Questions and Answers
In ancient Near Eastern wisdom, the sufferer's suffering is always attributed to a specific sin.
False
Job is considered to be righteous throughout the narrative.
True
A lamentation poem expresses a poet's joy about personal success.
False
Ritual actions and sacrifices play a prominent role in the dialogue of Job.
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The three characters, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, uphold traditional morality in their arguments.
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Psalm 22 begins with the words 'my God my God why have you forsaken me'.
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The wisdom of Job is entirely consistent with ancient Near Eastern teachings.
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The book of Job contains hymns that praise God's power.
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The ancient Near Eastern texts often focus on appeasing gods through ritual worship as seen in Job.
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A proverb is typically a lengthy narrative explaining complex ideas.
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Job chapter five presents a traditional type of proverb focused on jealousy and foolishness.
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Job's friends suggest that he must have sinned to warrant his suffering.
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Prophetic visions are primarily found in the book of wisdom.
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The narrative of Job emphasizes the importance of questioning traditional morality.
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Job 28 discusses the difficulty of finding wisdom.
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A numeric saying employs a narrative to convey its message.
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Eliphaz in Job claims to have had a vision from a spirit.
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The book of Proverbs does not contain any wisdom poems.
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The Lord hates five things and abominates six.
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In Job chapter five, it is stated that he will deliver you from six troubles in seven.
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Job's speeches revolve around reflective questioning of his circumstances.
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The concealed catalog in Job refers to a clearly articulated list of events.
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Job curses the day of his birth in a passage filled with imagery of light and darkness.
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The core of wisdom in the poem of Job is to fear God and turn away from evil.
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The trial motif in Job involves God defending Job against accusations.
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In the conclusion of the book of Job, he experiences a decline in his prosperity.
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The book of Job is isolated from other literary texts within the Bible.
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The phrase 'seven reflective questioning' describes an aspect of Job's discourse.
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Job lived a total of 70 years after his restoration.
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The book of Job emphasizes the reality of evil having the final power over God's plan.
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Job believes he deserves the calamities that have come upon him.
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The term 'reave' in Hebrew relates to the conflict motif in the book of Job.
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The faithful in apocalyptic literature are depicted as shining like stars in heaven.
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The book of Job presents the idea of two realities: what we see in this world and the heavenly reality.
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The book of Job concludes with God dealing with Leviathan.
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In Revelation, there is no mention of a new heaven or a new earth.
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The number seven is emphasized multiple times in the book of Job.
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The verb 'barak' strictly means to curse in the context of the book of Job.
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Elihu appeared after the three had finished their debate with Job.
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Apocalyptic literature often features only realistic animals without any composite characteristics.
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God's speech in the book of Job includes discussions of natural animals.
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In Daniel, there is a beast described as a lion with wings.
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The Olivet Discourse given by Jesus is recognized for its clarity with no mysterious aspects.
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Leviathan is one of the creatures described in God's speech in the book of Job.
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Apocalyptic literature never includes intermissions that provide praise or release tension.
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Elihu's speeches come from a place of understanding and resolution.
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The book of Job presents reality on only one level, the earthly level.
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Apocalyptic literature, such as the books of Daniel and Revelation, only focuses on the earthly experiences of people.
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In the book of Job, God and Satan engage in a conversation that establishes the heavenly reality.
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The heavenly messenger in the book of Job is represented by angels similar to those in Daniel and Revelation.
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Evil appearing to triumph is a theme present in both the book of Job and the book of Revelation.
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The concept of a behind-the-scenes battle is exclusive to the book of Daniel.
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Job experiences calamities that seem to indicate the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper.
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Job's situation is unique as it doesn't include any dialogue regarding heavenly realities.
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The book of Revelation mirrors themes from the book of Job by depicting a struggle between good and evil.
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The four beasts in the book of Daniel symbolize the triumph of the Davidic monarchy.
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The book of Daniel contains a central poem that serves as a praise to God.
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In the book of Revelation, there are no interruptions for hymns of praise.
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Job's middle chapter focuses on a debate between Job and his three friends without any poetry.
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Victory in the book of Daniel is depicted when a great rock strikes the imperial image.
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The fundamental purpose of apocalyptic literature is to encourage the faithful.
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Evil appears triumphant in earthly reality as described in apocalyptic literature.
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In the book of Job, God's speech ends the debate abruptly.
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Revelation discusses the idea that the kingdom of God will ultimately fail.
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The theme of undeserved suffering is central to the book of Job.
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The four living creatures in Revelation do not participate in hymns of praise.
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In the book of Revelation, the dragon is defeated in a battle in heaven by the archangel Gabriel.
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Job challenges God to take away everything he has to prove his faithfulness.
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The book of Job contains instances of special numbers, such as three and seven, which are significant in apocalyptic literature.
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In Job Chapter 3, Job calls for the world to end and reverses the creation described in Genesis 1.
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The book of Daniel foretells a time of trouble worse than any previous generation.
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In Revelation, the new heaven and new earth replace the old heaven and old earth without any apocalyptic events.
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Job had fourteen children: seven sons and three daughters.
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Daniel mourned and fasted for three weeks as part of his prayer.
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Revelation describes seven angels holding seven bowls of wrath.
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Satan appears as a significant character in the book of Revelation but does not play a role in the book of Job.
