evil. According to the book of job, elihu is one of job s friends, descended from nahor job 32. 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. In the book of job, it becomes clear that the first three of jobs friends eliphaz, blidad, and zophar speak wrongly. The words of elihu are introduced to us in chapter 32 not as a continuation or repetition of what the three friends had said, but as something new. Evidence that elihu prepared job for god the bible meditator. The book of job young elihu speaks 3237 objectives in studying this section 1 to examine elihu s perspective in the debate regarding job s suffering 2 to notice how elihu appears to prepare job for what the lord will have to say summary we are now introduced to a new voice in this discussion. Job, job, book of he is described as the son of baerachel the buzite. Elihus assertion that job had claimed innocence is an overstatement. 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. Questions about elihu in the book of job scripture zealot blog. The book, in its present form, loosely divides into five parts.

As a whole, the book appears to have been written as a direct challenge to the timehonored doctrine that people are rewarded or punished according to their merits. Elihu gives several speeches that carry with them many elements of biblical wisdom, but the final wisdom to be found in this great book comes not from jobs friends or from elihu, but from god himself. Elihu, in the hebrew bible, a comforter of job, the biblical prototype of undeserved suffering. In job, we see a man who god allows to be directly attacked by satan. To the casual observer, the book seems like a relentless rant against an unfortunate soul who was just a good guy trying to serve the lord. And then he takes it upon himself to spend about five chaptersan eighth of the entire bookspouting off his thoughts. 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. Oct 11, 2017 i mentioned, just briefly, the book of job, and this prophet elihu. As a whole, the book appears to have been written as a direct challenge to the timehonored doctrine that people are rewarded or. He is said to have descended from guz who may be from the line of abraham.

The book of job young elihu speaks 3237 objectives in studying this section 1 to examine elihus perspective in the debate regarding jobs suffering 2 to notice how elihu appears to prepare job for what the lord will have to say summary we are now introduced to a new voice in this discussion. So these three men ceased to answer job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Because he appears, dominates all discussion and then abruptly leaves, some modern commentators think that he wasnt really part of the story and was inserted into the account later by the author or another editor. He isnt mentioned as one of jobs friends, but apparently he was there listening in on their. Key personalities of this book include job, eliphaz the temanite, bildad the shuhite, zophar the naamathite, and elihu the buzite. According to elihu, the new element is that he is inspired to speak the wisdom jobs friends lacked. Interpretations of elihu in job biblical hermeneutics. Elihu is a character in the hebrew bibles book of job. Why wasnt elihu included in gods scolding to jobs friends. The book of job was also found among the dead sea scrolls.

In sunday school as a child, the book of job was presented to me as the story of. Job meets elihu kindle edition by borden, eli, borden. Commentary on the book of job chapter thirtytwo by wm w wells. Yet he was overlooked and associated with the three friends of job, who by the way were clearly jealous of job and always wanted to find an accusation against him.

The bulk of elihu s speech then focuses on the justice of god, which elihu feels job has maligned. 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. Unfortunately, two erroneous interpretations of jobs theses are by far the most popular. According to the book of job, elihu is one of jobs friends, descended from nahor job 32. Interpretations of elihu in job biblical hermeneutics stack. 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.

In the book of job, it becomes clear that the first three of job s friends eliphaz, blidad, and zophar speak wrongly. One of the captains of the thousands of manasseh, 1 chronicles 12. The elihu speeches1 their place and sense in the book of job ragnar andersen ragnar. Elihu also stood up as a witness for the biblical god jah, when others would not. 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. It is our hope that elihu books will continue to publish what is true about the biblical god jah, his son jesus of nazareth, and those who bear witness to them for good reasons. The book of job is, perhaps, one of the most difficult books of the bible for most christians to read.

He is said to have descended from buz who may be from the line of abraham genesis 22. 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. 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. Elihu charges job with adding to his sin by multiplying words against god without knowledge 34. 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. 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. Job 32 niv elihu so these three men stopped bible gateway. So these three men stopped answering job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. The babylonian talmud claims, moses wrote his own book, and the passages about balaam and job baba bathra, 14b, 15a.

