Job (; }}, }}) is the central character of the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible and a prophet of God in the Qur'an.
Book of Job
The Book of Job begins with an introduction to Job's character — he is described as a blessed man who lives righteously. At the suggestion of God and the will of God,
Satan challenges Job's integrity, proposing to God that Job serves him simply because God protects him. God removes Job's protection, allowing Satan to take his wealth, his children, and his physical health in order to tempt Job to curse God. Despite his difficult circumstances, he does not curse God, but rather curses the day of his birth. And although he protests his plight and pleads for an explanation, he stops short of accusing God of injustice. Most of the book consists of conversations between Job and his three friends concerning Job's condition and its possible reasons, after which God responds to Job and his friends. God opens his speech with the famous words, "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me." After God's reply, Job is overwhelmed and says, "I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth." Many interpretations read this as Job realizing how little he knew when he says to the Lord,"My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you." Other scholarship and readers, however, find this explanation unsatisfactory, since the problem of Job the innocent man suffering at the hand of God is not addressed. Job's response to God shows none of the anger, passion, or piety he demonstrated in the rest of the story, even when God does not give Job the direct answer he has demanded for much of the book. Then Job is restored to an even better condition than his former wealthy state. Job was also blessed to have seven sons and three daughters named:
Jemimah (which means "dove"), Keziah ("cinnamon"), and Keren-happuch ("horn of eye-makeup"). His daughters were said to be the most beautiful women in the land. "Job went on to live one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations."
The characters in the book of Job consist of Job, his wife, his friends, a man named Elihu, God, and Satan. Neither the patriarchs nor any other biblical characters make an appearance.
In ancient and medieval books
In addition to the Book of Job, Job appears in several books:
He is mentioned by the prophet
Ezekiel.
He is briefly referenced in the Christian
Epistle of James.
He is discussed as a prophet in the Qur'an.
He is also the protagonist of a pseudepigraphal book called the Testament of Job.
Job in Judaism
A clear majority of Rabbinical
Torah scholars saw Job as having in fact existed as a powerful and historically factual figure. Some scholars of
Orthodox Judaism maintain that Job was in fact one of three advisors that
Pharaoh consulted, prior to taking action against the increasingly multiplying "Children of Israel" mentioned in the
Book of Exodus during the time of
Moses' birth. The episode is mentioned in the
Talmud (Tractate Sotah):
Balaam gives evil advice urging Pharaoh to kill the Hebrew male new-born babies;
Jethro opposes Pharaoh and tells him not to harm the Hebrews at all, and Job keeps silent and does not reveal his mind even though he was personally opposed to Pharaoh's destructive plans. It is for his silence that God subsequently punishes him with his bitter afflictions. However, the book of Job itself contains no indication of this, and to the prophet Ezekiel, Yahweh refers to Job as a righteous man of the same calibre as Noah and Daniel.
There is a minority view among Rabbinical scholars, for instance that of Rabbi Simeon ben Laqish, that says Job never existed (Midrash Genesis Rabbah LXVII). In this view, Job was a literary creation by a prophet who used this form of writing to convey a divine message. On the other hand, the Talmud (in Tractate Baba Batra 15a-16b) goes to great lengths trying to ascertain when Job actually lived, citing many opinions and interpretations by the leading sages. Job is further mentioned in the Talmud as follows :
Job's resignation to his fate (in Tractate Pesachim 2b).
When Job was prosperous, anyone who associated with him even to buy from him or sell to him, was blessed (in Tractate Pesachim 112a).
Job's reward for being generous (in Tractate Megillah 28a).
King David, Job and Ezekiel described the Torah's length without putting a number to it (in Tractate Eruvin 21a).
Job in Christianity
Christianity accepts the Book of Job as canon in the
Old Testament and thus contains the same information regarding Job as discussed above in the Hebrew Bible. In addition, Job is mentioned in the
New Testament: the
Epistle of James 5:11 cites Job as an example of perseverance in suffering. The New Testament also quotes and references the
Book of Job throughout.
Job's declaration "I know that my Redeemer lives" (Job 19:25) is considered by some Christians to be a proto-Christian statement of belief, and is the basis of several Christian hymns.
He is commemorated as a patriarch by the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in their Calendar of Saints on May 9, and in the Calendar of saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on August 30.
Job in Islam
's imagining of
Job speaking to his wife.]]
