an end to Job's suffering, a painless journey to the sweet relief of heaven. This is certainly something Job himself desired of the Lord. It's not uncommon to find raw, honest, expressions of grief spilled on the pages of the Bible. Yet we celebrate David, Moses, Jeremiah, and even Job as being authentic and honest, but heap judgment on Job's wife for similar expressions.
Job's response is fascinating. He carefully listens and watches his beloved wife shrink under the weight of their shared hardships. I imagine Job lifts his blistered hand and strokes her hair. At first, his words read like a harsh rebuke: "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10). Yet, if you listen to Job, you almost hear admiration. "You speak as one of the foolish women." He didn't say his wife was foolish. He didn't even say her words were foolish. He said, "She sounds like one of the foolish women." In other words, "You don't sound like yourself." You might read these words like
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this: Sweetheart, that's not you talking. This doesn't sound like the woman of God I know and married. That is not you talking, my wife. Let's remember God's promises. Let's remember his goodness, which is a far cry from the ringing condemnation she's received in the centuries since. Job knew his wife's suffering was just as acute as his. In fact, seeing the pain in her eyes may have added to Job's great suffering. It's likely she was in a state of shock. Sudden loss has a way of clouding our judgment, distorting our view of reality and of God. Often those living in the thick of tragedy make contradictory statements about faith and life. Today we might even conclude Job's wife suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Surely, if God was displeased with her, he would have expressed it. He didn't hesitate to rebuke Job's friends (Job 42:7-9). All we know of God's treatment of Job's wife is how he blessed her after the whole trial was over. She shared in the doubling of their wealth (Job 42:10). She had the “privilege” of giving birth to ten more children, whom the Scriptures declared to be the most beautiful in all of the land (Job 42:12-15). Although Job’s daughters and his wife have only bit-parts, it is interesting that the three daughters born to Job after his misfortunes are each named, are described as exceptionally beautiful, and unaccustomarily are given an inheritance. And it's likely Jod’s wife shared in the many more fruitful years of her husband's life. The Scriptures say that Job lived long enough to see four generations of his offspring (Job 42:16). So what can we learn from Job's wife today? Perhaps her greatest testimony is her simple presence during her husband's lowest moments. At the end of Job, we read that his siblings and friends returned and "consoled and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him" (Job 42:11). It's easy and safe to show compassion after the fact, but during Job's lowest moments, they were nowhere to be found. Yet every single day, there was his wife, caring, loving, and enduring the trials Satan inflicted, but seeminfgfly without recognition. The trials that would split most marriages didn't split Job and his wife. They stuck it out together. And at the end of this story, we read of them conceiving and raising another ten children! Was her attitude perfect throughout the storm that engulfed her family? No. Did she say things she would later regret? Absolutely. But through it all, she endured, her faith in God remained intact, and maybe her service to her husband should be held up as a model of biblical character. Catholic Exegesis of Job And now for an entirely different interpretation of the same Book.
This Catholic exegesis is based on the “Commentary on the Book of Job” by Thomas Aquinas (http://dhspriory.org/thomas/SSJob.htm) and more particularly on “The Catholic Encyclopedia” (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08413a.htm). Thomas Aquinas is considered the Catholic Church's greatest theologian and philosopher, and “The Catholic Encyclopedia”, as its name implies, provides authoritative information on Catholic doctrine. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (http://www.usccb.org/bible/job/0) tells us that, “The Book of Job, named after its protagonist is an exquisite dramatic treatment of the problem of the suffering of the innocent. The contents of the book, together with its artistic structure and elegant style, place it among the literary masterpieces of all time. This is a literary composition, and not a transcript of historical events and
conversations.” Most Bible scholars agree that Job is probably the oldest book of the Bible. The timeframe of Job is probably somewhere between Noah and Moses since it does not refer to Israel, the Old Testament law or any reference to God’s covenant with Abraham. Some scholars think that it, or parts of it, were handed down over centuries as an oral tale, and finally recorded sometime after the seventh century BC. The author of Job is probably the man Job himself, but we do not know this for sure. Other candidates are Elihu, Moses and Solomon. And some scholars believe that the prologue and epilogue may have been written independently of the central poetic section. The Book of Job tells the story of a devout man who lived thousands of years ago. But tragedy hovers over this righteous man. When the book opens, we notice Job is about to lose everything — children, property and wealth, good name and even his health. Why will Job suffer such tragedies? Because God