BOOK OF JOB: THE DEBATES

The bulk of the book consists of a series of dialogues between Job and his friends. They follow a series of three cycles in which there is only a small amount of forward motion. As the book progresses, the speeches become shorter and they fizzle out at last when no one has anything left to say.

 Cycle 1            Cycle 2               Cycle 3

           Job (ch. 3)     Job (chs. 12-14)    Job (ch. 21)

Eliphaz (chs. 4-5)    Eliphaz (ch. 15)    Eliphaz (ch. 22)

        Job (chs. 6-7)    Job (ch. 16-17)     Job (ch. 23-24)

       Bildad (ch. 8)    Bildad (ch. 18)     Bildad (ch. 25)

       Job (ch. 9-10)     Job (ch. 19)          Job (ch. 26)

     Zophar (ch. 11)    Zophar (ch. 20) ----------------

The Source of Their Wisdom

Job 4:8 (Eliphaz) personal observations. Job counters with his observations.

Job 4:12-16 a vision from God. Charismatics, hard to counter or prove.

Job 5:27 careful study. Intimidation by scholars

Job 8:8 (Bildad) human tradition. Remember Jesus’ words

The Elihu Speeches: the Wisdom of Youth (Job 32-37)

1----------------2 3----------------4 5--------------- 6

Addressee       Friends       Job   Friends      Job  Friends         Job

Exhortation to listen

                      32:6-10   33:1-7   34:1-4

Job's or friends' position

                      32:1        33:8-11   34:5-9    35:1-4

disputation or instruction

                 32:15-22; 33:12-30; 34:10-30;35:5-15;36:1-16

Judgment on (or warning of) Job

                              33:31-33; 34:31-37;  35:16;    36:17-23

God and his universe 

                                                                             36:24-33     37:14-20

Theophany                                                                               37:21-24

What is the major idea or theme of the friend's arguments?

1^st Cycle: gentle reproof, call for repentance, turning to God for help (use of the carrot).

2^nd Cycle: fate of the wicked (the stick)

3^rd Cycle: Job is directly accused of numerous sins.

Is everything the friends say to be discounted as false? Read I Corinthians 3:19 and compare with Eliphaz' speech in Job 5:11-13.

On the other hand, can Job always be trusted to speak the truth? Read Job 9:23-24.

Why are the friends so mean to Job? Are they just cruel by nature or are they just practicing tough love? Keep in mind that Job wouldn't have picked them as friends if they were out and out evil.

Where did they get their ideas from and on what do they base their arguments?

Eliphaz' first speech (Job 4):

v. 8 – personal observation (later coupled with old age and experience). He argues from the particular to the general. Job counters with his own observations.

vv. 12-13 – a vision   It is hard to argue against a private revelation.

v. 17 – Scripture See Proverbs 3:11-12. There are many examples of the innocent suffering in the Bible. Arguing from this point of view is being very selective and not looking at the whole story.

5:27 – Bildad's first speech, chapter 8

v. 8 – tradition     Remember what Jesus said about man's traditions.

The friends don't seem to grow spiritually through witnessing Job's troubles.