Job A COMPENDIUM OF THE BOOK OF JOB The etymology of the name ?Job? is very nearly as diverse as the number of Hebrew scholars who attempt to define its derivation. The opinion of John Franklin Genung is typical of those who try to determine its etymology. He confesses that the meaning is ?doubtful? and quotes others as saying it may mean ?object of enmity? while others conjecture it may mean, ?he who turns.? His conclusion is that ?both are guesses.? (John Franklin Genung, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Grand Rapids, 1960), Vol. m, p. 1979). The Hebrew radicals that make up the name (Aleph, Yod, Vau and Beth) are defined by a highly recognized Hebrew Semitic Language scholar, Charles L. Feinberg as meaning, ?persecuted? or ?afflicted.? Charles L. Feinberg, Israel At The Center Of History And Revelation (Portland, Oregon, 1980), pp. 7-64). Since all scholarship must ultimately bow to the authority of the word of God to be valid, we believe this definition to be the correct one for the following reasons: First, Job is persecuted and afflicted by Satan. Second. in like manner, Israel, of whom Job is a type, will likewise suffer persecution and affliction at the hands of Satan during the Tribulation Period. Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that this etymology of the name of Job is the correct one. A. Statistics On The Book Of Job: The Book of Job contains 42 chapters, 1,070 verses, 18,098 words and 1,543,807 letters. (Rev. Jerry Gamble, Statistics Of The King Jam es Bible). The reading time is approximately one hour and thirty minutes. The characters named in the book are: God; Satan; the Sons of God (1:6) ?Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.? Job; Job?s wife (2:9) ?Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.? Job?s seven unnamed sons (1:2); ?And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.? Job?s daughters, Jemima, Kezia and Kerenhappuch (42:14); ?And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.? Eliphaz the Temanite (2:11); Bildad the Shuhite (2:11); Zophar the Naamathite (2:11) ?Now when Job?s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.?; and Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram (32:2);Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. The cities, countries and nationalities mentioned are: Uz (1:1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ; Tema (6:19) The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. ; Sheba (6:19); Ophir (22:24)24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.?; Ethiopia (28:19)The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.; the Sabeans (1:15) And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.; and the Chaldeans (1:17); While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. B. Date Of Writing Of Job: Judging from the writings of men, the dating of the Book of Job is as elusive as the etymology of his name. The educated ?guesses? range over a period of 1600 years. James Hastings is cited as an example of the latest date guessed at by writers. He suggests that maybe the book was written by an unknown author at the close of the Babylonian Captivity. He contends, ?It is need-less to attempt to fix the date more precisely.? He further concludes, ?Happily the interest and value of the book are absolutely independent of date and authorship.? (James Hastings, The Speakers Bible, (Grand Rapids, 1960), p.5.) Leon Wood dates the life of Job as being contemporary with Jacob in the late Patriarchal period. He observes, ?Several factors hint that he lived about the time of Jacob and before Israel left Egypt.? (Leon Wood, Trusting Through Suffering. (Schaumberg, 111., 0979), Vol. 28, No. 2, p. 23). Thomas R. Rodgers dates the Patriarchal age as beginning in 2,090 B.C. and concluding when Jacob stood before Pharaoh in 0876 B.C. or a total of 205 years. ( Thomas R. Rodgers, A Survey Of Old Testament History (Tennyson, Ind., 1976), Tape No. 15). Although there is no definite evidence to pinpoint a specific date for the time of Job, internal evidence in the book suggests a pre-Patriarchal date. Consider the following internal evidence by observing the declining longevity of life following Noah?s Flood as given in Genesis Chapter Eleven: 1. Eber lived 464 years 2. Peleg lived 239 years 3. Reu lived 239 years 4. Serug lived 230 years 5. Terah lived 205 years - Born in 2296 B.C. 6. Abram lived 175 year. - Born in 2166 B.C. 7. Isaac lived 180 years - Born in 2066 B.C. 8. Jacob lived 147 years - Born in 2006 B.C. 9.Joseph lived 110 years - Born in 1915 B.C. If we can determine Job?s age, we can then fit him into this Biblical age pattern that declined until God finally established the average human age to be 70 years. Psalm 90:10, ?The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength, labor and sorrow; for it I? soon cut off, and we fly away? (KJB). Job had ten grown children who lived in their own homes when Job appears on the scene (1:4) And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them . In the later Patriarchal days, marriages were contracted later in life. For example, Isaac was 40 years old when he married and Jacob was 80 years of age. With this known data, the most conservative possible age for Job at the beginning of the book would place him at 60 years of age. Allowing for the time span covered in the Book of Job (unknown), but knowing that Job lived for 140 years after the events in the book took place (42:16)After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons? sons, even four generations., Job would have to be over 200 years old when he died. In the declining chronological age scale given, this would place Job between Terah and his son Abraham. Note also that Job makes no reference to Abraham or to Abraham?s methods of worshiping God. Nevertheless, both men officiate as priests over their own households. Both men offer ?burnt-offerings rather than ?sin-offerings.? (See Genesis 22:13 compared with Job 1:5 and Job 42:8): Genesis 22:13, ?And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son? (KJB). Job 1:5, ?And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually? (KJB). Job 42:8, ?Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which in right, like my servant Job? (KJB) Both Job and Abraham have anthropomorphic appearances to instruct them in the ways of the Lord. It appears that God made similar appearances to both Job and Abraham to give them instructions. Job?s divine revelations are given prior to Abraham?s instructions. Job makes absolutely no references to Moses; the so-journ in Egypt: the Exodus; the crossing of the Red Sea; or to the giving of the Mosaic Laws. This completely rules out the late date suggested for Job because he lived along one of the main trade routes between Egypt and Palestine. He most certainly would have known of these events if he were living at that time. For example, the people of Jericho living north of the Dead Sea, not only knew about the Red Sea crossing, but were terrified at the thought of this great event, although 40 years have passed. Joshua 2:10, ?For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed? (KJB). Not only that, but Job would have been living in disobedience to the Mosaic Law had he been living at the time of Moses. He would have been making the wrong sacrifices and usurping the office of the priesthood guarded so jealously by God during this period. God took the kingdom of Israel away from King Saul for this offense. I Samuel 13:13-14, ?And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God. which he commanded thee for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee? (KJB). God would have unlikely called Job a righteous man for doing what He punished King Saul for doing. Job lived in Uz in the land of Edom which in turn is located south of the Dead Sea Lamentations 4:21, ?Rejoice and be glad, 0 daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked? (KJB). Job makes no mention of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the con sequent forming of Dead Sea, although numerous references are made to Noah?s Flood. Job 14:11, ?As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up? (KJB). Job 22:15-16, ?Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood? (KJB). Job 28:4, ?The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men? (KJB). Most certainly, Job would have made mention of such a terrifying event that happened due north of him, unless of course, he was living before it occurred. Remember, prior to Abraham?s day, the Jordan Valley was a well watered plain. Genesis 13:10, ?And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar? (KJB). It was this well watered Jordan Valley plain that Lot chose to inhabit near the five cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zoboim and Zoar. Deuteronomy 29:23, ?And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the over throw of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Adrnah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in hi wrath? (KJB). That fertile, magnificent plain became the horrible gorge that filled with water from the Jordan River with no outlet and became the Dead Sea after the destruction of the four cities. Zoar was spared for the sake of Lot and his daughters. (See Genesis 19:21-22). Genesis 19:21-22, ?And he said unto him, See, I hive accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou he come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar? (KJB). For a proposed map of what the Jordan Plain may have been like before the Dead Sea was formed, see Klassen, The Chronology Of The Bible, p.8. The Dead Sea that was formed at the time of the destruction of the four cities has the following dimensions: The surface of the Dead Sea is 1290 feet below sea level The sea itself is approximately 47 miles long and varies from six to nine miles wide. It is 1200 feet deep making its bottom surface 2,490 feet below sea level (See Leon Wood, A Survey Of Israel?s History, p. 23). Acts 14:17, ?These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.? (KJB) reminds us that God has never left Him self without a witness in this world. The logical witness during the period of time between the Tower of Babel experience and the call of Abram from the Ur of the Chaldees would be the man, Job, together with the written record given to the world by God and known to us today as the Book of Job. In light of the facts given, we conclude therefore, that Job must have lived between 2296 B.C. and 2166 B.C. and probably a contemporary with Abraham. For a fuller discussion, see Edersheim, The Bible History: Old Testament, Vol.?, pp. 65-67. C. The Author: It is reasonable, that with approximately 1,600 years variance in opinions as to the time of the writing of the Book of Job, there would he a wide difference of opinion as to the identification of the author. Once again the ?guesses? take on extreme proportions. Robert A. Watson will be cited as one of the many extreme viewpoints. He contends, ?We can see that it is vain to look back to Mosaic or pre-Mosaic times for life and thought and words like this. . . .? He then gives this startling conclusion, ?Referring the earlier portion of Proverbs to the post- Solomonic age, we should place the Book of Job at a later date.? His conclusion is that someone unknown in the Exilic or postExilic age wrote the Book of Job. See Robert A. Watson, The Expositor?s Bible, The Rook of Job, (London, 1892), pp. 8,9. Sidney Collet has written, ?The Book of Job, written probably about the time of Moses and possibly by Moses-but apparently relating to a still earlier period Sidney Collet, All About The Bible Westwood, N.J., 1959), p.4. Leon Wood remarks, ?Since Job himself lived an additional 140 years after the events of the book, he had ample time to compile the record. He certainly had the experience and insight for the task.? Samuel Garrett emphasized, ?....the great body of the book was written by Elihu and it is not unlikely that Moses may have done for it what Ezra seems to have done for the Book which he found in the Canon of the Old Testament.? Internal evidence that speaks of the possibility of Elihu being the author of the Book of Job Is convincing. (1). Elihu was the son of Barachel the Buzite. Jeremiah identifies the city of Buz with the cities of Dedan and Tema all located in the land of Uz. Jeremiah 25:19-23, ?Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people; And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod & Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon. And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea, Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners? (KJB). (2). Other than God, Job and Satan, Elihu would have to be listed as one of the main characters in the book. Elihu gives the longest continuous discourse in the book covering six continuous chapters (32-37). Job himself, covers only six continuous chapters in his speech (26-31). Obviously, Elihu?s position is a highly important one in the book. (3). Of the four amateur psychologists who attempt to define Job?s problem, only Elihu has the spiritual discernment to know precisely what Job?s problem was before God. Only the Lord could have revealed to Elihu. possibly because he was the author, that Job?s problem was that he was trusting in his own self- righteousness for salvation. Elihu knew this was as sinful as the deeds of wicked men. (See Job 32:1; 35:1; 35:7-8; 36:3) Job 32:1" So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes?. Job 35:1 ?Elihu spake moreover, and said,? Job 35:7-8 ?If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.? Job 36:3 ?I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.? (4). Perhaps the most convincing internal evidence is found in Chapter 32: 2-16. Here we learn that Elihu has been present at the scene from the very beginning of Job?s troubles, but he has not spoken one word until this chapter. It is striking to notice that in the previous verses the ?third person? is used, ?They were amazed? (v. 15). Again in verse 15 we read, ?They left off speaking? It reads as though the author is standing in their presence listening to them and taking notes. Then beginning in verse 16, the speaker changes to the first person as he declares, ?When I had waited.? Job 32:2-16 2 ?Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. 