Questions for Discussion – Job

GEH 101          Fall 2002

• How does Job react to his afflictions?
• What kinds of questions does he have about what has happened to him?
• How does he try to make sense of what has happened?

• What does each one of his friends say to try to make sense of what has happened and how does Job respond (note structure:  6 speeches:  one by each friend, one in response)
  • Eliphaz the Temanite    
  • Bildad the Shulamite
  • Zophar the Naamathite

• What does Job have to say to each of the friends in response? (try to track the progress of the back-and-forth)

• Many scholars believe the sections involving Elihu were added on after the original writing of the Book of Job. What is significant about Elihu’s remarks? Why might a later writer or editor have added this character and his words to this text?

• Why is the scene where Job sees God face to face important? How does it change Job’s perspective?

• What kind of a character is Job? What kind of a character is God? What details would you point to support your answers?

• Thinking back on how the story begins (with the interchanges between God and the adversary), how well are the questions it raises resolved by the ending?

• What does this book have to say about:

• The relationship of external evil (when bad things happen to us)
  • and
• The notion of the righteousness of God (faith that God has some reason or plan)
  • and
• The conduct of human beings in the world (how we behave and should behave)

• What do you finally think is the meaning of Job’s sufferings, based on your reading of the text?

• What models have you encountered for how people make sense of what seems to be senseless suffering (when bad things happen to good people)

• Much of this book is written in poetic language (many metaphors!). Why might this be important to what the author wanted the book to communicate to its audience?