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. B. Job's Reply: Assertion of his innocence, and a mournful description of the incompre- 1. God is certainly the Almighty and ever-righteous One, who is to be feared; but His power is too terrible for mortal man: chap. ix. 2-12. 2. The oppressive effect of this omnipotence and arbitrariness of God impels him, as an innocent sufferer, to presumptuous speeches against God: chap. ix. 13-35. 3. A plaintive description of the merciless severity with which God rages against him, although, as an Omniscient Being, He knows that he is innocent: ch. x. 1-22. A. Zophar's violent arraignment of Job, as one who needs to submit in penitence to the all- seeing and all-righteous God: Chap. XI. 1. Expression of the desire that the Omniscient One would appear to convince Job of his 2. Admonitory description of the impossibility of contending against God's omniscience, which charges every man with sin: vers. 7-12. 3. The truly penitent has in prospect the restoration of his prosperity, for the wicked how- B. Job's Reply: Attack upon his friends, whose wisdom and justice he earnestly questions: 1. Ridicule of the assumed wisdom of the friends, who can give only a very unsatisfactory description of the exalted power and wisdom of the divine activity: chap. xii. 2. The resolution to betake himself to God, the righteous Judge, who, in contrast with the harshness and injustice of the friends, will assuredly do him justice: 3. A vindication of himself addressed to God, beginning with the haughty asseveration of his own innocence, but relapsing into a despondent cheerless description of the brevity, helplessness, and hopelessness of man's life: chap. xiii. 23-xiv. 22. Second Series of controversial discourses. The Entanglement increasing: Chaps. XV.-XXI. I. Eliphaz and Job: Chaps. XV.—XVII. A. Eliphaz: God's punitive justice is revealed only against evil-doers: Chap. XV. 1. Recital, with accompanying rebuke, of all in Job's discourses and conduct that is per- verted, and that bears witness against his innocence: vers. 2-19. 2. A didactic admonition on the subject of the retributive justice of God in the destiny of B. Job: Although oppressed by his disconsolate condition, he nevertheless wishes and hopes that God will demonstrate his innocence against the unreasonable accusations of his friends: Chaps. XVI., XVII. (A brief preliminary repudiation of the discourses of the friends as aimless and unpro- 1. Lamentation on account of the disconsolateness of his condition, as forsaken and hated by God and men: chap. xvi. 6-17. 2. Vivid expression of the hope of the future recognition of his innocence: chap. xvi. 3. Sharp censure of the admonitory speeches of the friends as unreasonable, and as having A. Bildad: Job's passionate outbreaks are useless, for the divine ordinance, instituted from of old, is still in force, securing that the hardened sinner's merited doom shall suddenly and surely overtake him: Chap. XVIII. 1. Sharp rebuke of Job, the foolish and blushing boaster: vers. 2-4. 2. Description of the dreadful doom of the hardened evil-doer: vers. 5-21. B. Job: His misery is well-deserving of sympathy; it will however all the more certainly end in his conspicuous vindication by God, although not perhaps till the life be- (Introduction: Reproachful censure of the friends for maliciously suspecting his inno- 1. Sorrowful complaint because of the suffering inflicted on him by God and men: vs. 6-20. 2. An uplifting of himself to a blessed hope in God, his future Redeemer and Avenger: 3. Earnest warning to the friends against the further continuance of their unfriendly at- A. Zophar: For a time indeed the evil-doer can be prosperous, but so much the more terrible and irremediable will be his destruction: Chap. XX. 1. Introduction, violently censuring Job, and theme of the discourse: vers. 2-5. 2. Expansion of the theme, showing from experience that the prosperity and riches of the B. Job: That which experience teaches concerning the prosperity of the wicked during their life on earth argues not against, but for his innocence: Chap. XXI. 1. Calm, but bitter introductory appeal to the friends: vers. 2-6. 2. Along with the fact of the prosperity of the wicked, taught by experience, (vers. 7-16), stands the other fact of earthly calamities befalling the pious and righteous: 3. Rebuke of the friends for setting forth only one side of that experience, and using that A. Eliphaz: Reiterated accusation of Job, from whose severe sufferings it must of necessity be inferred that he had sinned grievously, and needed to repent. Chap. xxii. 1. The charge made openly that Job is a great sinner: vers. 2-10. 2. Earnest warning not to incur yet severer punishments: vers. 11-20. 3. Admonition to repent, accompanied by the announcement of the certain restoration of B. Job: Inasmuch as God withdraws Himself from him, and that moreover His allotment of men's destinies on earth is in many ways most unequal, the incomprehensible- ness of His dealings may thus be inferred, as well as the short-sightedness and one-sidedness of the external theory of retribution held by the friends: chapter 1. The wish for a judicial decision by God in his favor is repeated, but is repressed by the agonizing thought that God intentionally withdraws from him, in order that He may not be obliged to vindicate him in this life: Chap. xxiii. 2. The darkness and unsearchableness of God's ways to be recognized in many other in- stances of an unequal distribution of earthly prosperity among men, as well 1. Sharp Rebuke of Bildad: vers. 2-4. 2. Description of the incomparable sovereignty and exaltation of God, given to eclipse the III. Job alone: His closing address to the vanquished friends: CHAP. XXVII.-XXVIII. a. Renewed solemn asseveration of his innocence, accompanied by a reference to his joy in God, which had not forsaken him even in the midst of his deepest misery: Chap. xxvii. 2-10. b. Statement of his belief that the prosperity of the ungodly cannot endure, but that they must infallibly come to a terrible end: Chap. xxvii. c. Declaration that true Wisdom, which alone can secure real well-being, and a correct solution of the dark enigmas of man's destiny on earth, is to be found nowhere on earth, but only with God, and by means of a Second Chief Division of the Poem. Disentanglement of the mystery through the discourses Setting forth the truth that his suffering was not due to his moral conduct, that it must have therefore a deeper cause. [The negative side of the solution of the problem.] 1. Yearning retrospect at the fair prosperity of his former life: Chap. xxix. a. Describing the outward aspect of this former prosperity: vers. 2-10. b. Pointing out the inward cause of this prosperity-his benevolence and c. Describing that feature of his former prosperity which he now most pain- fully misses, namely, the universal honor shown him, and his far- reaching influence: vers. 18-25. 2. Sorrowful description of his present sad estate: Chap. xxx. a. The ignominy and contempt he receives from men: vers. 1-15. b. The unspeakable misery which everywhere oppresses him: vers. 16-23. |