In the
Qur'an,
Job () is considered a
prophet in
Islam. Job's story in Islam is very similar to the
Hebrew Bible story but, in Islam, the emphasis is paid to Job remaining steadfast to God and there is no mention of lengthy discussions with friends. However, later
Muslim literature states that Job had brothers, who argued with the man about the cause of his affliction. Some
Muslim commentators also spoke of Job as being the ancestor of the
Romans.
Job in the Qur'an
In the
Qur'an, it states that the Job was a righteous servant of
God, who was afflicted by suffering for a lengthy period of time. However, the
Qur'an clearly states that Job never lost faith in
God and forever called to the in prayer, asking Him to remove his affliction:
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The narrative goes on to state that after many years of suffering, God ordered Job to "Strike with thy foot!". At once, Job struck the ground with his foot and
God caused a cool spring of water to gush forth from the Earth, from which Job could replenish himself. The
Qur'an states that it was then that God removed his pain and suffering and He returned Job's family to him, blessed him with many generations of children and granted him great wealth. In addition to the brief descriptions of Job's narrative, the
Qur'an further mentions Job twice in the lists of those whom
God had given special guidance, wisdom and inspiration (IV: 163) and as one of the men who received authority, the Book and the gift of prophethood (VI:84).
Job's narrative in Muslim tradition
The
Qur'an mentions Job's narrative in a concise manner.
Muslim historical literature, however, fleshes out Job's story and describes him as being a late descendant of the patriarch
Noah. Similar to the
Hebrew Bible narrative, Islamic tradition mentions that
Satan heard the
angels of
God speak of Job as being the most faithful man of his generation. Job, being a chosen
prophet of
God, would remain committed in daily prayer and would frequently call to
God, thanking God for blessing him with abundant wealth and a large family. But
Satan planned to turn the God-fearing Job away from
God and wanted Job to fall into disbelief and corruption.
Local traditions regarding Job
There are at least two locations that claim to be the place of Job's ordeal, and at least three that claim to have his tomb.
In Palestinian folk tradition, Job's place of trial is Al-Jura, a village outside the town of Al Majdal--now replaced by the Israeli town of Ashkelon. It was there God rewarded him with a fountain of youth that removed whatever illnesses he had, and gave him back his youth. The town of Al-Joura was a place of annual festivities (4 days in all) when people of many faiths gathered and bathed in a natural spring.
The city of Urfa (formerly Edessa) in southeastern Turkey also claims to be the location at which Job underwent his ordeal. Urfa has a well said to be the one formed when he struck the ground with his foot as described in the Qur'an. There is a tomb of Job located outside of the city of Urfa.
The tomb of Job is also said to be situated in Jabal Qara outside the city of Salalah in Southern Oman.
Additionally, the Druze community also maintains a tomb for the Prophet Job in the El-Chouf mountain district in Lebanon. (See photo on right.)
The Eyüp Sultan Mosque in Istambul, Turkey, holds the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, not the Biblical Job (Ayyub in Arabic, Eyüp in Turkish), though some locals tend to conflate the two.
See also
Book of Job
Eliphaz
Bildad
Zophar
Elihu
Prophets of Islam
Testament of Job
Jobab ben Zerah
A Serious Man
Book of Job in Byzantine illuminated manuscripts
Bibliography
Islamic view
References in the Qur'an
Job's prophecy: 4:163, 6:84
Trial and patience: 21:83, 21:84, 38:41, 38:42, 38:43, 38:44
Further reading
Ibn Kathir, Bidaya wa l-Nihaya, i, 220-225
Tafsir on XXI and XXXVII
Tabari, i, 361-364
Thalabi, Tales of the Prophets, Cairo 1339, 106-114
Kisa'i, Stories of the Prophets, 179-190
Ibn Asakir, Tarikh al-Kabir, iii, 190-200
References
External links
Book of Job
Book of Job with Hebrew and English
Themes of Job
Summary of Job's life.
A resource page network on Job
Putting God on Trial - The Biblical Book of Job complete online commentary
Aristeas identifies Job with the Jobab mentioned in Genesis 36:33, a great-grandson of Esau
An international fraternal organization for young women based on the teachings of the book of Job.
The Story of Ayyub (Job). The same page is also available here
Category:Old Testament saints
Category:People celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendar
Category:Hebrew Bible people
Category:Coptic Orthodox saints
Category:Book of Job
Category:Muslim views of biblical figures
Category:Prophets of Islam
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