7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: 13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man. 14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches. 15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;) From here on, the first person is used as though the author himself is standing before his listeners. (5). Again in Chapter 42 it is noticeable that Elihu is not mentioned with the others. This would be normal for the one who would be recording the sequence of events. Job 13:26, ?For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth? (KJB). We conclude, therefore, that Elihu was the writer of the Book of Job. He may have served as an amanuensis even as Tertius served as Paul?s secretary for the writing of the Book of Romans. We concede that God may have later used Moses to translate the Book into Hebrew poetry, but we believe Elihu to be the Book?s original human author. D. Location Of The Land Of Uz: The word of God is put together as delicately, but as precisely, as a butterfly?s wing. A lepidopterist attempting to dissect or trace the delicate membrane of the wing of a butterfly with a pair of pliers and a screwdriver would be considered a novice indeed. Nevertheless, the theologians have no qualms of conscience about blundering through the word of God while trying to trace its circuits that are much more complex and delicate than the printed circuit boards of the most sophisticated computer. This is done by trying to explain the infallible word of God by comparing it to the wisdom of man which is already considered foolishness in the eyes of God. I Corinthians 3:19, ?For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness?(KJB). For example, a casual look at the stacks of volumes of man?s writings would force the reader to conclude that Job was an Arabian, an Egyptian, a Syrian, an Israelite, an Idumean or a Hamite, who lived in the days of Terah, or Abraham, or Jacob, or Moses or Solomon, or David, or Ahasuerus, or Nebuchadnezzar, or Cyrus king of Persia, or perhaps some later unknown king. This is known as scholarship. Following the same reasonings of men, we would conclude that the land of Uz was 200 miles north of the Arabian Desert, or 300 miles east into the Ur of the Chaldees, or near Damascus or northeast of Palestine somewhere, or perhaps at some mystical location, if in fact Uz was a real place at all. These conclusions (?) could be reached by researching 104 volumes on The Book of Job as did the author. Obviously, these ?scholars? were reading some other book than the Bible. We praise the Lord that we need not wander around in the swamp of man?s intellectual imaginations. The Bible plainly says that Uz was in the land of Edom. Lamentations 4:21, ?Rejoice and he glad, 0 daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz . . . ? (KJB). In the infallible word of God we are clearly told that the I and of Uz was in Edom. Job lived in the land of Uz which the Bible declares was in Edom. Edom is unquestionably identified in the Bible and can be found on any secular or Bible map of that time period. Edom played an important role in past Bible history and will once again he prominent during the Great Tribulation period. Hagar left Hebron with her son Ishmael and traveled south on the King?s highway through the land of Edom on her way to Egypt. She stopped at an area between Kadesh and Bered (Genesis 16:1-16). Genesis 16:1-16 ?Now Sarai Abram?s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram?s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee. 6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai?s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. 9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. 10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man?s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? 14 Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son?s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. 16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.? (KJB). Esau, Jacob?s God rejected son, is given the land of Edom by God for his homeland. Deuteronomy 2:5, ?.... because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.? This land of Edom lies due south of the old kingdom of Judah and extends to the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aquaba. It was bounded on the Northeast by Moab and partially along Edom ?s Eastern border. This dividing border is the ?Valley of Zered? or the ?brook of the willows.? Deuteronomy 2: 8, ?And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion-gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Mo ah? (KJB). Deuteronomy 2:13, ?Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered? (KJB). Isaiah 15:7, ?Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows? (KJB). The two important seaports of Edom are familiar to the Bible student. They are Ezion Gaber and Elath. It was at Ezion-Gaber that Moses asked permission from the King of Edom to turn north and travel up the King?s Highway through the land of Edom on their journey to Canaan. lie was refused permission. Deuteronomy 2:8, ?And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion-gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab? (KJB). Moses then led his people east to Elath into the land of Moab. Solomon?s copper foundry was located at Ezion-Geber. 1 Kings 9:26, ?And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion- Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom? (KJB). Ezion-Geber was the seaport from which Solomon exported his copper and goods. The ?Navy of Tharshish? returned bringing ?gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks.? I Kings I 0:22, ?For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks? (KJB). The Queen of Sheba would have landed at Ezion-Geber and traveled north up the King?s Highway, through the land of Edom to Jerusalem to visit King Solomon. 2 Chronicles 9:1, ?And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.? The names of the cities of Edom are of extreme importance to our study. We have already named Ezion-Geber and Eloth, Edom?s two seacoast towns on the Red Sea. Dozrah, the modern city of Buseireh, was the chief stronghold of the northern half of the long land of Edom. It occupies a place on a bluff of rocks outlined by very steep valleys. It is located about two miles west of the King?s Highway. The river Zered flowing from the northwest to the southeast forms a natural barrier between Edom and Moab to the extreme north. Jeremiah 49:13, ?For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall be come a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.? Jeremiah 49:22, ?Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom he as the heart of a woman in her pangs.? Amos 1:12, ?But I will send a fire upon Temar, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah? (KJB). Very nearly centrally located in Edom and about 90 miles south of Jerusalem and about one mile west of the King?s Highway lies the city of Teman. This city is important because, Eliphaz, one of Job?s comforters was from Teman. Job 2:1 1, ?Now when Job?s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him? (KJB). The location of Teman is definitely confirmed by archeologists. (Denis Daly, ?lie Geography of the Bible, (N.Y., 1957, p.245). The next city in tracing the pathway to the land of Uz is Selah . This city was perched on the almost impregnable mountain of Emm el-Biyara. This is what the Psalmist meant when he asked, ?Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me into Edom?? Denis Baly notes, ?it was the taking of Selah by storm that made Amaziah so conceited that he foolishly challenged Jehoash of Israel to battle.? Kings 14:7-10). Although the troglodyte, rose colored city of Petra did not come into prominence until the Nabatean civilization of the third century, B.C., nevertheless, the cities of Selah and Petra are classified together so that many refer to the city as Selah Petra. This city is considered by many Bible students to be God?s hiding place for the Remnant of Israel who will be persecuted by Satan during the time of Jacob?s Trouble. Jeremiah 30:7, ?Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob?s trouble; but he shall be saved out of Jacob?s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it? (KJB). Revelation 12:14, ?And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent? (KJB). This Remnant will be persecuted by Satan. Since Job 19 a type of Israel being persecuted by Satan during the Tribulation, we believe we have traced the Bible route in our journey in locating the land of Uz where Job experienced his testing by Satan. It would be like our Lord to have Job located in the very area where the Remnant Israel will be safely sheltered for 42 months, the exact number of Chapters in the Book of Job. Job 19:1-29 ?1 Then Job answered and said, 2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? 3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me. 4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. 5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: 6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. 7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. 8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. 9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree. 11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. 12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. 13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. 14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. 16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. 17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children?s sake of mine own body. 18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. 19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. 20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. 21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. 22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? 23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? 29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.? (KJB). Additional evidence as to the location of Uz in Edom is to be noted in the names of Job?s friends, all of whom had descendants of Esau, who were Edomites. One of Esau?s descendants was named ?Uz.? Genesis 36:28, ?The children of Dishan are these: Uz and Aran.? One of Abraham?s sons was named ?Shuah.? Genesis 25:2, ?And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midan, arid Ishbak, and Shush? (KJB). Shuah may have received his name from Bildad the Shuhite whose descendants are related to the Edomites. Job 2:11, ?Now when Job?s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naainathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him? (KJB). Jeremiah 49:8, ?Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him? (KJB). Zophar the Naamathite is clearly connected with the land of Edom by Joshua. Joshua 15:21-24, ?And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah to ward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth.? Joshua 15:41, ?And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages? (KJB). The silver thread of truth continues to unfold in the word of God, however. By quoting an extensive passage from Jeremiah 25:19-24, geographic locations will stand out plainly before us. Jeremiah 25:19-24, ?Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people; And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, find Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod, Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon, And all the kings of Tynis, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea, Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners, And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert? (KJB). A glance at a Bible lands map will quickly identify these locations. Egypt to the south; Edom in the central area; Philistia to the northwest; Moab to the north and east of Edom and Arabia to the east. This geographical location is important for this reason. Trade was exchanged between these various lands through the years. Thus, trade routes were established among all these nations. For example, the dominant north-south trade route was called, ?The Great Trunk Road.? It entered Palestine through Syria running through Damascus, through the Pass of Megiddo to Gaza and ended in Egypt. There were many sub-dominant north-south routes, but for the scope of our study we mention three. 1. The Red Sea Gate that ended in Palestine entered at the Gulf of Aquaba, where we have established was located Eloth and Ezion-Geber, King Solomon?s port and copper-smelting town. (Numbers 33:35; 2 Chronicles 8:17)* From here it was possible to go either to Cis-Jordan byway of the Arabah or up to the eastern plateau through Petra. The gate was of tremendous importance because it gave access to the sea route to Arabia, India, and East Africa. *Numbers 33:35 And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber. 2 Chronicles 8:17 Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom. (KJB) 2. The Desert Gate was the road followed by the great caravans from Southern Arabia west to Teman and either south to the Gulf of Aquaba, north up the King?s Highway to Palestine or west to Gaza and the Mediterranean Sea. Tern an, Selah and Petra were, therefore, extemely important connecting points for both north-south caravans as well as east-west caravans. 3. The third important trade route, already mentioned, was the King?s Highway. It began at the Red Sea, went north through Teman (Petra lies about two miles west of Teman), through Karnaim to Damascus. The northern part of the King?s Highway was followed by Israel during the Exodus (Numbers 21:22), for all the towns mentioned in Numbers 21:27-30 lie along it. This highway was also used by the four kings in their invasion listed in Genesis 14. Numbers 21:22 Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king?s high way, until we be past thy borders. (KJB) Numbers 21:27-30 27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: 28 For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon. 29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 30 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba. (KJB) Genesis 14:1-29 1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar. 8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. 10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram?s brother?s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. 