"The Fear of the Lord is Wisdom"?: A Consideration of Job 28 as a Sarcastic Response to the Wisdom Tradition
In its present context, the so-called Wisdom Poem in Job 28 is attributed to Job. However, as is well attested, the chapter stands apart in style and vocabulary from the rest of the Book of Job. As such, Job 28 has been treated variously by interpreters, understanding the chapter as an independent c...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
HUC
2023
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| In: |
Hebrew Union College annual
Year: 2023, Volume: 94, Pages: 21-48 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Ijob 28
/ Wisdom
/ Sarkasmus (Motif)
/ Direct discourse
/ Tradition
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| IxTheo Classification: | BH Judaism HB Old Testament |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In its present context, the so-called Wisdom Poem in Job 28 is attributed to Job. However, as is well attested, the chapter stands apart in style and vocabulary from the rest of the Book of Job. As such, Job 28 has been treated variously by interpreters, understanding the chapter as an independent composition, a parenthetical insertion by the author of the book, or misplaced words of Elihu. Some are satisfied with the canonical arrangement and attribute the chapter to the words of Job. Others are not persuaded by any of the options. One of the issues that complicates interpretation is the function of ,כי at the head of the chapter. It has been construed as an emphatic particle, as evidence that the chapter is misplaced, or that it introduces a quotation from a lost ancient Israelite source. This essay will examine another function of ,כי, in which it introduces direct speech. If כי in Job 28 functions in this manner, then we should understand the chapter as coming from the mouth of Job, but not as the words of Job. Rather, Job is understood as citing a supposedly well-known wisdom poem, although he disagrees with its content. In contrast to the assertions of the poem, even though Job turned away from evil (;סר מרע1:1,8; 2:3), evil did not turn away (מרע סור; 28:28) from him, and his fear of Yahweh did not lead to understanding. Thus, this paper argues that in Job 28 Job sarcastically recites a poem espousing traditional wisdom to emphasize the inadequacy of the tradition. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Hebrew Union College annual
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