To the casual observer, the book seems like a relentless rant against an unfortunate soul who was just a. Dialogue with elihu job 3237 bible commentary theology. Elihus value to the narrative of the book of job is first of all a summation of arguments. Elihu believed for good reasons given in the book of job that jah should be praised for his justice and abundance of righteousness. He had been successful in silencing eliphaz, bildad, and zophar, but he does not say one word against elihu even though elihu challenged him in 33. Elihu is the spokesman of god, for 6 chapters, leading up to the summit of the book, which begins in 38. It is our hope that elihu books will continue to publish what is true about the biblical god jah, his son jesus of nazareth, and. I learned it by reading the book of job, from the warriorprophet, not a page, whose name is elihu. He concludes his speech with an effort to speak on gods behalf and by ascribing righteousness to the almighty. Elihu, though young, starts to open up for us profound wisdom not yet revealed in the book of job, and begins the chapter by making it clear that he is speaking specifically to job job 33. Job pronounced jobe, was a rich farmer living in the land of uz, somewhere northeast of palestine. 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.

While he claims to be introducing new arguments neither will i answer him with your speeches, 32. He is mentioned late in the text, chapter 32, and opens his discourse with more modesty than displayed by the. Waters has made an outstanding contribution to the study of the book of job and the subject of undeserved suffering. Elihus picture of god is definitely different from the three friends. Elihu, the son of barachel the buzite, of the family of ram. Elihu hid his authorship, and prophetic voice with job. Elihu definition, a young man who entered into discourse with job. I mentioned, just briefly, the book of job, and this prophet elihu.

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. The role and character of elihu in the book of job the doc file. Then elihu the son of barachel the buzite, of the family of ram, became angry. The characteristics elihu assigns to himself are indeed desirable.

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. On there way to see job they had already made up in their minds and hearts judgment against him. But this claim is rejected by many modern scholars and instead. At this point, a young bystander named elihu enters the discussion. Because elihus speech, which appears in the book of job. Elihu, though young, starts to open up for us profound wisdom not yet revealed in the book of job, and begins the chapter by making it clear that he is speaking specifically to. In the case of elihu there is more than enough evidence to recognize this young man as heaven sent. In the book of job of the bible why is elihu not guilty. 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. Elihu is not out to terrorize job or overwhelm him with guilt. It is the spirit or character of elihu, as expressed and recorded in the book of job, that in many ways parallels the aims and the efforts of elihu books. Elihu was the mouth piece of god an oracle of heaven. Satans challenge to god, jobs suffering as a result, job courageously refusing to curse god through the suffering, and god rewarding that fortitude with recompense and a happy ending.

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. 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. Jobs counsel reaches a higher level with some deep insights by elihu. As to satan, this foundational book of the bible teaches us that, as god elaborated on in chs 3841, god takes responsibility for everything he has made. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you, he announces job 36. It is very thoroughly documented, yet is readable and easily understood. It is possible that job is the oldest of any book of the bible written approximately 21001800 b.

This is what job repents of at the end of the book. 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. Job meets elihu is the best commentary and rendering of the truths and events of the book of job that ive ever had the pleasure to read. According to the sacred writer, the truly wise man should realize that the fear of the lord, that is wisdom. Elihu condemns job as much as he does jobs other friends, but for different reasons. Two big statements are made by the book of job by what is not said. This is the first mention of elihu in the book of job. Jun 14, 2017 a2a what is the role of elihu in the book of job. Stedman believes that there are four reasons that elihu is an integral part in the book of job. The easiest explanation for this silence is that job agreed with him. Jobs answer to his own suffering is that he is the victim of fate, until his friend elihu finally convinces him otherwise. Ancient jewish tradition credits the authorship of the book of job in the hebrew bible to moses. The book of job is quite possibly the strangest book in the hebrew bible, and is notoriously difficult to date. 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.

The book of job consists of a prose prologue and epilogue narrative framing poetic dialogues and monologues. In addition, job repents of the very mistake both elihu and god had brought to his attentionspeaking words without knowledge job 42. Through our materials and in association with christian witnesses of jah, we intend to show the best reasons for belief in the god jah, and how we can treat each other better by. 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. Because elihu was younger in years than the three friends, he was quiet during their conversation job 32. The book of job is included among the wisdom writings precisely because it teaches man that pain and suffering are a mystery of divine wisdom. Before we begin a conceptual analysis of this holy book it will be helpful to clarify four things. He is said to have descended from guz who may be from the line of abraham genesis 22. 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. Even when job is given opportunity to speak, elihu does not hear a cross word from him job 33. This great, but young, warriorprophet, had heard so much talk of churchyreligious pride, elihu wrote all of jobs book, yet pride in work.

Elihus teaching, then, is that affliction makes a righteous. Some bible scholars debate whether he was an actual person or legend, but job is mentioned as a historical figure by the prophet ezekial ezekial 14. Where did the biblical story of creation come from. With large parts of job being the arguments of his friends which are afterwards being repudiated by god himself, and job repen.