13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king?s dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. (KJB) Numbers 21:22. ?Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king?s high way, until we he past thy borders? (KJB). Numbers 21:27-30, ?Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: For there is ft fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Amon. Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, 0 people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba? (KJB). For the reader who may be interested in further studyof these routes, the work by Denis Baly will prove to be invaluable. His studies are based on twenty years of continuous study of the land with fifteen years spent traversing every corner of the present lands of Israel and Jordan by foot, donkey, by ear and by air. (Denis Baly, loc. cit). Once again by tracing the intricate threads of Bible truths and connecting the known facts. the Bible student?s heart should leap for joy to see how miraculously God has put together this Wonderful Book we call the Living words of the Living God. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, we have determined the location of Uz to be in the land of Edom. Then with all reasonable doubts excluded, we have determined the location of the events in the life of Job to have taken place in the very locality where Satan will launch his vicious attack against God?s people. This will be concluded with the Lord coming to the rescue of His chosen remnant in Petra. Isaiah 63:1.6, ?Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my rainment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury? it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth? (KJB). The King?s Highway would have been used by the wise men who came from the east seeking the King of the Jews. Matthew 2:1-2, ?Now when Jesus was horn in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came ?vise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is horn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him? (KJB). The Bible nowhere teaches the traditional presentation that the wise men followed the star to Bethlehem. The reader may desire to study the following presentation in light of what the Bible teaches rather than the traditions of men. The wise men came from the east following the star across the caravan trade route to Teman, turned north and arrived at Jerusalem. Herod?s chief priests and scribes knew where and when the Messiah was to be born, which was at Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the town. Ephratah was the county and Judah was the territory. This was given for clarity since a second Bethlehem existed at this time. This Bethlehem was located in the land of Zebulun in the land of Galilee. (See Joshua 19:10-16). Joshua 19:10-16 10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: 11 And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; 12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, 13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah; 14 And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el: 15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages. 16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages. (KJB). Micah 5:2, ?But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou he little among the thou sands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting? (KJB). Christ had been born at least 18 months before the wise men arrived at Jerusalem. The chief priests and scribes knew this from Daniel 9:24-27 This was the reason Herod had all the male children who had been born within the last two years slain rather than the new born children. Matthew 2:16, ?Then Herold, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men? (KJB). In the meantime, Mary waited, perhaps at Bethlehem for the forty days of her purification, then took the Christ Child to the temple in Jerusalem. Leviticus 12: 1-8, ?And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and horn a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. But if she bear a maid child, then she shall he unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying three-score and six days. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: Who shall offer it before the LOP D, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood This is the law for her that hath horn a male or a female. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean? (KJB). Luke 2:22, ?And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord? (KJB). After the presentation and dedication service, Mary and Joseph took the Christ Child back to Nazareth This means that 45 to 50 days after His birth, the Christ Child was taken back to Nazareth. Luke 2:39, ?And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth? (KJB). At least 8 months later, the wise men arrived at Jerusalem. Rather than going to Bethlehem as they were told, the star reappeared and led them to the home of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. Matthew 2:9, ?When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was? (KJB). After they worshipped the Young Child and presented to Him their gifts, they departed home another way. There were only two routes they could take to their home. The one we previously described, the Southern route from Teman up the King?s Highway or the alternate route. Matthew 2:12, ?And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way? (KJB). We can see why God called Job ?the greatest man of all the men of the east.? (Job 13). Even though he lived in a centrally located land, he lived at the crossroads of great commercial enterprises from the four compass points. We also know that in Bible terminology, wisdom and greatness were compared to the east. God gave Solomon more wisdom than ?all the children of the east country.? (1 Kings 4:30) When the Edomite kingdom finally crumbled, as all kingdoms do, Jeremiah lamented the vanishing of the wisdom of Teman. Jeremiah 49:7, ?Concerning Edom, thus saith tile LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?? (KJB). We have noted previously that of all the peoples of the world, including the leaders in Israel who could have come. Their alternate route would have taken them northeast. to the King?s Highway , then on to Damascus, Syria, retracing Abram?s route around the fertile crescent and back to their home land once more. With this data summarized before to worship the Christ Child, the new born King, it was the wise men from the east alone, who came to worship Him. Once again we can see how the golden strands of sacred truth when studied and believed, unfold for us wisdom from above that can be gleaned in no other way than by Divine Revelation through a living Creator who loves and communicates that truth and wisdom to those who will trust him with child-like faith. E. New Testament Truth Found In Job: 1. New Testament salvation truth is found in the Book of Job with remarkable clarity. a. It teaches that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3 :23). ?For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;? b. Although Job was a perfect and upright man, yet he was trusting in his own righteousness to take him to Heaven. Romans 10:3 , ?For they being ignorant of God?s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.? c. One sin, such as the sin of self-righteousness will brig God?s wrath upon the sinner and ultimately doom him to eternal judgment if he does not repent. Roman. 10:4, ?For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth? (KJB). d. God is merciful to any sinner who will repent and forsake his own righteousness and trust in the righteousness of God (Romans 3:21-28). Romans 3:21-28 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (KJB). e. We must have Divine Revelation to understand life and its problems. Romans 10:14, ?How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shill they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?? (KJB). f. All who live Godly shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12, ?Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution? (KJB). g. God uses Satan to glorify Himself. Job 2:1-3, ?Again there was a day when the Sofia of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Prom going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast hi. integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause? (KJB). h. Job knew that he needed a Redeemer and Redemption. He also knew that his Redeemer was alive at that moment. Job 19:25, ?For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at The latter day upon the earth? (KJB). 2. Sin, its results, its judgment by God, the subject of Hell, including its suffering&e all recorded in the Book of Job. 3. The Book of Job gives us the most complete pictures of Satan and the antichrist to be found in the Bible. 4. Job clearly pictures the Great Tribulation as well as the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. These themes are plainly traced through the Old Testament prophets and culminate in the Book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. F. Family And Community Life Family and community life would be considered pure and simple compared to our modern day civilization. This is not to say That they were stupid or were a step above the Darwinian ape-man concept. Quite The contrary, they were more advanced in some areas of life Than in our modern societies. This is especially true in the areas of moral concepts, philosophies of life, science, education, astronomy and modern religious concepts. This will become apparent as we move along in our studies of this most unusual, ancient Book of Job. Job and all those who were considered decent members of Job?s culture practiced monogamy. Job had one wife. There is no reference in the Book of Job to polygamy. Job had a large family. He had seven sons and three daughters (1:2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters ). Job had a very great household (1:3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.), probably because he was extremely wealthy and could afford a large retinue of servants. Family life was close knit as seen in the family of Job. They held parties in the homes of the brothers and sisters at regular intervals (1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.). Job acted as the Patriarchal head over his entire family with no evidence of rebellion on the part of the grown members of his family (1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.). Although a wealthy businessman, Job had a fatherly love for his family (1:5) and was vitally concerned for their spiritual well being. Job and all his sons lived in houses, not in tents or caves as the evolutionists would try to have us believe (1:4,10,13,18,19; 19:15). Job 1:4, ?And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters ta eat and to drink with them? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother?s house: 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother?s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Job 19:15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. Job was not only a good provider for his household (1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.), but more importantly, lie was a praying father (1:5And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually; 16:16-17 16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; 17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.; 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.). Job 16:17, ?Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.? (KJB). As a family man, Job knew one of the bitterest sorrows of life in the heartrending fact that he buried his ten children in one day. Job 1:18-19, ?While he was yet speaking, there carne also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother?s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee? (KJB). Job?s wife, who shared the loss of their children became unsympathetic to Job?s complete dedication to the Lord. Job 2:9, ?Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse Clod, and die? (KJB). Job was forced to accuse his wife of speaking as a foolish woman (2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.) when she could no longer bare to see her husband suffer physically in the midst of all their other trials. In Job?s day, other parents knew the sorrow of losing a new born baby in death (3:16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.; 10:19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. ). In contrast to Job?s love for his children, there were foolish fathers who did not provide for their families and protect them (5:2-5 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. 5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. ). As in all ages there were rich people and poor people. Job was rich, but he was aware of the many poor about him (5:15.16 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.). It became necessary for the Savior to remind Judas and his friends at Bethany, ?For the poor always? ye have with you; but me ye have not always?John 12:8. Whether rich or poor, they were very conscious of their life span (5:26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season.; 7:1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?). Although Job?s life span was at least 200 years, he felt life was short (8:9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:); 9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.; 14:1,2 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.). Not only did the young die, but their society knew of the problem of orphans (6:27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.). Those who were poor were often employed as servants and hirelings (7:2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:). Houses were not only for the rich, but houses were common among the poor people as well (7:10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.; 3:15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:; 20:19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;,23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.; 21:9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.,21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?,28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?; 22:13 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?; 24:16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.; 27:13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.). Although Job slept in a bed and had a couch (7:13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;), without a doubt the poor knew of these conveniences as well. The people of Job?s day were familiar with scourging (16:10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.). They had iron weapons andbows of steel (20:24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.) and were familiar with archery (16:13His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.). People were killed by the sword (36:12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.). Although Job and many others were living decent, respectable lives, nevertheless, sin had its victims in Job?s day. Some men had a drinking problem (12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.). Not only was life considered to be short, even though some lived to be over 200 years of age, yet those days of life were full of trouble (14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.). Fathers sometimes died before they could see their sons honored. In other cases, the fathers died before they saw their sons disgrace the family name (14:21Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.). The children of the wicked danced to the timbrel, harp and organ(21:12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.). Wicked fathers perished. Their children died by the sword and thewidows did not weep for them (27:13-15 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. 