[August 2000 journal entry]
Is it plausible to see the composer of the story/play Job most thoroughly represented in the Tempter/Accuser? This idea recently crossed my mind as I have moved to the conclusions (1) that the ‘scrapheap’ Job did in essence/spirit curse ‘God’ and (2) that the ‘scrapheap’ Job had lost his rationale/motive for acting altruistically/sacrificially toward others. Concerning #1, it seems to me that this conclusion can only be avoided by arguments based on technicality re the definition of ‘cursing’. Concerning #2, I have not yet found indication in the story/play that the ‘scrapheap’ Job –- either in thought or action – has other than the ‘religious’ T/O paradigm in his rationale/motive for acting in the interests of others. In other words, the Tempter/Accuser was pretty much on target re Job’s character.
Is it plausible to see the composer of the story/play Job most thoroughly represented in the Tempter/Accuser? This idea recently crossed my mind as I have moved to the conclusions (1) that the ‘scrapheap’ Job did in essence/spirit curse ‘God’ and (2) that the ‘scrapheap’ Job had lost his rationale/motive for acting altruistically/sacrificially toward others. Concerning #1, it seems to me that this conclusion can only be avoided by arguments based on technicality re the definition of ‘cursing’. Concerning #2, I have not yet found indication in the story/play that the ‘scrapheap’ Job –- either in thought or action – has other than the ‘religious’ T/O paradigm in his rationale/motive for acting in the interests of others. In other words, the Tempter/Accuser was pretty much on target re Job’s character.