صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

Rem. 1), there is clearly presented in Elihu the representative of another dialect. And that it is the poet's intention to invest him with this distinctive coloring, is particularly signified by the fact that the Aramaizing forms abound most of all at the beginning of the discourses (chap. xxxii. 6 seq.), and again at the beginning of the fourth principal section of the same. (chap. xxxvi. 2), whereas elsewhere they are less prominent. Perhaps also those other peculiarities of expression which have been cited under b may be derived from this wish of the poet to cause this new speaker to express himself in a peculiar dialect. Comp. on ch. xxxii. 2. The same may be said of those qualities of the style with which de Wette, Dillmann, and others, have found fault, the traces of greater flatness, of less clearness of representation, of a defective command of language, all of which may be largely attributed to the effort of the speaker after a characteristic coloring of speech. But the charge that the rhythmic construction of the section is comparatively incomplete, that the structure of his verse "sinks down to downright prose," or even that "the strophe structure is wanting," has in it decided exaggerations. For in the remainder of the poem also a more lax rhythmic structure, and one that more nearly approximates prose, alternates with a more compact, full, and symmetrical strophe-structure. And to say that the latter is wholly wanting here, would seem, in view of strophical constructions so distinctly outlined and so consistently maintained, as we find exhibited particularly in the fourth speech of Elihu (e. g. chap. xxxvi. 22 seq.; xxxvii. 1, 6, 11 seq.) to be in the last degree incorrect; comp. above 3.

In view of all that has been said there remains no decisive reason against the genuineness of this section, not even in the domain of language and style; for that our poet possessed in sufficient measure vivacity of intellect and versatility of invention to be able to individualize the characters of his poem by attributing to them dialectic variations. of language is sufficiently apparent from the skill with which he had already succeeded in distinguishing the three friends from each other and from Job by the peculiar impress stamped upon their speech, and the skill with which he had bestowed on Jehovah's discourses at the close the characteristic coloring which they consistently retain throughout. The purpose however to endow Elihu especially, the immediate predecessor of Jehovah, and the precursor of the decision announced by Him with a style the coloring of which should be peculiarly marked, sprang with an internal necessity out of the scope and plan of the whole, the profound and correct perception of which would forbid the possible doubt whether these speeches belonged to the poem as a whole, and would even supersede the mildest form of this doubt to which Delitzsch inclines with his theory of a double "promulgation" [Herausgabe] of the book.— the first time without, the second with Elihu's speeches.

11. PARTICULAR ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS OF THE BOOK.

Not until we have established the unity of our book against the various assaults made upon it does it become possible to give an outline of its contents in detail, and thereby to set forth in their completeness the poet's plan, and its elaboration (comp. the preliminary summary of the contents in 1, together with the remarks made in 23, respecting the artistic plan of the poem). In the outline herewith presented we follow substantially Vaihinger (Das Buch Hiob, 2d Ed., p. 227 seq.), without however adhering in every particular to his divisions, which at times are somewhat arbitrary. This arbitrary feature consists chiefly in an exaggerated endeavor everywhere and down to the minutest detail to find Triads in the divisions of the poem. The undeniable predilection of the poet for the triadic arrangement in his speeches gives some foundation no doubt for this theory, although it does not justify our carrying such tri-partitions to a wanton excess. Several other modern expositors also furnish a thorough outline in detail of the contents of the poem, e. g. Ewald (p. 34 seq.), Schlottmann (p. 20 seq.), Davidson (Introduction, p. 174 seq.), but without giving sufficient prominence to that tripartite arrangement. [See also Carey, p. 37 seq.]

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION (IN PROSE): CHAP. I. 1.

1. Job's character and course of life: chap. i. 1-5.

2. The Divine decree to try Job through suffering.

a. The milder form of trial by taking away his possessions: chap. i. 6-22. a. The preparatory scene in heaven: vers. 6-12.

B. The execution of the decree of trial on the possessions and family of Job: vers. 13-19.

7. Job's constancy and patience: vers. 20-22.

b. The severer trial by the loss of health: chap. ii. 1-10.

a. The preparatory scene in heaven: vers. 1-6.

B. The fulfillment of the decree in Job's terrible disease: vers. 7, 8.

y. Job's steadfastness in piety: vers. 9, 10.

3. The visit of the friends, and their mute sympathy, as an immediate preparation for the action of the poem: chap. ii. 11-13.

First Chief Division of the poem: The Entanglement, or the controversial discourses of Job and his three friends: Chaps. III.—XXVIII.

The Outbreak of Job's Despair, as the theme and the immediate occasion of

the Colloquy: Chap. III. 1-26.

a. Job curses his day: vers. 1-10.

b. He wishes that he were in the realm of the dead rather than in this life: vers. 11-19.

c. He asks why he, being weary of life, must still live: vers. 20-26.

First Series of controversial discourses: The Entanglement in its beginning: Chaps. IV.-XIV.

I. Eliphaz and Job: Chaps. IV.-VII.

A. The accusation of Eliphaz: Man must not speak against God, as Job is doing: Chaps. IV., V. 1. Introductory reproof of Job, on account of his unmanly complaint, by which he could only incur God's wrath: chap. iv. 4-11.

2. Account of a heavenly revelation, which declared to him the wrongfulness and foolishness of weak sinful man's raving against God: chap. iv. 12-v. 7.

3. Admonition to repentance, as the only means by which Job can recover God's favor, and his former happy estate: chap. v. 8-26.

B. Job's Reply: Instead of comfort the friends bring him only increased sorrow: Chaps. VI., VII.

1. Justification of his complaint by pointing out the greatness and incomprehensibleness of his suffering: chap. vi. 1-10.

2. Complaint on account of the bitter disappointment which he had experienced at the hands of his friends: vers. 11-30.

3. Recurrence to his former complaint on account of his lot, and an accusation of God: chap. vii.

II. Bildad and Job: Chaps. VIII.-X.

A. Bildad's rebuke: Man must not charge God with injustice, as Job has done, for God never does wrong: Chap. VIII.

1. Censure of Job on account of his unjust accusation against God: vers. 2-7.

2. Reference to the wise teachings of the ancients, in respect to the merited end of those who forget God: vers. 8-19.

3. A softened application of these teachings to the case of Job: vers. 20-22.

Second Series of controversial discourses. The Entanglement increasing: Chaps. XV.-XXI.

3. Sharp censure of the admonitory speeches of the friends as unreasonable, and as having
no power to comfort: chap. xvii. 10-16.

1. Sharp Rebuke of Bildad: vers. 2-4.

2. Description of the incomparable sovereignty and exaltation of God, given to eclipse the
far less spirited attempt of Bildad in this direction: vers. 5-14.

« السابقةمتابعة »