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BEGINNING THE BOOK
Understanding
the book of Job begins with understanding the style in which the book
was written. It is unique in its style. The book contains both the
prose literary style and the poetry style. Both are used to convey the
message of the book. Using these styles the book can be broken into
three parts:
I. Drama (prose) – Chapters 1-2
II. Dialogue (poetry) Chapters 3-42:6
III. Epilogue (prose) – Chapter 42:7
Just as in any drama the first section can be divided into scenes. The first section has five scenes.
1. The prosperity of Job. (Job 1:1-5)
2. The Controversy Concerning Job. (Job 1:6-12)
3. The Destruction of Job’s Possessions. (Job 1:13-22)
4. The Renewed Controversy Concerning Job. (Job 2:1-6)
5. The Physical Affliction of Job (Job 2:7-13)
The
Dialogue section can also be broken into parts. This allows the reader
or the student to find just which dialogue is desired for study or
reading. There are five rounds of dialogue consisting of three
discourses and Job’s answer. The divisions are as follows:
First Round Chapter
Job Chapter 3
Eliphaz, First Discourse - Chapters 4-5
Job’s Answer Chapters 6-7
Bildad, First Discourse Chapter 8
Job’s Answer Chapters 9-10
Zophar, First Discourse Chapter 11
Job’s Answer Chapters 12-14
Second Round Chapter
Eliphaz, Second Discourse Chapter 15
Job’s Answer Chapters 16-17
Bildad, Second Discourse Chapter 18
Job’s Answer Chapter 19
Zophar, Second Discourse Chapter 20
Job’s Answer Chapter 21
Third Round Chapter
Eliphaz, Third Discourse Chapter 22
Job’s Answer Chapters 23-24
Bildad, Third Discourse Chapter 25
Job’s Answer Chapters 26-31
Fourth Round Chapter
Elihu Chapters 32-37
Fifth Round Chapter
Jehovah vs. Job Chapters 38-42:6
Finally
the book ends with the Epilogue. Here the book concludes the story in
prose form. The final chapter of this portion of Job’s life rights the
wrongs of the book.
Using the above information as a study
tool, let’s now begin with the first portion of the book. The drama is
important for the setting of the discourses. It gives understanding to
the whys of all the discussions, which come after the drama. Whether
present or absent Job is the main character in each scene. He is the
topic of the conversation in two of the scenes. He is the object of the
conflict in two of others. In the third we are given a picture of Job,
giving us a background to the other scenes.
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