Friday, 20 December 2013
The Watchtower Society's commentary on the book of Job
A reproduction of the Watchtower Society's article
JOB, BOOK OF
JOB, BOOK OF
Written by Moses, according to
both Jewish and early Christian scholars. Its poetry, language, and
style indicate that it was originally written in Hebrew. The many
similarities to the Pentateuch in the prose portion of the book tend to
point to Moses as the writer. During his 40-year stay in Midian, Moses
could have had access to the facts about Job’s trial, and he likely
learned of the outcome of Job’s life when Israel came near Uz on the way
to the Promised Land, in 1473 B.C.E.
Arrangement. The book of
Job is unique in that it consists largely of a debate between a true
servant of Jehovah God and three others who claimed to serve God but who
erred in doctrine in their attempts to correct Job. Job, they
mistakenly thought, was being punished by God for some grievous hidden
sin. Thus, arguing on this basis, they actually became Job’s
persecutors. (Job 19:1-5, 22)
The debate consists of a series of three rounds of speeches, in which
all four speakers participate, except that Zophar does not speak in the
last round having been silenced by Job’s argument. Thereafter all are
corrected by Jehovah’s spokesman Elihu and finally by God himself.
It is clear, therefore, that one
has to bear in mind when reading or quoting from the book that the
arguments presented by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are erroneous. At
times these three companions of Job state true facts, but in a setting
and with an application that is wrong. Satan used this tactic against
Jesus Christ when he “took him along into the holy city, and he
stationed him upon the battlement of the temple and said to him: ‘If you
are a son of God, hurl yourself down; for it is written, “He will give
his angels a charge concerning you, and they will carry you on their
hands, that you may at no time strike your foot against a stone.”’ Jesus
said to him: ‘Again it is written, “You must not put Jehovah your God
to the test.”’”—Mt 4:5-7.
The companions of Job said that God punishes the wicked. This is true. (2Pe 2:9) But they concluded that all suffering a person undergoes is a result of sins on his part—that God is thereby
administering punishment to him. Suffering, they said, is an evidence
that an individual has specially sinned. They spoke untruthfully
concerning God. (Job 42:7)
They slandered Him. As they presented God, he was lacking in mercy.
Their claim was that God has no delight in the integrity-keeping man and
that he has no trust in His servants, even in angels. This denies the
many Scriptural statements revealing Jehovah’s love for his intelligent
servants. An example of God’s confidence and trust in his faithful
worshipers is seen in his conversations with Satan, in which he called
attention to Job and expressed the greatest confidence in Job’s loyalty
when giving the Devil permission to test Job. Note, however, that he
protected Job’s life. (Job 2:6) The Christian writer James says of God’s dealings with Job: “Jehovah is very tender in affection and merciful.”—Jas 5:11.
Importance. The book of Job is essential, in conjunction with Genesis 3:1-6
and other scriptures, in revealing the great issue of the righteousness
of God in his exercise of sovereignty as well as the manner in which
the integrity of God’s earthly servants is involved in the issue. This
issue Job did not understand, but he, nevertheless, did not allow his
three companions to make him doubt that he had been a man of integrity. (Job 27:5)
He did not understand why his calamity came upon him, since he was no
practicer of sin. He was off balance on the matter of
self-justification, no doubt being pushed farther in that direction by
the constant charges of his three companions. He was also mistaken in
insisting on receiving an answer from God as to why he was suffering,
when he should have realized that no one can rightly say to Jehovah:
“Why did you make me this way?” (Ro 9:20)
Nevertheless, Jehovah mercifully answered Job, both through his servant
Elihu and by speaking to Job from the windstorm. The book therefore
strongly drives home the wrongness of attempting to justify oneself before God.—Job 40:8.
Authenticity and Value. Ezekiel refers to Job, and James makes mention of him. (Eze 14:14, 20; Jas 5:11)
Arguing powerfully for the book’s canonicity is the fact that the Jews
accepted it as of equal authority with the other inspired books of the
Hebrew Scriptures, even though Job was not an Israelite.
Perhaps the strongest evidence of
the book’s genuineness exists in its harmony with the rest of the
Bible. It also reveals much about the beliefs and customs of patriarchal
society. More than that, it greatly helps the Bible student to get a
better understanding of Jehovah’s purposes through a comparison with
other Bible statements. There are a remarkable number of points that are
parallel in thought with other Bible passages, and some of these are
listed on the accompanying chart.
