Job 24
Job continues his response to Eliphaz, and again asks where God is, but this time in reference to God’s apparent lack of judgment upon the wicked. In Job 24:2-12, he describes ill treatment and oppression of the poor at the hand of the wicked, yet God charges no one with wrong. (v. 12) Then he describes various forms of evil behavior (Job 24:13-17), and he cites his friends’ argument that the wicked are swiftly brought down to Sheol. (Job 24:18-20) He then reasserts that God does not bring them down so swiftly, but instead prolongs their life and even seems to exalt them for a while (though they die in the end). (Job 24: 21-24) He ends with a final challenge to his friends: If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say? (v. 24)
In Job’s descriptions of how the wicked abuse the poor and how the poor end up toiling for the wicked, I again wonder whether Job has his friends specifically in mind. Are his observations simply common examples drawn from the world at large? Or are they much closer, playing out right there in front of him, with his friends sitting in smug prosperity, seeming oblivious to their role in the oppression? I am, of course, just speculating about the behavior of Job’s friends. Job has not explicitly accused them of such things. Even so, I might note that, although the friends have likewise said that mistreatment of the poor is evil, the friends’ worldview would suggest that the poor deserve to be poor; that is, their poverty is simply God’s judgment on their sins, just as Job’s suffering is evidence of his sins. Hence, I doubt that they have much real sympathy for the poor… But Job does.
I agree, John. In today’s reading Job’s sympathy for the poor is obvious. One wonders if it’s his own misery that helps him to see the suffering of other people. One wonders if in his earlier life of wealth and prosperity Job did anything for those who were poor and lived among his vast holdings.
All three translations that I read had comments about verses 18-20, suggesting alternate interpretations that make sense to me. The NKJV suggests that the word “should” placed in those verses enhances the understanding. For example, Their portion should be cursed in the earth…; The womb should forget him, the worm should feed sweetly on him; he should be remembered no more, and wickedness should be broken like a tree. (vv. 18b, 20) The RSV suggests adding “You say…” to the beginning of verse 18, implying that these words come from someone else, not Job. Finally the NASB suggests a legitimate alternate rendering, inserting the word “may” where appropriate, as in May their plot of land on earth be cursed… (v. 18b); May a mother forget them…, May maggots feed sweetly… (vv. 20a, 20b). These different translations suggest that God will or should or might apply justice, but maybe in His own time.