14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. 15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep). Job and the people of his day knew what it was to weep (16:20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God). Old men had gray hair (15:10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?). Suffering made wrinkles (16:8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.). Some suffered childlessness which was considered a calamity (13:19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.). The rich knew thesorrow of losing their wealth (20:28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.). They were thus familiar with ghost towns (15.28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.). Job knew what it was to have his kinfolk fail him (19:14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.), hisfriends forsake him and his maid consider him an alien (19:15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.). Job also had compassion for the poor by helping them financially, together with the fatherless and the widows (29:12-16 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow?s heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.). Marriage was held in honor (31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?). Job did not sin with his eyes by looking lustfully on a maid (31:1). ?I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?? He did not covet his neighbor?s wife (31:9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour?s door;). Job considered adultery a heinous crime to be punished by judges (31:11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.). It is remarkable to remember that these high moral standards were held 600 years prior to the Mosaic Law and over 4,000 years from today. Job considered the rights of his servants and believed that failure to do so was considered a sin accountable to God (31:13-14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?). Job felt that if the poor and the fatherless were not helped. the person guilty of this sin would be judged by God (31:16-23). Job believed that wealth should be esteemed in its proper priority or else the guilty one should be judged by the judges or else by God (31:24-28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.). Job treated his land properly by not over working it and by replenishing its nutrients to the soil lest God charge him with the sin of destroying the farm land (31:38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;). Job paid for what he received and never tried to deceive a man in a business deal (31:39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:). The youth of the day respected their elders (32:6-7 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God?s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. ). Young Elihu, although he respected his elders, did not try to impress them with flattering titles (32:21-22 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers). Job?s kin were later reunited with him after his ordeal (42:11). They once again had fellow ship with him in his house (42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.). Job?s children were restored to him once more (42:13-14 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.). We learn that women had rights such as being able to inherit property (42:15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.). Job lived to enjoy four generations of his grandchildren (42:16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons? sons, even four generations.). G. Nature Of The Industrial Life And The Economy: The people of Job?s day were not rude, uncultured barbarians. We are talking about the year 2,100- 2,000 B.C. Some were poor, some were comfortably blessed with material possessions. Others were extremely wealthy. If these words should be read by one who has had a secular education only at a secular college, with no Bible training, you might be thunderstruck to learn that Job and his country men may have known things about agriculture, astronomy, economics, morals, science, animal life, spiritual concepts, incorruptible judicial proceedings, and concepts of right and wrong totally unknown to your college professor. Job was exceedingly wise. He was known as the greatest man of all the east (1:3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.). This refers to Arabia and Mesopotamia which set the world standard for wealth and wisdom at this time and up until the days of King Solomon. King Solomon?s wisdom exceeded the wisdom of all the children of the east country. I Kings 4:30, ?And Solomon ?s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country. and all the wisdom of Egypt? (KJB). Job exceeded all those in the east in both wealth and wisdom. Job owned 7,000 sheep; 3,000 camels; 500 yoke of oxen and 500 she asses (1:3). An untaught Bible critic might scoff at being able to raise such gigantic herds and have large productive farms in an area that today is virtually 100% arid wilderness. The author has stood on these areas and entertained the same thoughts. However, the Bible teaches us that in Abraham?s day, the entire Jordan Valley was a fertile plain that enticed his nephew Lot to risk his relationship with the Lord to settle there. Today, from the spot where Abraham saw nothing but fertile plains, hies the Dead Sea and nothing but arid wilderness as far as the eye can see. Our choice is to believe God or else call God a liar. Romans 3:4 declares, ? . . . yea, let God be true, but every man a Liar . . . . ? (KJB). Obviously, since God cannot lie, the land of Uz in Job?s day was a fertile, green, well watered, agriculturally rich farm land covered with all types of flora. Job didn?t merely inherit his wealth, but he worked for it with his hands (1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.; 10:3 Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?). God did bless Job?s labor because he loved and served the Lord. Job engaged in agriculture, beside the breeding and caring for all his vast herds of animals. His contemporaries also engaged in farming (24:5-6 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.). Servants were hired to plow the fields and tend the animals (1:14-17 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.). Evidently Job?s four friends were financially secure. They came to his aid immediately to comfort him and then stayed for an indefinite period of time (2:11 Now when Job?s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.). The people of Job?s day understood weights and balances (6:2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!). Some of them must have been professional soldiers (6:19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.). Servants and hirelings were respected jobs (7:1-2 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? 2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:).The honorable trade of tailor must have been practiced for they had woven cloth (7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver?s shuttle, and are spent without hope.). They had a rapid means of communication by post and messengers (9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.; 33:23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:). Others were employed in the shipping business and owned swift ships (9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.). Obviously they would need many sailors, plus related employees to carry on an extensive shipping trade. Since the land of Uz was located on both north-south and east-west camel caravan routes, Teman, Petra and surrounding cities must have had caravansaries, stables, repair shops and related businesses such as money exchanges to accommodate the traders and travelers. They had men who specialized in astronomy (9:8-9 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. 9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.; 38:31-32 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?). These men may have also been the weather forecasters of the day giving travel information to the caravan leaders (38:7-32): Job 38:7-32 - 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? 21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? 22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? 25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? The Lord Jesus Christ chided the Pharisees for being able to read the signs of the skies, but not the resurrection sign. Matthew 16:1-4, ?The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. 0 ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky: but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed? (KJB). Undoubtedly they had labor problems or social problems for they were familiar with the position of a Daysman or a mediator (9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.). Included in their business ventures would have been milk and cheese processors (10:10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?), candle makers (18:6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.) and net makers (18:8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.). Books were written and printed (19:23-24 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!) and written records were kept (31:35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.) Both gold and silver were used as monetary exchange (28:15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.) This would have involved some type of money changers and dealers. This, in turn, opened up the way for unscrupulous merchants and ?bankers? to take advantage of the poor (24:3,9,10 3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow?s ox for a pledge?;9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.?;10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;; 27:16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;). With gold and silver in demand. there would of necessity be the need for both gold and silver mines with all their related jobs (28:1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.). Since they bad landmarks to mark out their properties,there would have been a need for surveyors(24:2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.). The book speaks of oil presses (24:11 Which make oil within their walls,), winepresses (24:11 and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.), and bakers(28:5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.). Unfortunately, there were professional thieves as well (12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.). Not only were gold and silver mined, but precious stones were mined as well. These included, sapphires, onyx, coral, rubies, topaz, together with the se&ch for pearls all of which were considered valuable (28:6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold,? & 16-19 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. 19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.). In related fields, they hadrefineries for the smelting of ores such as iron and the making of brass (28:2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.). Since they had musical instruments such as the harp, the organ and the timbrel (21:12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.), these also could have served as means of employment for the area. In Job 35:10. we are told that God gave them songs to sing in the night -?But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?;. This, of course, was before the Psalms were given to God?s people. The earliest, Psalm 90, was written by Moses in 1447 B.C. The latest Psalm was 126, a post-exilic Psalm written about 500 B.C. We note with interest that they had professional interpreters (33:23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:). This reminds us once again of the dating of the Book of Job sometime after the confusing of tongues at the Tower of Babel related in Genesis 11:9,?Therefore is the name of it called Babel: because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.? H. The Taxonomy Of The Book Clarence Benson observes, ?The Book of Job is especially characterized by its studies in nature. In no other book in the Bible do we find as much natural theology.? (Benson, loc. cit., p.11). 1. Agronomy: The following fruits and grains are referred to in the Book of Job: Grapes (15:33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine,), Olives (15:33 and shall cast off his flower as the olive.), Corn (24:6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.; 39:4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.), (Ears of Corn (24:24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.), Wheat (31:40 ) andBarley (31:40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley.). 2. Cetology: One reference to whales is found in the Book of Job (7:12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?). 3. Entomology. Spiders are referred to in Job 8:14. ?Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider?s web.? 4. Flora: Flora is noted in abundance in the Book of Job. For this reason we can see that although the area is an arid wilderness now, it most certainly was not in Job?s day. Note the following: Rushes (8:11 ?Can the rush grow up without mire?), Flags (8:11 can the flag grow without water??), Herbs 8:12 ?Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb?.), Leaves (13:25Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro?), Stubble (13:25 and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?), Flowers (14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down:), Trees (14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.; 24:20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.), Roots (14:8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;), Buds (14:9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud,), Plants (14:9 and bring forth boughs like a plant.), Vines (15:33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine), Bushes (30:4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes,), Juniper Roots (30:4 and juniper roots for their meat.), Nettles (30:7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.), Cockle (31:40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.), Cedar Trees (40:17 He moveth his tail like a cedar:), Shade Trees (40:21 He lieth under the shady trees,), Reeds (40:21 , in the covert of the reed), Ferns (40:21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. 22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow;), and Willow Trees (40:22 the willows of the brook compass him about.). 5. Helminthology: Job was very conscious of worms because of his terrible affliction. He mentions worms in general(17:14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.; 21:26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.; 24:20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.; 25:6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?), and skin worms in particular (19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:). 6. Herpetology: Two common serpents are mentioned: Asps (20:14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.) and Vipers (20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper?s tongue shall slay him.). Job 26:13 speaks of the Crooked Serpent, By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. . This is undoubtedly a reference to a constellation by this name. Job 30:29 speaks of Dragons, I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.. Job 40:15 describes Behemoth, Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.?, while Job 41:1 tells of Leviathan this great and mysterious monster, Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? . For a full discussion of Behemoth and leviathan see Chapter 5. Job 5:1-40 1 Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? 2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. 5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. 6 Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; 7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. 8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: 9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: 10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: 11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. 12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. 13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. 14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. 15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. 17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. 21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. 22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. 24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. 25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. 26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season. 27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good. (KJB) 7. Ichthyology: References are made to the fishes of the sea and fish spears (12:8 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?; 41:7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?). 8. Lepidopthera: Three references are made to moths (4:19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?; 13:28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten; 27:18 He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.). 9. Ornithology: Many references are made to a variety of birds For example: Eagles (9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.); 39:27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?), Fowls of the air (12:7 ; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:; 28:21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.), Owls (30:29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.), Ravens (38:41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.), Peacocks (39:13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks?), Ostrich (39:13 or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?); Hawk (39:26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?)and the Vulture (28:7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture?s eye hath not seen:). 10. Orthopteranology: One reference alone is made to grasshoppers (39:20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper?). 11. Zoology: Animals are mentioned in abundance in the Book of Job. They are sheep (1:3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.; 31:20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;; 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep,), Camels (1:3 His substance also was . . . three thousand camels,; 1:17 The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away,; 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had . . . and six thousand camels,), Oxen (1:3 , and three thousand camels,; 1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:; 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had . . . a thousand yoke of oxen), Asses (1:3 , and five hundred she asses,; 1:14 The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:; 24:3 They drive away the ass), Roaring Lions (4:10 The roaring of the lion,,), Fierce Lions (4:10 and the voice of the fierce lion; 10:16; 28:8), Young Lions (4:10 and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.; 38:39 Thou huntest me as a fierce lion:), Old Lions (4:11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey), Stout Lions (4:11 and the stout lion?s whelps are scattered abroad.), Lion?s Whelp (4:11; 28:8 and the stout lion?s whelps are scattered abroad.), Beasts of the Earth (5:22neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.; 35:11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth,), Beasts of the Field (5:23 and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.; 40:20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.), Wild Ass (6:5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass?; 24:5 12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass?s colt.; 39:5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.), Ox (6:5 or loweth the ox over his fodder?; 24:3 , they take the widow?s ox for a pledge.; 40:15 he eateth grass as an ox.), Wild Asses Colt (11:12 , though man be born like a wild ass?s colt.), Bull (21:10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not;), Cow (21:10their cow calveth,), Calf (21:10 and casteth not her calf. ), Flocks (24:2 they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.), Dogs (30:1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.), Wild Goats (39:1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth?), Unicorn (39:9,10 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?), Wild Beasts (39:15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.), Horse (39:18,19 , she scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?), Bullock (42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.) and Rams (42:8 and seven rams,) I. Scientific Data In The Book Of Job: The scope of the scientific data in the Book is far beyond the magnitude of this study It would take a full length book to do justice to the incredible amount of material of a scientific nature considered in the Book of Job. The incredibility is increased as we remember that characters in the book mentioned these facts as part of their normal speech in discussing other subjects. The theme of the book is not in the area of science, but is mentioned only as a bridge to cross over to the main theme. If these scientific facts are merely a part of their everyday vocabulary, it is hard to imagine what it would have been like if Job would have written a Book of Science. It is necessary to keep in mind that until as late as 30 years ago, eminent scholars were scoffing at Moses writing the Pentateuch because they did not believe writing had been developed in his time. Job lived 600 years earlier than Moses. John said of our Savior in John 21:25, ?And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen? (KJB). A similar statement could be written about the vast knowledge God must have revealed to the people of Job?s day, some of which, has only recently been rediscovered. Note a few brief statements Job and his contemporaries knew in the vast fields of science. 1.Job and his contemporaries were Scientific Creationists 3800 years before Charles Darwin was born. Darwin was born in 1809 and died in 1881. He wrote his ?Origen of Species? in the year 1859 Huxley, Lyell and Hooker championed his Bible rejecting cause. The men of Job?s day were Catastrophic Geologists 3900 years before theologians, who surrendered to these God defying. unscientific day dreamers of organic evolution. ever walked upon the earth. Job?s contemporaries believed the earth was universally inundated by Noah?s Deluge (Job 8:8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:; 14:11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:; 22:15-16 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:). 2. They knew that day and night constituted a total of 24 hours as established by God in Genesis 1:4, -5,500 years before it was recorded by Moses (Job 3:3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.; 4:20). Job 3:3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. (KJB). Genesis 1:4-5, ?And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day? (KJB). 3.They knew the truth of Genesis 1:15-16, 500 years before there was a written record of the fact(Job 3:4-6 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. 5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. 6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months). Moses lived from 1525 B.C. until 1407/06 B.C. Genesis l :15-1 6. ?And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also? (KJB). 4.They had an established lunar calendar (3:6 let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months; 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;) that was completely functional and in use in Job?s day. (See Henry Heydt, The Chosen People Quest ion Box 11 (Englewood, N.J., 1976. pp.30-31). 5.They knew of the creation of the stars (Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also; Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?). 6.They knew of the power of God to destroy menwith a force that exceeds anything known to modern science today (Job 4:9; 2 Peter 3:10-13). Job 4:9 ?So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.? 2 Peter 3:10-13, ?But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the right; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness?(KJB). 7.They knew that God could do great things that science could not understand so that it would be marvelous and without number (5:9). (See O.E. Phillips, I Know Whom I Believed (Philadelphia, 1957, pp. 57-99). Job 5:9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: 8.They knew that rain came from God (Job 5:10,Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:; 26 :8, He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them). Modern science still does not accept this fact, but believe they can ?seed? clouds with silver iodide particles from planes and make rain. They have not been successful. Science believes that rain comes from low pressure areas, upper air currents, high pressure areas and other factors. They fail to realize that they are dealing with the effects rather than The Cause, The Creator Himself. Job knew better. Man?s ten day weather forecasts are more of a joke than something to be taken seriously. The weather prognosticators have difficulty knowing what is going to occur weather-wise in the next hour, in contrast to ten days in the future. 9.They knew that God could frustrate man?s achievements or permit them to be successful as He desired without any consideration of man?s opinion in the matter, whatsoever. Unfortunately, science yet boasts of its achievements with absolutely no consideration of the Lord at all. They ignore God as though He were neither there nor had a say in the matter (Job 5:12-14, ?He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. 13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. 14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.?). 10. We must ask ourselves the question, ?How did Job and his contemporaries know about ice and snow when they lived in a tropical climate where they had seen neither?? (Job 6:16: 9:30: 37:6). Job 6:16 16 ?Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:? Job 9:30 ?If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;? Job 37:6 ? For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.? 11. They knew that God had appointed a length of time for their lives and accepted this with out question. Science vet believes that it can freeze dead bodies for future life, clone men and generally take the length of man?s life into its own hands. (Check the Intensive Care Unit at your local hospital). 