Job

=Job=

Summary:
The Story of Job: Satan challenges God, saying that Job, a blameless, godfearing man, will curse God if he is not blessed and protected. God agrees to test Job, but says that Satan cannot harm Job himself, only his possessions. Satan kills Job's animals and family. Job does not sin or curse God. Satan speaks to God again, and this time, God agrees that he can physically harm Job. He covers Job with sores, but Job still does not speak a sinful word. Job's three friends, Eliphaz of Teman, Bildad of Shuah, and Zophar of Naamah come to comfort him. //Epilogue:// God scolds Job's friends for not speaking as they should about him. As a favor to Job, he does not punish them. Job's fortunes are restored and he is given twice the possessions he had before. The Lord blesses the end of his life and he lives to a great age.
 * Job speaks, ** cursing the day he was born.
 * Eliphaz of Teman** tells Job not to reject God or sin.
 * Job replies,** asking God why he has targeted him.
 * Bildad the Shuhite** says that God will not reject him if he has led a blameless life.
 * Job replies** that God destroys blameless and wicked alike.
 * Zophar the Naamathite** says that God will not reply to Job's claims and that Job cannot understand the mystery of God.
 * Job replies**, saying that he wants to speak his opinions and argue with God.
 * Job** maintains that he is innocent. He wishes for a witness in his defense or for to God to state his case against him.
 * The Lord answers:** he shames Job, saying that Job does not know how he created the Earth.
 * Job** is humbled and says he will not speak anymore.
 * God** repeats to Job that he is more powerful than even the Leviathan. He asks if Job would dare to call him wrong.
 * Job** says that he will yield and repent

From A Masque of Reason (Robert Frost): This is a passage from a dramatic poem in which God is speaking to Job. It takes place long after the story of Job. God is apologizing for the sorrow he caused for Job. He thanks Job, saying that Job established the principle that there is no connection between the just reward for someone's actions and what the person actually gets. He says that Job set him free to reign.

Job (Elizabeth Sewell): This is a poem that describes Job in the time of his suffering. He is alone and tormented. He is in some "strange state", and sees how death is unimportant. His soul is compared to a "piping bird", waiting for what will come next.

Discussion Questions:
The Story of Job:
 * Why do you think that God criticized Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar? Do you think they deserved criticism?
 * Is God, Satan or Job himself responsible for Job's suffering?
 * What do you think makes Job yield to the Lord?
 * Why does God agree to test Job?
 * If you were Job, do you think you would be able to accept your fate without knowing you would eventually be rewarded?

Supplementary Material:
From a Masque of Reason:
 * What does this poem add to the story of Job about God's feelings?
 * How does this poem describe the system of reward and punishment for people before and after Job's trial?
 * If "virtue may fail and wickedness succeed", are there still reasons for people to be good and virtuous?

Job:
 * In the first line, who is "they"?
 * How do they see Job? What cannot they see?
 * Why is Job silent?
 * Why is his soul like a bird? How is his heart unmoved?

Outside Material:
This is a sculpture called "Oppressed Man", by Leonard Baskin. How does this relate to the last poem?

This art is by William Blake and depicts Job with his family before his trials. What image does this give you of his life?

Study Guide/Quiz Questions:

 * What does Job receive at the end of the story in comparison to what he had before?
 * What limits does God give Satan each time Job is tested?
 * Who are Job's three friends?
 * Does Job ever sin or curse God during the story?
 * What is Job's life like before his trials?
 * What elements are repeated every time God talks to Satan?