Wednesday Bible Study: A poetic interlude

Ch. 3 is a poem, in which Job laments his existence, and wishes for the succor of extinction. At the same time, he invokes the ubiquity of suffering and the despair countless others have felt. It refers to injustice and oppression, as well as simple misfortune such as his own. This is the first serious reflection on the human condition we have encountered in the Tanakh, and by far the most sophisticated literary creation. Again, we aren ' t sure whether the book has a single authorship, or whether this poem was inserted into the larger work by an editor. In any case, its existence implies that there must have been a substantial literary tradition in Hebrew in the time this was written, which has largely been lost. This author ' s literary skill could not have beensui generis. 3 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.2 He said:3 “May the day of my birth perish,    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’4 That day —may it turn to darkness;    may God above not care about it;    may no light shine on it.5 May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more;    may a cloud settle over it;    may blackness overwhelm it.6 That night —may thick darkness seize it;    may it not be included among the days of the year    nor be entered in any of the months.7 May that nig...
Source: Stayin' Alive - Category: American Health Source Type: blogs