is about to challenge the devil with Job’s obedience and faith. Interestingly, “Job” has two possible appropriate meanings – the persecuted one (Hebrew) and the repentant one (Arabic). Purpose. The Book of Job helps us to understand that Satan cannot bring financial and physical destruction upon us unless it is by God's permission. God has power over what Satan can and cannot do. However, it evidently is beyond our human ability to understand the "why's" behind all the suffering in the world. Suffering may sometimes be allowed in our lives to purify, test, teach or strengthen the soul. The Book of Job teaches us to trust God under all circumstances. Job vindicated both himself and God by remaining faithful. He proved it is possible for humans to love God unconditionally. Historical accuracy. Many look upon the entire contents of the book as a freely invented parable that is neither historical nor intended to be considered historical; no such man as Job ever lived. Catholic commentators, however, almost without exception, hold Job to have actually existed and his personality to have been preserved by popular tradition and nothing in the text makes it necessary to doubt his historical existence. Job, therefore, has a basis of fact, with which have been united some imaginative additions that are not strictly historical. However, what is related by the poet in the prose prologue and epilogue is in the main historical. Although much has been written about the Book of Job, no consensus exists among scholars with regard to issues such as the dating and origins of this book. The Hebrew of the book of Job is arguably the most difficult in the Bible. The Book of Job was probably the first book of the Bible that was written. Through the centuries, commentators have pointed out the challenges that they themselves encountered when trying to make sense of and translate this masterpiece of world literature. Divine authority of the book and key passages. The Catholic Church teaches that the book was inspired by the Holy Spirit. It belongs to the genre of wisdom literature and the two key passages are: Job 13:15. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.” Job 37:23-24. “For the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress. Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart." Main Characters. The main characters in the Book of Job are Job himself, and his three friends Eliphaz, Baidad and Sophar. The problem facing all of these God-fearing men was the very intensity of what had happened to Job. Remember that he had lost all his considerable possessions, and his ten grown-up children had been swept away in a hurricane. And then to cap it all his health had been taken away - not just a sniffle or feeling a little below par, but his whole body covered with painful sores, rather like having shingles all over the body. Job. While the name may have been originally different, Job lived long before Moses. This is shown by the great age he attained. Job evidently did not belong to the chosen people. He lived, indeed, outside of Palestine. He and the other characters betray no knowledge of the specifically Israelitic institutions. Even the name of God peculiar to the chosen people, Yahweh, is carefully avoided by the speakers in the poetic part of the book. Job belonged to the "people of the East." Some believe the home of Job to be in Idumea, others in the land of the Ausitai in Northern Arabia near Babylon. Job was one of the most important men of the land and had many bondsmen.
In 102 Minutes, Chapter 7, authors Dwyer and Flynn use ethos, logos, and pathos to appeal to the readers’ consciences, minds and hearts regarding what happened to the people inside the Twin Towers on 9/11. Of particular interest are the following uses of the three appeals.
Second, the story line. Although Archibald MacLeish wrote the play based on the story of Job in The Bible, there are many differences in the story line. In The Bible, Job’s misfortune was spawned by Satan trying to show God that Job was not as holy as God had thought. God gave Satan the power to destroy everything Job had, including his health. Job’s children all died together when the roof of the house collapsed on them while they were all dining at the house of the oldest brother. His wife died also, and all of his possessions was taken from him. Furthermore, he contracted painful sores all over his body. As for J.B., his children died separately, one after the other. The oldest had died in the army. Two were involved in a car accident. One daughter was killed by an explosion that also took out J.B.’s millions. And the youngest was raped. However, J.B.’s wife, Sarah, was not killed, but instead she left him. In The Bible, Job is confronted by his three friends. His friends encourages him to turn against God and to curse him, but he refused to do so. On the other hand, J.B. was confronted with four friends, the first three encouraging him to turn against God but the fourth telling him to pray to God and to praise Him.
American journalist and politician Claire Boothe Luce, and her speech to the journalist at the Women's National Press Club, criticize the American press for surrendering fulfilling work for cheap dramatize stories. Luce, in her speech, discussed the many problems the journalist face in the writing community. This purpose is to introduce problems in the writing community. She uses happy tone to appeal to her uninterested colleagues, as well as, diction, ethos, pathos, and logos. Claire Luce gives a powerful speech while bringing the American press down.
