The story of Job is so weird.
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The story of Job is so weird. It has some of the best parts in the Bible— but also I am confused why Satan is back in Heaven talking to God? Didn’t that guy get kicked out? To me getting kicked out of heaven seems like a big deal “let us never speak again” kind of thing. Confusing!
I guess God might care what even a fallen angel thinks? God seems very unstable.
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The story of Job is so weird. It has some of the best parts in the Bible— but also I am confused why Satan is back in Heaven talking to God? Didn’t that guy get kicked out? To me getting kicked out of heaven seems like a big deal “let us never speak again” kind of thing. Confusing!
I guess God might care what even a fallen angel thinks? God seems very unstable.
@futurebird In that point of the Bible there was no devil. I believe he was called the Adversary and he was supposed to challenge G-d. The bookend of Job are not the meat. The arguments are and Job was altered over time to meet political needs. See Robert Alter’s translation.
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@futurebird In that point of the Bible there was no devil. I believe he was called the Adversary and he was supposed to challenge G-d. The bookend of Job are not the meat. The arguments are and Job was altered over time to meet political needs. See Robert Alter’s translation.
@paulc @futurebird I recall reading that there are at least two historical layers in the book of Job: one where god is called El (=head god in the Canaanite mythology) and another where he's called Yahweh (the warrior/storm god that early jews worshipped as their tribal god). I think that satan (as he's later referred to) was only present in one of those layers: the one where he has dialogue with god. Not sure whether he talked to El or Yahweh though.
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The story of Job is so weird. It has some of the best parts in the Bible— but also I am confused why Satan is back in Heaven talking to God? Didn’t that guy get kicked out? To me getting kicked out of heaven seems like a big deal “let us never speak again” kind of thing. Confusing!
I guess God might care what even a fallen angel thinks? God seems very unstable.
"Satan" in the Hebrew bible means "the adversary" or maybe prosecutor. When Satan appears (mostly in the book of Job) it is as an angel in the service of God, if a bit provocative.
Jewish tradition and the Hebrew bible perceive Satan as only ever acting with God's permission. And do not associate the serpent in the garden of Eden with Satan.
The idea of Satan as a fallen angel, or God's opponent, is later and Christian
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"Satan" in the Hebrew bible means "the adversary" or maybe prosecutor. When Satan appears (mostly in the book of Job) it is as an angel in the service of God, if a bit provocative.
Jewish tradition and the Hebrew bible perceive Satan as only ever acting with God's permission. And do not associate the serpent in the garden of Eden with Satan.
The idea of Satan as a fallen angel, or God's opponent, is later and Christian
None the less, the book of Job is indeed deeply weird. But not for the reason you cite
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@paulc @futurebird I recall reading that there are at least two historical layers in the book of Job: one where god is called El (=head god in the Canaanite mythology) and another where he's called Yahweh (the warrior/storm god that early jews worshipped as their tribal god). I think that satan (as he's later referred to) was only present in one of those layers: the one where he has dialogue with god. Not sure whether he talked to El or Yahweh though.
@funambolo @futurebird according to Alter the writing of Job is beautiful but the style is different from other books making up the Bible.
But the beginning and end are just setup. The meat is the discussions Job has with his friends and the involvement of the Adversary—a position G-d created and assigned—isn’t that important.
Most people seem to concentrate on on what was done to Job, that he stood with G-d, and that Job was rewarded in the end.
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None the less, the book of Job is indeed deeply weird. But not for the reason you cite
why do you think it’s weird?
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