12. They believed their ancestors were smarter than they were and that man?s mental capabilities were decreasing rather than increasing as modem science believes. Job 8:8-10 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: 9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) 10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?; 12:12-13 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.; Romans 1:18-23, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (KJB) 13. Since they were not uniformitarian geologists, they knew that God can move mountains and overturn them (Job 9:5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.). They would have laughed at the so called geologic age columns as a joke. (See Cable, The Physical Sciences (New York. 1945. pp.524-537). Although they had never seen the great mountain ranges of North and South America, or the Alps and Himalayas of Europe and Asia, they would have never believed this happened over a period of millions of years. Although they had never seen the Marianna Trench between Saipan and Guam in the Pacific Ocean or stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona (Job 14:19 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.). they would have most certainly known that these colossal geologic miracles were the results of the catastrophe of the Deluge in the days of Noah. (See NcGrown. In Six Days (Van Nuys, Calif, I 976), pp.79-97). The perpendicular coal beds in West Virginia must be a terrible embarrassment to the uniformitarian geologists. We must ask ourselves. ?How did Job get to be smarter than Darwin. Lyell, Hooker, Huxley and the heads of the science departments at most state universities?? 14. Job and his contemporaries knew that God had shaken the earth out of its place (Job 9:6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.). John Whitcomb notes. ?The earth?s equator is inclined to the ecliptic by 23.5 degrees.? (See Whitcomb, The Moon (Winola Lake, Ind., 1978), p. 141). 15. They knew that God controlled the sun (9:7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not;) as in Joshua?s Day (Joshua 10:13, And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. (KJB), as well as the moon and could seal up the stars (9:7 and sealeth up the stars.). 16. They were familiar with the constellations and knew them by their names that are yet in use today (Job 9:9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.; 38:31-32 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?). They knew that Arcturus (the Big Dipper) was north; that Orion was in the West, that the Pleiades was in the East and the Chambers was in the South. The fascinating question is posed in Job 38:31-32, ?Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? Or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?? (KJB). Orion was visible between October and January. The question God posed was, ?Can you hold back the seasons?? (Genesis 8:22 ). Mazzaroth is a reference to the twelve signs of the Zodiac as can be found in any book on astronomy. They are: Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, urus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo. Arcturus is the Ursa Major or the Big Dipper. His sons would be the three stars in the handle of the Ursa Major, known as the Bear. Sidney Collett?s remark on Job 38:31 concerning ?the influence of the Pleiades? is most informative. He instructs us: Pleiades is the name given by the ancient Greeks to what is known as the seven stars. The astronomer Bradley, in 1748 and more recently M. Madler of Dorpat and others discovered, after most elaborate calculations, that Alcyone, the brightest of these seven stars, is actually, so far as is known, the center of our whole solar system--the hinge or pivot around which our sun, with all its attendant planets is believed to revolve. Now when we remember that the sun is more than three thousand billion miles awry from Alcyone, we get some idea of how marvelous must be the ?influence of the Pleiades, which swings these planets--the earth included--around it is the rate of more than one hundred and fifty million miles a year, in an orbit so vast that one circuit would occupy thousands of years to complete. A similar reference to Pleiades is found in Amos 5:8 where the prophet, in seeking to convey some idea of God?s greatness says, ?Seek Him that maketh the seven stars? or Pleiades. 17. Job and his friends knew of the origin of man from clay and that the future of his body would be dust (Job 10:9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?; Genesis 2:7 ?And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (KJB). 18.They knew that heaven was high and hell was deep (11:8, It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?). 19.They knew that the earth had measurements as well as the stars and seas (Job 11:9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.). John Whitcomb, loc. cit., gives the following measurements: Earth is 7,927 miles in diameter at the equator; 24,894 miles in circumference; weighs, 5 septillion, 883 million tons: 197 million, 272 thousand square miles of and surface; spins 1,000 miles per hour at the equator in an oval path around the sun at 20 miles per second being 91,840,000 miles from the sun. The waters cover 139 million square feet or 70.8% of the earth?s total surface. 20. They knew that nature could teach them things that they did not know and were commanded of God to ?ask the beasts, the fowls of the air, and the earth and the sea and they will act as man?s teacher in areas where his knowledge is deficient (Job 12:7-9, But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?).? 21.They knew that man was a tricotomy of Body, Soul and Spirit (12:10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.). 22. Job and his neighbors knew that God controlled the destiny of all nations (Job 12:23, He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.). 23.They knew that God lives beyond the stars (Job 22:12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!). Our nearest star is Alpha Centauri which is 25 trillion miles away. Traveling at the speed of light (I 86,600 miles per second), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year would take 4 years and 4 months to arrive. Our most distant star in our galaxy, Polaris could be reached by traveling at the speed of light in a vacuum (6 trillion miles a year) and would take 75,000 years. There are more than one million galaxies. The farthest heavenly body visible to the naked eye is the great galaxy of Andromeda. It is 13 quintillion miles away. If you traveled at 670 million miles per hour, your great, great, great, grandchildren would all die of old age before you got one quarter of the way there. This is equivalent to an ant traveling from earth to the sun (93,840,000 miles) at the rate of one inch a day. (See Gable, loc. cit., pp. 550-564). 24.They knew that God?s armies are numberless (Job 25:3, Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?). 25. Job knew that the moon did not shine, but was rather a light reflector as were the stars (Job 25:5, Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.; 31:26, If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;). This is most intriguing in light of the fact that one of our famous American folk songs was ?Shine On Harvest Moon.? We taught our children to sing. ?Twinkle, Twinkle little star. how I wonder where you are.? 26. Job knew that there was an empty space at the North. He knew that the earth was suspended by nothing. He knew of the rotundity of the earth (Job 22:14, Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.). In other words, Job was not exactly a slobbering caveman, dragging his wife around by the hair with a club over his shoulder trying to discover fire and the wheel as Mr. Darwin and his friends would have us believe. Sidney Collett illustrates for us once again how pitifully far behind the Bible science has lagged while pretending it was right and God was wrong. He notes: Nearly all the early physicists and philosophers including Ptolemy, Plato, Aristotle, etc. believed the earth was a flat disc of land surrounded by a great world river Oceanus and that this flat disc formed the foundation for all other elements. supporting first water, then air, then fire, etc. These ideas prevailed through Western Europe until the 16th century. Pythagoras, as early as 506 B.C. is said to have demonstrated the fact that the earth was round; while Aristarchus of Samos, who lived about 280 B.C. believed that the earth turned upon its axis, and revolved around the sun. The great astronomers and philosophers, including Plato, Aristotle, Ptolemy, Hipparchus, etc. ignored such theories and believed in what is known as the Ptolemaic system of astronomy--viz., that the earth was a solid, stationary foundation which supported all the other elements. Copernicus believed that night and day were really caused by the earth?s rotation upon its axis. But so ignorant is the mind of man, that when Galileo, nearly one hundred years later, declared his belief in the Capernican theory, he nearly lost his life for it! But that very theory, which had lain hidden in the Bible for thousands of years, was ultimately confirmed by astronomers. (See Collett, loc. cit., pp.280-285. 27.They knew that God had put limits on the boundaries of the seas (Job 22:6-10, The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. 7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture?s eye hath not seen: 8 The lion?s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. 9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. 10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.; 28:11, He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.; Eccl. 1:7, All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (KJB). They also knew that God divided the Sea with His power (Job 26:12, He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.). 28. Job and his friends knew that God had garnished the heavens with the sun, the moon, the stars, the galaxies, the star clusters and the nebula (Job 26:13, By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens;). They were aware that God formed the constellation ?the Crooked Serpent? (Job 26:13, his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.). 29. To Job and his contemporaries, the thunder in the heavens was a symbol of God?s power (26:14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? ). 30. God also gave them some mysteries that He did not reveal such as a secret path through the skies that no bird of the air knows about (Job 28:7, There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture?s eye hath not seen:). when we hear the scientists at NASA speak of the famous ?keyhole? in the sky; the door through which our rockets must pass to break the pull of earth?s gravitational pull and get into orbit? makes us think of this strange verse in God?s word and its meaning. 31. Job and his friends knew that both air and water had weight (Job 28:25, To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.). Both air arid water have been weighted in proper balance. Nitrogen to oxygen ration is 79 to 21. If it were N2 0, everyone would die for this is dinitrogen trioxide. If it were N2 03, we would die laughing for this is nitrous oxide. Fish divide H2 0 into 3 parts and live on the oxygen. Atmospheric pressure or the weight of air is well known today. (See Collett, loc. cit., pp. 280-285). 32. Job was well aware that God controls the thunder and the lightning and makes a path for the lightning; a truth that should comfort all of those who are trusting in Him for our safety (Job 28:26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:; 37:3, He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.; 38:25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;; 38:35, Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?). 33. How embarrassing to the Darwinians to find out that Job and his Contemporaries knew all about fire Job 15:34, For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.; 18:5, Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.; 20:26, All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.; 22:20, Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.; 28:5, As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.; 31:12, For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.; 41:19, Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.). 34. Job knew conclusively of Adam?s sin and how he tried to hide from God over 600 years before Moses wrote the story in the Book of Genesis (Job 31:33, If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:). 35. Job knew that God had given animals knowledge, although man?s knowledge was considered superior (Job 35:11, Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?). Job also knew what scientists are finally getting around to discovering; that is, that animals have instincts concerning storms and impending disasters that is totally un known to man (Job 37:8, Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.). Scientists are now experimenting with dogs with the belief that if man could communicate with the dog, the animal would be able to warn man of approaching storms and particularly, tornadoes. Dolphins normally follow ships. Yet a seaman told the author that during World War II, the dolphins would meet the allied naval vessels upon entering the English Channel and lead the ships safely through the German mine fields. In spite of elaborate electronic gear aboard, the captains followed the dolphins. No one knew how the dolphins knew to take the side of the allies in the war apart from God directing the dolphins. 36. Job had been taught by God that raindrops have a peculiar make-up, designed into them by God (Job 36:27-28, For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.). Dr. Walter Wilson told this illustration of how a raindrop could fall through the air, reach its maximum velocity, then strike arose petal and not harm the petal. He suggested, if he tried to water his roses with a hose, he could not get the spray fine enough to keep from tearing the petal to shreds. Raindrops are designed by God so they will not hurt rose petals. 37. Although Job and his friends were inland people, God taught them that the bottom of the sea is covered (Job 36:30, Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.). 38. They knew that God controls the clouds and the amount of light that reaches the earth (Job 36:32, With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.). They knew as well that the clouds obey God and that He uses clouds to correct or to bless the land (37:11-13, Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: 12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. 13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.). They were taught of God that the clouds were balanced (Job 37:16, Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?) and that clouds have density and circular motion (Job 22:14, Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.; 37:21, And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.). 