The Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting - Denver, CO

Abstract

Scholars often misattribute Job’s forceful imprecation in ch. 27 to one of his companions. Yet this speech is one of Job’s most creative and shocking, challenging his friend's retributive worldview rooted in the traditional wisdom of the biblical world and other ancient Near Eastern literature. Job's curse on the wicked in ch. 27, written paratactically, cleverly ties into his companions' previous arguments and highlights a central theme of the book: the failure of the divinely oriented just retribution model in Job’s case. In this presentation, I will explore intertextual connections in Job and argue that the imagery portrayed through paratactic poetry in ch. 27 best represents Job speaking parodically toward his friends and ironically characterizes the protagonist's deep reverence for God.

Wisdom in Israelite and Cognate Traditions Section

Location: Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial H (Third Level)

Time: 10:30am-11:00am