[Box on page 82]
HIGHLIGHTS OF JOB
The account of Job’s experiences when Satan challenged his integrity before Jehovah
Likely recorded by Moses
during Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, although the trial of Job
must have occurred some years before Moses’ birth
Job’s prosperity and well-being end when Jehovah grants Satan permission to test Job (1:1–2:10)
Satan claims that Job’s uprightness is motivated simply by self-interest
Job loses cattle, flocks, and his ten children all in one day, but he keeps integrity
He is then afflicted with a loathsome, painful disease but refuses to curse God; thus, Job remains faithful
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, three companions of Job, come together by appointment to “sympathize” with him (2:11–3:26)
They sit around him in silence for seven days
Job breaks the silence, cursing the day of his birth
He wonders why God allows him to go on living
The three so-called comforters debate at length with Job (4:1–31:40)
They contend that he is
suffering because of his sins, arguing that Job must be in the wrong
since God is treating him as an enemy
They try to persuade Job of
this by resorting to false reasoning and slander and by appealing to
tradition and visions they claim to have seen
The three companions urge Job
to confess his wrongdoing and change his ways; then, they say, he will
regain his former prosperity
Job insists that he is
upright; he does not understand why Jehovah allows him to suffer, but he
silences the false counsel of his three companions
In his final words, Job
contrasts his former days as a respected elder with his present period
of affliction and humiliation; he points out how careful he has been to
avoid sin
Elihu, a young bystander, corrects Job and his companions (32:1–37:24)
He shows that Job was in the
wrong when he justified himself rather than God, and he upbraids Job’s
three companions for failing to answer Job correctly
Elihu upholds Jehovah’s justice, impartiality, glory, and almightiness
Jehovah himself now speaks out of a windstorm (38:1–42:6)
Jehovah asks where Job was
when the earth was created, and whether he understands the wonderful
ways of wild things, thus demonstrating man’s littleness in comparison
with God’s greatness
He then asks whether Job should find fault with Him
Job admits that he spoke without a proper understanding; he repents “in dust and ashes”
Job’s trial ends, and his integrity is rewarded (42:7-17)
Jehovah expresses displeasure
to Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar because they spoke untruthfully; he
directs them to make sacrifices and to ask Job to pray on their behalf
Job is healed when he prays for his companions
He comes to be blessed with
twice as much in flocks and herds as formerly, as well as with ten more
children, seven sons and three daughters
[Chart on page 83]
Book Point of Other Bible
of Job comparison references
10:8, 9, 11,12 God’s great care in forming Ps 139:13-16
man
12:23 God lets the nations grow Re 17:13, 14, 17
powerful and even unite
against him so that he can
justly destroy them at one
stroke
14:13-15 Resurrection of the dead 1Co 15:21-23
24:3-12 Affliction by wicked; 2Co 6:4-10; 11:24-27
Christians so treated
Chap 28 Man cannot find the true Ec 12:13;
wisdom from ‘book of divine 1Co 2:11-16
creation,’ only from God
and fear of him
32:22 Bestowing unscriptural Mt 23:8-12
titles is wrong
Other noteworthy comparisons are: Job 7:17 and Ps 8:4; Job 9:24 and 1Jo 5:19; Job 10:8 and Ps 119:73; Job 26:8 and Pr 30:4; Job 28:12, 13, 15-19 and Pr 3:13-15; Job 39:30 and Mt 24:28.
Psalm6 NWT(2013)
Psalm5 NWT(2013)
Be attentive to my sighing.
2 Pay attention to my cry for help,
O my King and my God, because to you I pray.
No one bad may remain with you.+
5 No arrogant person may stand in your presence.
You hate all those who behave wickedly;+
9 For nothing they say can be trusted;
Within them is nothing but malice;
Their throat is an open grave;
May they be driven away because of their many transgressions,
For they have rebelled against you.
They will always shout joyfully.
You will block approach to them,
And those loving your name will rejoice in you.
12 For you will bless anyone righteous, O Jehovah;
You will surround them with approval as with a large shield
Psalm4NWT(2013)
To the director; to be accompanied with stringed instruments. A melody of David.
Show me favor and hear my prayer.
2 You sons of men, how long will you turn my honor into humiliation?
How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is false? (Selah)
Jehovah will hear when I call to him.
Have your say in your heart, upon your bed, and keep silent. (Selah)
6 There are many saying: “Who will show us anything good?”
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Jehovah.+
7 You have filled my heart with greater rejoicing
Than those who have an abundant harvest of grain and new wine.
For you alone, O Jehovah, make me dwell in security.+
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