39. Coupled with this knowledge, Job knew that tornadoes came from the south and traveled toward the north (37:9, Out of the south cometh the whirlwind:). Cold comes out of the north (37:9, and cold out of the north.) and the breath of God made frost (37:10, By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.) We must keep in mind that all this information was revealed to people who lived in a tropical climate. 40. God had revealed to them truth about outer space. They knew that the sky was a looking glass. You could only see so far and then they could see no farther, but rather would have a reflection only (Job 37:18-21, Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? 19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. 21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.). J. God?s Personal Science Lecture: Job Chapter 30-41 Five human intellectual giants are sitting together demonstrating their vast knowledge, each claiming to be superior to the other. These men were Job, Elihu, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. Although it is regrettable that these men lost their tempers in their desire to prove their points, their discussion has been for the world?s benefit. They have revealed a superior knowledge available to men over 4,000 years ago that as yet remains a mystery to many modem day intellectuals. Not only that, but their knowledge has been infallibly recorded and preserved until this day. In the midst of this tremendous display of intellectual ability, God suddenly appears on the scene and speaks ?out of the whirlwind.? Although God does not demean their current knowledge, He must remind them that they have so much more to learn. After a mild rebuke to get their attention (38:2, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?), their Creator proceeds to give them a lecture on science that, not only hum-bled them, but left them speechless. It is regrettable that men such as Zeno, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Huxley, Darwin, Lyell, Hooker, Tuplesdrake, Schopenhaur, Freud, Nietzsche, Spengler and men of great intellectual capabilities could not have attended this lecture. It may have saved the scientific and philosophical world of educators from the foolishness that flowed from their lips and pens. Since God miraculously recorded the lecture and has seen that it would be infallibly preserved for the world, perhaps they would have scoffed at God?s personal lecture much as they ridicule His verbally accurate preservation in writing. For the seeker of truth, however, let us glance at the 35 questions asked by God, not that we can comprehend the answers, for there is not a man alive who can understand all the questions, let alone give the answers. The scope of our study will permit a brief perusal of these mind-boggling declarations. 1. God declared that, although the earth is suspended as a ball in space (Job 38:6, Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? stone thereof;): the earth has a cornerstone (38:6, or who laid the corner). Not only that, the earth has been given its measurements by God. (See page 26. point 19). Nothing with such precise measurements could possibly have come into being by blind chance or through some evolutionary process. God declared it was all made by Him. 2. God declared that the stars can sing (38:7, When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?). In recent years, men of science have discovered that light is vocal. once again we turn to Sidney Collet who assures us with the following help: Light is transmitted by a succession of ether waves, oscillating at the amazing rapidity of 400 billion vibrations per second. So that, as the rising gun sends its radiations of light over the waking world, a singing sound is caused, but our ears are not sufficiently sensitive to hear the song! (Sidney Collet, loc. cit., p. 283). Have you ever heard a sunrise or a sunset? Of course not; but one day when God gives us our glorified bodies, we shall experience the singing of the stars and the beautiful symphony of a sunrise and a sunset. God delights in confusing the rebellious man (Psalm 2:4, He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. (KJB). God speaks of seeing a song (Psalm 40:3, And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.) and hearing a sunset. 3. God announced in His scientific lecture to Job and his friends that the seas have doors (38:8, Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?). God revealed there are springs in the sea: O.E. Phillips, loc. cit., p. 59 shares this truth. In Psalm 8:8 David speaks of the ?path of the seas.? Long before men began crossing the oceans God made this known. Since then, we have learned that there are warm streams ?winding their ways through the seas and around our continents that control the climates and make it possible for us to live. Without these streams many of our regions would be so cold that neither man nor beast could live. God declared over 4,000 years ago that no man has as yet charted the bottom of the sea. This is yet true in 1992. (2002) Piccard and Walsh went down to 35,000 feet in their submarine ?Trieste? and explored the Marianna Trench near Saipan and Guam. They didn?t get out and walk around because of the tremendous pressure, but they found fish there and the water temperature at 38 degrees. Scientists laughingly speak of the oceans as our last frontier on this earth. Certainly the oceans are uncharted, but for the benefit of the conceited scientists, we remind them there are more things on this earth that are yet to be discovered than are known. 4. God revealed that death has gates (38:17, Have the gates of death been opened unto thee) and that there doors leading to these gates (38:17-19, or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,). No man on earth knows what God is talking about let alone be able to intelligently explain the gates and doors of death. In additional revelations about Hell, God informs us that: Hell has gates: Matthew 16:18, ?And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.? Hell has bars: Job 17:16, ?They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust? (KJB). Hell has a belly: Jonah 2:2, ?And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.? Hell?s keys are held by our Savior: Revelation 1:18, ?I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death? (KJB). 5 . Light has an origin and a dwelling place (38:19, Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,) and darkness has a home (38:20, That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?). Ask any scientists where the origin and dwelling place of light are located and where the home of darkness is to be found and watch them run for their book of poetry in order to call God a liar. 6. God instructed Job and his friends that snow and hail have a place of origin and God uses both as weapons (38:22-23, Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?). Napoleon learned in 1812 that snow could stop his mighty army when he tried to invade Russia. In the winter of 1942/43. God used snow to halt Hitler?s invasion of Russia with bitter defeat at Stalingrad. When the five kings of ?he Amorites went to battle against the Gibeonites, Joshua went to their rescue in a night maneuver that led to a rout of the Amorites. As they were fleeing Beth-Horon, God cast down hailstones from the heavens and slew more of the Amorites than Joshua and his men killed with the sword (Joshua 10:5-11,?Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. 6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. 7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. 8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. 9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. 10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. 11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.? (KJB). 7. God instructed Job and his friends that light could be parted (Job 38:24, By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?). O.E. Phillips has noted: It was in 1666 that Sir Isaac Newton sent a beam of white light through a glass prism which broke the beam up into a band of colored light very much like the rainbow. He developed the corpuscular theory of light which is based on the fact that light travels in straight lines. Scientists have learned today that there is some variation from straight lines. They have also learned that light waves and beams can be bent. (O. E. Phillips, loc. cit., pp. 80-81.). In 1916, Albert Einstein began experimenting with the amplification of light. Although the principle was known, it was not until July 1960 that Theodore H. Miman announced the generation of a pulse of coherent red light by means of a ruby crystal. This was ?he first laser. Laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. (See I 990 Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc.). The laser is a wonderful tool in the hands of ?he physician. The point is, however, that it took man over 4,000 years to advance from the primary truth of the parting of light known by Job until ?he development of the laser. Science progresses rather slowly. 8. In Job?s science lecture he received from the Lord, Job learned that God controls the rain so that it falls where and when God directs it (Job 38:26-28, To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father?). Job also learned that God is the Father of not only the rain, but the dew as well (Job 38:28, or who hath begotten the drops of dew? ). 9. Job learned of a mystery that day that still puzzles Bible students. He learned that there is a vast sea in Heaven (somewhere between the second and third heavens) and that the face of this deep is frozen (Job 38:30, The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.). The scope of this study is beyond the intention of this thesis. The interested reader may consider these facts, however. In Genesis 1:6-10, [And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. (KJB)] God describes a column of water He separated by a land mass. A sea remained in the heavenlies while the waters on earth were gathered together and called ?seas.? He opened the windows of Heaven arid emptied part of this sea at the Deluge (Genesis 7:11, [In the six hundredth year of Noah?s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (KJB)]). See also Psalm 148:4, [Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. (KJB)]. Satan is likened to a sea monster (dragon or Leviathan) who lives in the sea (Psalm 74:12-14, [For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. 14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. (KJB)]; Job 41). Satan?s abode is in high places (Ephesians 6:12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (KJB)). As a Dragon, he will be cast out of his abode (Revelation 12:9, And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (KJB)). Underneath God?s Throne in Heaven is a Sea of glass (Revelation 4:6). This sea will be destroyed with the Heavens and the earth (Revelation 21:1, And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (KJB)). 10. Job learned that man has no control over the heavens (38:33, Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?), the rain (38:34, Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?), or the lightning (Job 38:35, Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?). 11.Only God knows the number of clouds that &e in the sky at any one time in the world (38:37, Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,). 12. In refuting the claims of Deism, God reminds the world through Job that it is God who oversees the entire animal kingdom that He has created (Job 38:39-41, Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.; and, Job 39:1-30: ?Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. 4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. 7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. 9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? 13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? 14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, 15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. 16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear; 17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? 27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. 30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she. (KJB). K. Illnesses In Job: Physical And Emotional A study of the entire Book of Job relative to illnesses of the day indicates that their medical problems may not have been as numerous or of as great intensity as in our day. Their longevity may confirm this conclusion. Most references are made to emotional illnesses, however. The primary emotional illness being that of fear with its subsequent symptoms that appear frequently in the Book. Much of this fear revolved around their relationship to God and their fellow men. Job 28:28 informs us, ?And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding? (KJB). As a result of this knowledge, men had a healthy fear of God since many of them were wise and had understanding. When they disobeyed God, as sinners do, they developed emotional illnesses based upon their fear of God and what He might do to them. Citizens of Job?s day had An amazing sense of right and wrong considering they had no Bible, nor any written commandments from God. They also knew how they should treat each other in their human relationships. When these unwritten codes of human conduct were violated, emotional symptoms developed until they repented. (For a full discussion of moral codes, see Chapter 3). Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 2 And Job spake, and said, 3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. 4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. 5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. 6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. 7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. 8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. 9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: 10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother?s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. 11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? 12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? 13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, 14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; 15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: 16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. 