Rick Reilly, in his ESPN column (2007), contends that sports competitions are more than simple games, instead, they are events capable of bringing people together in unique ways. He reinforces his contention by integrating inspirational anecdotal evidence, bold syntax, and unvarnished diction. Reilly’s purpose is to point out the importance and humanity of sports in order to convince a college professor and readers of sports magazines that sports writing is indeed an advanced and valuable profession. He assumes a humorous tone (“...most important- sports is the place where beer tastes best”) for an audience of sports magazine readers, but more specifically, a professor that told him that he was “better than sports.”
“People who had incurred the displeasure of the party simply disappeared and were never heard of again.
In Florence Kelley's speech to the people attending the NAWSA convention, she uses emotional appeal to motivate her audience to convince their male counterparts to legalize voting for women, and also to persuade the males to help put an end to child labor.
...n the world. Job questions what god is really doing for him. Then god talks to job in question form about the creation of the earth. This shows that jobs is very small compared to god, so small that he cannot even being to understand some of the the things god is telling him. Chapter 38 proves to job that humans are far below the power of god then in chapter 42 job quickly shames himself for the previous things he said.
He wants to find a way to justify God’s actions, but he cannot understand why there are evil people who “harm the childless woman, / and do no good to the widow,” only to be rewarded with long, successful lives (Job 24:21). Job’s friends, say that God distributes outcomes to each person as his or her actions deserve. As a result of this belief, they insist that Job has committed some wrongdoing to merit his punishment. God himself declines to present a rational explanation for the unfair distribution of blessings and curses. He still suggests that people should not discuss divine justice since God’s power is so great that humans cannot possibly justify his
Kroll, Paul. “The Trial of Job”. Grace Communion: International. Grace Communion International, 2013. 26 February 2015.
The essays of Carr and boyd are all structured fairly similarly. The author explains the problem and then describes the effects the problem results in, also known as the cause and effect organizational strategy (“Introduction to Rhetorical Strategies”). One example of this organizational strategy is in Nicholas Carr’s essay when he discusses the Internet and how it is affecting him personally, he shares, “They [the Internet] supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of thought. And what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation” (Carr 315). Carr makes it clear that the cause of the issue in this quote is the Internet, and the effects that the Internet have on him specifically,
...ade to choose him for the spiritual task. Job realized he had to experience loss and suffering in the name of God to pass the test God bestowed upon him. God stated “Who is that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me... Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth” (p.667) God notified Job he was in no position to question the loss he must undertake in order to complete his mission. Job realized the meaning of his life, when he realized the magnitude God went to convince him of his calling. Job forgave himself for his sacrifices, because he realized it was instructed by God.
...on of Berish’s plea to accuse God; Job also gives a similar lament, “I would lay my case before [God], and fill my mouth with arguments" (NIV Job 23:4).
Jonathan Kozol revealed the early period’s situation of education in American schools in his article Savage Inequalities. It seems like during that period, the inequality existed everywhere and no one had the ability to change it; however, Kozol tried his best to turn around this situation and keep track of all he saw. In the article, he used rhetorical strategies effectively to describe what he saw in that situation, such as pathos, logos and ethos.
Job was a man of the purest faith. When the world shunned God, Job's faith never declined. Job was a wealthy, handsome man with a beautiful wife and a vast amount of property. At some point in time, Satan made a bet with God that if Job situation was changed, his faith would quickly falter. On this note, God took Job's wealth, his property, his family, and his wife. When times were at their worst, God gave Job pus welts on Job's face, taking his looks. Job's faith, however, did not falter, instead it becamestronger. Job passed the test. God then healed Job, gave him more land, greater wealth , and a better wife. Job was baffled, he wondered the purpose behind his fall and rise. When he asked God this, God replied: "...Because I'm God." That was answer enough.
In The Book of Job, one of the main themes is desire, more specifically the desire to know the actuality. Job is a wealthy man living in a land of Uz with his family minding his own business. He is a very religious man and usually strives to do what he believes is morally right. Satan one day challenges God that Job will lose his faith in him if he allows Satan to torture Job. God accepts the challenge and Job greatly suffers. Job at the beginning of the story had no desires or intentions at all, but as his condition gets worse and worse. Job mindset about God and his belief begins to shift. At this point in the story desire starts to play a key role in Job’s life. Desire is shown in Job when he demands answers from God and why God is putting him through all of this. The idea of questioning God terrifies Job but his desire for an answer ultimately overshadows his fear of questioning God, “Here is my desire...