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Study Notes
Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom
- Ancient Near Eastern texts often attribute suffering to specific sins or attribute it to an unknown cause; contrastingly, Job is presented as a righteous sufferer.
- Ritual worship and sacrifices in Near Eastern texts are prominent, unlike in Job where sacrificial acts are hardly mentioned until the end.
- Traditional morality is emphasized in Near Eastern wisdom: the wicked are punished, and the righteous are rewarded, supporting norms upheld by the characters Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.
General Biblical Genres in Job
- Lamentation Poem: Job expresses deep sorrow paralleling texts like Psalm 22 and the Book of Lamentations, particularly in Job 3, where he curses his birth.
- Hymn: Job contains praises to God echoing themes in Psalms (e.g., Psalm 97), emphasizing God’s power and justice.
- Proverbs: Job includes short, wise sayings, similar to those in the Book of Proverbs, reflecting on concepts of jealousy and folly (e.g., Job 5:2).
- Prophetic Inspiration: Eliphaz experiences a visionary encounter with a spirit, reflecting prophetic revelations seen in other biblical texts, culminating in God's direct address to Job in chapters 38-41.
- Wisdom Poem: Wisdom's pursuit is highlighted in Job 28, likening Job’s portrayal of wisdom to that in Proverbs.
- Numeric Sayings: Job employs numerical patterns, such as Job 5:19, which mirrors proverbs’ structure with phrases about troubles.
- Reflective Questioning: Job's speeches show him wrestling with profound questions of existence, similar to themes found in Ecclesiastes.
- Concealed Catalog: Job often lists elements expressing his despair, echoing poetic devices used throughout the Bible.
- Trial Motif: Job's desire to defend himself in a divine trial reflects a common biblical theme of humanity standing accused before God.
Job as an Apocalyptic Text
- Dual Realities: Apocalyptic literature generally exists on two planes (earthly and heavenly); Job mirrors this with its portrayal of heaven’s control amidst earthly chaos and suffering.
- Heavenly Messenger: Job features divine revelation through Eliphaz’s spirit encounter and God’s speeches, paralleling angelic guidance in Daniel and Revelation.
- Behind-the-Scenes Battle: Job reveals a heavenly conflict influencing earthly suffering, similar to the spiritual battles depicted in Daniel and Revelation.
- Apocalyptic Undoing: Job 3 reflects apocalyptic themes, wanting a reversal of creation, similar to cataclysmic imagery in Revelation and Daniel.
- Special Numbers: Job prominently features the numbers three and seven (e.g., three friends, seven sons), echoing their significance in apocalyptic texts.
- Complexity of Meaning: Like apocalyptic literature, Job acknowledges the difficulty in understanding divine justice, particularly through the character of Elihu.
- Strange Beasts: While Job doesn't feature fantastical creatures as vividly as Daniel, it corresponds with an unusual depiction of suffering and conflict that evokes a composite of trials.
Literary Engagement
- The book of Job intricately weaves its themes with broader biblical literature and genres, emphasizing the profound literary and theological connections within the text.### Symbolism of Beasts
- Daniel features a battle between a ram and a one-horned goat symbolizing conflicts among empires.
- Revelation introduces a variety of strange beasts, including locusts with features resembling lions and women.
- Job describes natural animals such as ravens, lions, and goats, leading to composite creatures like Behemoth and Leviathan, echoing apocalyptic imagery.
Doxological Intermissions
- Apocalyptic literature includes praise intermissions that provide relief and underscore divine sovereignty.
- Daniel 6 records Darius’s decree, highlighting God's eternal kingdom and His ability to rescue from peril.
- Revelation contains multiple praise passages affirming God's control amidst evil's apparent triumph.
Victory in Apocalyptic Literature
- Daniel prophesies the end of imperial world domination, introducing God's kingdom symbolized by a rock that grows into a mountain.
- Revelation depicts victory through Jesus conquering evil, represented as the Word of God on a white horse.
- In Job, the conflict resolves with God's speech, leading to the abrupt end of debate and reestablishing divine authority.
Purpose of Apocalyptic Texts
- Apocalyptic literature aims to encourage the faithful through the duality of earthly struggle and divine control.
- In Daniel, the promise of God’s ultimate victory offers hope to downcast Israel.
- Revelation addresses persecution, urging believers to maintain fidelity despite overwhelming evil.
The Theme of Undeserved Suffering
- Job presents theodicy, exploring the reality of good suffering while evil prospers.
- The narrative encourages perseverance in faith, reminding readers to "fear God and turn away from evil" even amid injustice.
Outcomes and Restoration
- Apocalyptic texts conclude with the faithful experiencing eternal bliss and restoration; Daniel envisions a new heaven where the righteous shine.
- Revelation describes the ultimate defeat of evil and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.
- Job concludes with God restoring his fortunes, granting him greater prosperity, an ideal resolution without depicting eternal glory.
Understanding Job's Message
- Job illustrates the contrast between visible struggles and the controlling divine reality.
- The narrative emphasizes God’s omniscience and sovereignty, assuring believers that true resolution comes from divine intervention.
- The encouragement remains to persevere in faith, knowing that God will ultimately rectify all injustices.
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Description
Explore the parallels between ancient Near Eastern wisdom and the Book of Job. This quiz examines how the suffering depicted in these texts differs, especially in Job's case where he is portrayed as righteous. Understand the nuances of suffering across different ancient cultures.
