Podcast 27, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 13.”

Podcast 27, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 13.”

I have spoken of Antithetical Parallelism in which two things are rhetorical opposite: good and evil, God and Satan, light and darkness. Another way of saying it is comparison and contrast. Synonymous Parallelism shows comparison; Antithetical Parallelism shows contrast. 

 You will notice that Job Chapter 13 is equally divided. In fourteen verses Job describes himself. In the other fourteen verses, Job describe Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zohar. 

 Rather than follow verse by verse, allow me the liberty of dividing Job Chapter Thirteen into antithetical parallelisms. In the first part Job describes himself. In the second part Job describes his deceitful friends.  

Job 13:1-2

“Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.  What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.”

Job, of course, who is sitting in ashes with open sores, declares his equality with his friends. 

Next Job puts the hammer down. First he requests his friends to show the same courtesy to him that he showed to them, that is listen to his arguments as he listened to theirs. Next he calls them liars.

Job 13:6 & 4

 “Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.”

If that appears harsh, I invite you to review their accusations against Job in the previous chapters.  Next Job demands that they listen to him and commands them to hold their peace as he speaks. Job is clearly taking command of the dialogue.

Job 13:3,14, 17, 19, 22 & Job 13: 5,7, & 13

“Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.  let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? Hold your peace.” 

Job has heard enough of their lies. Now, he wishes to teach them the truth without rude interruption. Considering the sharp contrast between Job’s emaciated and weakened condition due to his sorrow and his physical sickness and his friends show of health and wealth and rich attire, one could say that Job rises from the ashes like a phoenix. One can see why Job is such a model to the world. He does not see himself as a victim but as a victor.

Job teaches his three false friends and the world how to act during the hardest of trials. 

Job 13:15 & Job 13:10-11

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?”

In the above we have the theme of Chapter 13—“Trust in the Lord.” Again, the words of Proverbs come to mind. 

Proverbs 3:5–6

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Job points out the contrast between himself and his false friends.

Job 13:16 & Job 13:12

“He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.”

Job calls his friends hypocrites. Earlier he called them liars and physicians of no value. Job establishes his innocence and their guilt.