Study
10 From the Book of Job is: Job 20 and 21. Zophar's second speech and
Job's
- Place Zophar's views of the state of the wicked in this world alongside Job's. Cf. 20:6-28 with 21:6-26. At what points do they (a) agree, and (b) disagree?
- In this second cycle Job's friends, gaining no victory, utter threats. Is defeated conservatism bound to take refuge in acid prediction of gloom? Had Job something to teach them if only they were willing to learn?
Notes
- 20:5. Cf. Pss. 37 and 73 on the sudden end of bad men.
- 20:7. 'Dead men are dead'. Job's hopes about another life receive short measure from Zophar.
- 20:17. 'The rivers': i.e., of paradise.
- 21:34. Job means that they have not troubled to check their thesis against life itself. So they are dealing in lies.
Concluding
note to the section chapter 15:21. Job's friends have nothing new to
say: but Job has. He is stumbling towards the truth that death
itself will provide a way out of his impasse, when a shadowy but
friendly Redeemer will acquit him.
