The Book of job - Essay Example

’s friends, Eliphaz, the Temanite, begins his counsel by asserting the idea that the innocent are free from suffering while the wicked face constant affliction. Eliphaz reinforces his opinion by presenting a vision he had in the past. Reprimanding Job, Eliphaz commands Jobs to ask for God to forgive him, while reminding Job of the potential benefits that would accrue to him if he repented (4.1–5.22). However, Job defends his remarks by referring to all his agonies and reaffirms his longing for death.

Accusing his friends as a “deceitful brook,” Job challenges them to identify where he has sinned, and then proceeds to complain to God, asking him numerous questions (6.1–7.21). The second friend of Job, Bildad, the Shuhite, comes into the scene rebuking Job for his strong altercation. Bildad emphasizes that God acts justly, by claiming that Job’s sons perished out of their own wrongdoings. He recommends purity to Job so that Job can receive God’s Blessings. Bildad further argues that the wicked have no God’s support whereas the blameless shall forever remain in God’s grip.

According to Bildad, God would restore the laughter and rejoice that had deserted Job, upon repentance (8.1–22). In his counsel, Bildad reassures Job that “God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers” (8.20). After Bildad’s counsel, Job concurs with him, but his main worry is what it takes for a person to be righteous before God owing to his wisdom and power. To this point, Job continues with his complaint citing God’s inaccessibility and holds that God annihilates the wicked and the blameless equally.

Job laments about the absence of a mediator as his main reason to reach God, and lets out more questions to God (9.1–10.22). Job’s persistent complaint brings in his third friend, Zophar, the Naamathite, who rebukes Job for his harsh and strong words. He says that Job has faced less agony than he deserves, and should seek ways of casting