An Interpretive Presentation of the Book of Job

By Daniel Zimmermann

The devil tried Job severely. At first, Job submitted humbly to the will of God, but eventually his proverbial patience was exhausted. Three friends came to comfort him, but they eventually tormented him with accusations instead. A young man named Elihu offered well-meant advice. Then God appeared and set things right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Zimmermann
• Release date: Nov 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215515303

Daniel Zimmermann

Daniel Zimmermann was born in Merrill, Wisconsin, and grew up in Hustisford, Wisconsin. He was graduated as valedictorian from Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin. His valedictory concerned the ancient philosopher Plotinus. Special honors were third place in an Eta Sigma Phi Greek composition contest and the Doctor Ott award. He was also graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. After serving as pastor for several years, he became a free lance writer. Because of the outstanding success of his Spanish poetry in Mexico, his biography was included in Who's Who in the Midwest. He is also a former member of American Mensa. He is married to Merian, nee Ecot. The couple is residing in the Philippines. Daniel Zimmermann is the author of short stories and poetry. He also writes non-fiction, especially on literature, history, Christianity, and botany.

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An Interpretive Presentation of the Book of Job

Written by Daniel Zimmermann

Copyright by Daniel Zimmermann

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Chapter 1

Introduction

Who wrote the book of Job? I am tempted to say that it must have been an eye-witness, such as Elihu. If so, the Lord blessed him with a long life; for we read: After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. Did Elihu or any of his contemporaries live long enough to tell about the death of Job?

Was Hebrew the original language of the book? Or do we have a translation? We do not know in what language Job and his friends conversed with one another. It may have been an early form of Hebrew or a cognate language, but I doubt whether it was Biblical Hebrew.

Most of the book of Job is poetry. Did Job and his friends use poetic diction when they spoke?

These problems are easily solved when we remember that the book of Job was a divinely inspired book. The Holy Spirit was an eye-witness of Job’s sufferings and their aftermath. So He could easily inspire a later Hebrew writer to compose this book. He could move the holy author to translate the words of Job and his friends into the type of Hebrew that was spoken when the book was written. And although Job and his friends undoubtedly spoke in prose, the Holy Spirit could easily move the author to express the thoughts of Job and his friends in poetic language.

Some think that Moses was the author of the book of Job. After all, the Holy Spirit inspired Moses to write five books. Perhaps He wanted Moses to write one more. But this is a mere conjecture without any proof.

So the book of Job could have been composed either by a contemporary or by some later author. It is even possible that scholars are correct in assigning a very late date to the book of Job, though I personally do not believe it. The Holy Spirit could have inspired any writer to write it at any time.

My personal feeling is that someone wrote it in Hebrew shortly after the death of Job. The original author did not have to be Elihu or someone living when the action took place. Job may have confided his experiences to a younger person, who then became the author of the book of Job.

The advantage of this scenario is that it eliminates the need for unnecessary miracles. A later author would have to write about things of which he had no knowledge, or for which he would have to rely on unreliable tradition. Miracula non sunt multiplicanda.

A final note. Neither Job nor any of his contemporaries knew about the conversation between God and Satan that was recorded in the first two chapters of the book of Job. But the Holy Spirit knew about it, and He moved the holy writer to record it in his book.

Chapter 2

Tried by Satan

One day, when a host of angels presented themselves before the Lord, Satan stood in their midst. Of course, the omniscient Lord noticed him immediately.

The ensuing conversation centered about Job, whom the Lord called an upright man who respected God and avoided evil.

Satan did not have a very high opinion of Job. He claimed that his piety was due to the fact that God protected him carefully. If you deprive him of his blessings, he will curse you.

God allowed Satan to test Job, saying: "Behold, all that he hath is in