[July 2006 journal entry]
I think the ‘scrapheap’ Job concludes Eliphaz has him in mind (5:2) with the references to “hot temper” (RSV -- “vexation”) or “jealous anger” (RSV -- “jealousy’) or “fool” (Peterson and RSV). Is there a difference between ‘fool’ and ‘simpleton’? In the context of Wisdom Literature, calling the ‘scrapheap’ Job a fool is a very serious charge. The Hebrew word here for ‘fool’ is not the word common in the Proverbs references to a fool. A ‘simpleton’ is someone easily deceived. Perhaps Eliphaz is trying to be gentle by not using the strongest word for ‘fool’. But he is still slapping the ‘scrapheap’ Job with his own verdict concerning his problems. The stronger word for ‘fool’ never occurs in the story/play. Is that because the author of the dialogues realizes the ‘scrapheap’ Job is not a fool in the stronger sense, but in fact speaks courageously what is true?
I think the ‘scrapheap’ Job concludes Eliphaz has him in mind (5:2) with the references to “hot temper” (RSV -- “vexation”) or “jealous anger” (RSV -- “jealousy’) or “fool” (Peterson and RSV). Is there a difference between ‘fool’ and ‘simpleton’? In the context of Wisdom Literature, calling the ‘scrapheap’ Job a fool is a very serious charge. The Hebrew word here for ‘fool’ is not the word common in the Proverbs references to a fool. A ‘simpleton’ is someone easily deceived. Perhaps Eliphaz is trying to be gentle by not using the strongest word for ‘fool’. But he is still slapping the ‘scrapheap’ Job with his own verdict concerning his problems. The stronger word for ‘fool’ never occurs in the story/play. Is that because the author of the dialogues realizes the ‘scrapheap’ Job is not a fool in the stronger sense, but in fact speaks courageously what is true?