Podcast 44, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 30”

Podcast 44, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 30”

In Chapter 30, we see the social order breaking down. We need to consider Job’s social condition before tragedy struck. As we learned earlier, even princes remained silent when Job spoke. Job, with all of his wealth, looked after the poor. Job gave counsel to the highest dignitaries. Now as we see in Part 1 A, even the rabble hold him in derision.

Job 30:1-8

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat. They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;) To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks. Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together. They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

In Part 1 A above, Job recounts how the children of base men, who were viler than the earth, have persecuted Job, apparently unchecked by society. In Part 1 B we see the effect they have upon Job. 

Job 30:9-15

And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face. Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper. They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me. Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

It suggests a complete breakdown of law and order. They would not have dared do that when Job was a man of high esteem and great wealth and authority. For one thing it shows how fragile the legal system is and how quickly chaos takes over. 

The overall format of Job Chapter 30 is chiastic: A1,B1—B2,A2. A2 is antithetical to A1. The people who now torment Job were the very people Job supported when he had money.

A2 Job 30:25-31

Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor? When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

Before his economical and social collapse, Job helped the poor. Now Job is in the same economic class as the poorest of the poor. Notice the comparison between the poor in A1 and Job in A2.

A1: “for want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste…To dwell in clifts…in caves of the earth, and in rocks.

A2 I went mourning without the sun. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.