17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. 18 There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. 19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. 20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; 21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; 22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? 24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. 25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. 26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. (KJB). They had both physicians and psychiatrists in Job?s day, but evidently neither branch of these sciences was very effectively developed. The one reference to physicians is found in Job 13:4 where we learn that they were of no value. Job 13:4 states, ?But ye are forgers of lies, ye arc all physicians of no value? (KJB). The four psychiatrists, called ?comforters? in Job were called ?miserable.? Job 16:2, ?I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all? (KJB). We are led to believe that God blessed those with good health and long life who would obey the Lord and follow His verbally announced commandments. It is clear that God had blessed Job and his entire family with good health because of their obedience to God (Job 1:10, Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.). Many of the physical illnesses mentioned in the Book of Job were maladies brought to pass as God permitted Satan to inflict these horrendous tortures upon Job. Satan?s philosophy was that Job loved and served God because the Lord was blessing him. Satan?s religion taught as expressed in Job 2:4, ?And Satan answered the LORD, and said. Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life? (KJB). God knew that in some eases this might be true, but it most certainly was not the truth in Job?s case. Therefore, God permitted Satan to make his philosophy look foolish by using Job as a test. 1. Physical Illness Job was afflicted by Satan with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown (2:7,So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.). In Job 3:16 [Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.] we learn that some parents knew the sorrow of coping with a still born infant. In Job 5:17-19, [Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.] the people of Job?s day knew that God can bring illness as correction and when it served its purpose to then heal the individual. Job 7:5 speaks of fleshworms [My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust;], while also Job 7:5 [ my skin is broken, and become loathsome.] refers to open sores that putrefy. Job 14:22 [But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.] and Job 15:20 [The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.] speaks of flesh that causes pain. Sounds in the ears or perhaps ?ringing in the ears? (tinnitus) was experienced (15:21, A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.). Still others suffered from being overweight (15:27, Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.) while others where bothered with gallbladder trouble (16:13, His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.). Bad breath was recognized (17:1, My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.). Still others suffered from the age old problem of poor eyesight (11:20, But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost; 17:5-7, He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. 7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.), while others experienced blindness (29:15, I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.). Bowel trouble was experienced as well (20:14, Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him; 30:27, My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.). Job knew what is today a fundamental in the practice of medicine, that is, the importance of clean hands (17:9). About 600 years later, God spelled out this important procedure of keeping the hands clean that was contemptuously ignored by medical men for 3900 years. It was not until April, 1847 that a young doctor by the name of Ignaz Semmelweis instituted the practice of obstetricians washing their hands before delivering a baby. His practice was treated with scorn and ridicule. Infection continued to kill more patients than the original problem. Finally by I 876 such men as John Tyndall, Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch and Sir Joseph Lister proved that Dr. Semmelweis was correct. S. I. McMillen affirms: The New York State Department of Health became alarmed because these infections (staphylococcus) could be spread so quickly by a carrier who failed to wash his hands carefully. In 1960 the Department issued a book describing a method of washing the hands. The procedures closely approximate the Scriptural method given in Numbers 19. At long last, in the year 1960, science finally muddled through. Man had learned, aller centuries and at fright fill cost, what God gave to Moses by inspiration. (S. I. McMillen, None Of These Diseases (Westwood, N.J., I 968), pp.16-18). The familiar upset stomach and the bloated stomach were known in Job?s day (20:20,Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.; 32:19,Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.). They also suffered body pains and aching bones (33:19, He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:). This severe pain caused a loss of appetite (33:20, So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.) and a subsequent loss of weight (33:21, His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.). They knew what it was to suffer a stroke. Wounds were probably common. Job 31:22 [ For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.] speaks of a broken arm while Job 34:6 [Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.] speaks of incurable wounds. Some were injured with the sword (30:12, Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.) and some were wounded unto death in their youth (36:14, They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.). Others are spoken of as being lame (29:15, I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.). Included in Job?s suffering was a swelling of his neck (30:18, By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.), his bones piercing through his skin (30:17, My bones are pierced in me in the night season:,), continual muscle ache (30:17, and my sinews take no rest.) with his skin turning black (30:30, My skin is black upon me,) and a fever in his bones (30:30, and my bones are burned with heat.). The Book of Job speaks of some who died peacefully (21:23, ?One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.?), while others experienced bitter deaths (21:25, And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.). 2. Emotional Illnesses Only in recent years has the medical profession fully realized the devastating effects that emotional problems can have upon the physical well-being of a human being: S.I. McMillen gives us this enlightening evaluation of the problem: What percentage of a physician?s practice is made up of patients whose symptoms and bodily diseases are caused hy emotional turmoil? Statistics reported in 1948 indicated that two thirds of the patients who went to a physician had symptoms caused or aggravated by mental stress. In 1955 an article describing the work of a leading authority on stress was published under the questioning title, ?Stress The Cause Of All Disease, (McMillen, loc. cit., p.60). It is very informative to realize that in Job?s day, the citizens knew what it was to suffer emotional turmoil and its related disease as do people in the 20th century. Solomon reminded us in Ecclesiastes 1:9, ?The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun? (KJB). a. Job sums up one of the greatest of emotional turmoils as ?fear? when he declares in Job 3:25-26, ?For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came? (KJB). This agonizing emotion of fear is described in the following passages in the book: (Job 9:28 ?I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.?, 34-35, ? Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: 35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.?; 13:21, ?Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.; 15:24, ?Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.; 22:10, Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;; 30:15-16, Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud. 16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.; 37:1, At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.). We can thus observe that fear is no light matter. b. In Job 5:2 we read two remarkable statements. [ For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.] Here we learn that wrath can kill a man and envy can slay him. Again this is confirmed by the medical profession today. S.I. McMillen has two chapters in his book entitled, ?It?s Not what You Eat--But What Eats You? and ?The High Cost Of Getting Even.? (McMillen.loc. cit., pp. 65-75). In these chapters he explains from a medical doctor?s standpoint how anger, envy and such emotions can actually cause a person?s death. How interesting to see that this was revealed to Job nearly 4,000 years ago. c. Job speaks of the terrors that come from God for the purpose of bringing correction into the life of one who is disobedient to God (Job 6:4, For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.). He also speaks of nightmares and shortness of breath as symptoms of emotional disturbances (Job 9:18, He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.; 7:14, My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity). d. Another on the list of symptoms of emotional illness is a mental confusion and turmoil that lead to irresponsible actions (10:15, If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;; 12:24-25, He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. 25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. ). e. This inner turmoil (20:25) [ It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.] can bring on a nervous stomach (20:20) [Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.], and lead some to commit suicide either by taking snake poison (20:16, He shall suck the poison of asps:), or by letting a viper bite them (20:16, the viper?s tongue shall slay him). L. Government And Judicial System The Book of Job reveals very little about the governmental system and the judicial procedures. We do know, however, that there was an organized system of government be cause Job himself was considered a ruler among his people. They must have highly esteemed his rank since we are told in Job 29:9-10 [The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.] that princes and nobles stood in awe of him. When Job went to the gate, the younger generation hid themselves and the older men arose in respect of Job. Job tells us that he sat as a chief and dwelt as a king in their army and acted as a comforter (29:25, I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners). Trials evidently were held publicly in the street or at the gate of the city (29:7, When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!). It was the duty of the one who was ruler to execute justice in behalf of those who were wronged (29:12-17, Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow?s heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.). Since family units were strong and closely knit; and since the father acted as the patriarchal head over the family, the father in his own home probably adjudicated most minor offenses without a civil hearing or a trial. The following offices are mentioned in the book: Kings (3:14, With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;; 12:18, He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.; 18:14, His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.; 29:25, I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.; 34:18, Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?; 36:7, He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.); Counselors (3:14, With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;; 12:17, He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.); Princes (3:15, Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:; 12:19-21 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. 20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. 21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.; 21:28, For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?; 29:9, The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.; 34:18-19, Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.); Chiefs (12:24, He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.; 29:25, I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.; 40:19, He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.). Human Judges were mentioned six times (9:15, Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.; 9:24, The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?; 12:17,He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.; 23:7, There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.; 31:11, For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.; 31:28, This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.).

CONTINUE>

Home ~ Index

Study Adapted From "Studies In The Book Of Job" by Dr. Walter G. Yeager      Dedication      About The Author      Preface INDEX OF JOB 1) ABSTRACT OF THE BOOK OF JOB      ~ Job 1 Referenced Edition 2) A COMPENDIUM OF THE BOOK OF JOB      ~ Job 2 Referenced Edition 3) HAMARTIOLGY OF THE BOOK OF JOB      ~ Job 3 Referenced Edition 4) SOTERIOLOGY OF THE BOOK OF JOB      ~ Job 4 Referenced Edition 5) SATANOLOGY OF THE BOOK OF JOB      ~ Job 5 Referenced Edition 6) ESCHATOLOGY OF THE BOOK OF JOB      ~ Job 6 Referenced Edition 7) BIBLIOGRAPHY      ~ Alternative Bibliography 8) Dictionary of Terms      ~ Alternate Dictionary Job 9) Maps Of The Bible 9) "Broken" ~ A Must Read! 10) Tools For Biblical Research The Book of Job Reference Bible |-1- |-2- |-3- |-4- |-5- |-6- |-7- |-8- |-9- |-10- |-11- |-12- |-13- |-14- |-15- |-16- |-17- |-18- |-19- |-20- |-21- |-22- |-23- |-24- |-25- |-26- |-27- |-28- |-29- |-30- |-31- |-32- |-33- |-34- |-35- |-36- |-37- |-38- |-39- |-40- |-41- |-42-| Index to Other Books of the Bible