9' The Hymn to Wisdom

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9. The Hymn to Wisdom Jobs Final Declaration
of Innocence and Challenge

• Job 28 29-31

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The Hymn to Wisdom

• Job 28

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1. The Form of Job 28

• The poem is an expansion on a short proverb
  which consists of a question (v. 12 v. 20) and
  an answer (v. 23) in other words, it is a
  riddle, consisting of a problem and its solution.
  Everything else here is readily understandable
  as expansion upon the question and the answer.
  The answer has a positive aspect (v. 23) and a
  negative aspect (v. 13 v. 21). There is an
  explanatory development of the positive side in
  vv. 24-27. The negative side is further expanded
  in the direction of two possibilities for
  achieving wisdom one might try to attain wisdom
  either through investigation or through purchase.
  The possibility of the latter is directly
  denied even the greatest valuables cannot be
  exchanged for wisdom (vv. 15-19). The
  possibility of the former is denied through the
  use of an image. Mankind has

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1. The Form of Job 28

• successfully compelled the earth to open access
  to her subterranean treasures (vv. 1-11), but no
  human skill, discovery, or technique can force
  access to wisdom. In other words, the discussion
  here focuses upon those two means by which human
  beings, then as now, can best unlock problems and
  open up new possibilities wealth and technology.
  However, both these forces only represent a
  development of the negative answer neither gives
  mankind any access to wisdom. The access to
  wisdom lies beyond even the greatest
  potentialities of mankind It is hid from the
  eyes of all living. But all this is only the
  negative background to the real affirmation of
  the proverb or poem. The real answer to the
  question here raised is that God knows the place
  of wisdom and exercises control over the access
  to it, for he is the creator (vv. 24-27).
  Westermann, The Structure of the Book of Job,
  135

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2. Function of Job 28

• Job 28 functions as an interlude, retarding the
  action of the drama and assuaging human
  emotions. Freedman, Book of Job, ABD, CD-Rom
  Edition
• . . . there is no reason to deny that this chap.
  28 was part of the original plan of the Book of
  Job. It is precisely in its foreignness, in its
  departure from the style of the disputation
  speeches, that this chapter has its significance
  in its place it plays the role of a fermata, a
  resting point, while at the same time being the
  conclusion of the cycles of discourse between the
  friends the friends and Job. Westermann, The
  Structure of the Book of Job, 138

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3. Structure

• 28.1-11 There is no Known Road to Wisdom
• 28.12 Question But where can wisdom be found
  Where is the source of understanding?
• 28.13-19 No Price can buy Wisdom
• 28.20 Question But whence does wisdom come?
  Where is the source of understanding?
• 28.21-22 None know
• 28.23 Answer God understands the way to it He
  knows its source
• 28.24-28 Revealed by God alone

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Jobs Declaration of Innocence and Law Suit

• Job 29-31

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Job 29-31

• In the structure of the book Job's avowal of
  innocence balances his first speech, the
  curse-lament (ch. 3). The curse-lament heads the
  dialogue, and the avowal heads the set of
  speeches from Elihu and Yahweh. Since Job
  addresses God in both speeches, neither of them
  functions as a soliloquy. Rather they set the
  tone for the speeches that follow them. In these
  two speeches Job expresses his strongest
  convictions. The curse-lament reveals the depth
  of his despair at his misfortunes, while the
  avowal of innocence is his firmest statement of
  conviction and moves them to exhort Job to
  repent, while the avowal is so strong that it
  silence the friends as it places the issue of
  Job's integrity squarely with God. After this
  speech only God could give an answer." Hartley,
  386

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Job 29-31

• This avowal of innocence consists of three
  distinct parts Job's remembrance of his former
  abundant life (ch. 29), a lament (ch. 30), and an
  oath of innocence (ch. 31). Hartley, 285

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Job 29 Jobs Past

• 29.2-10 Jobs Retrospect, His Former Happiness
• 29.11-17 Job's Striving for Justice
• 29.18-20 Job's Hope for a long, blessed life
• 29.21-25 Job's Retrospect, His Esteem

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Job 30 Jobs Present

• 30.1-8 Job's Present State, the nobodies who
  despise him
• 30.9-15 Job's present state, indignities he is
  suffering
• 30.16-23 Jobs Present State, Present Despondency
  
• 30.24-31 Jobs Present State, Contrast of then
  and now

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Job 31 Oath of Innocence

• 31.1-12 Jobs Vindication, Assertion of
  Integrity.
• 31.1-4 Lust
• 31.5-8 Dishonesty
• 31.9-12 Adultery
• 31.13-23 Jobs Vindication, Denial of Abuse of
  Power
• 31.13-15 Oppression
• 31.16-23 Miserliness

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Job 31 Oath of Innocence

• 31.24-34 Jobs Vindication, Declaration of Purity
  of Heart
• 31.24-25 Avarice
• 31.26-28 Idolatry
• 31.29-30 Vindictiveness
• 31.31-32 Hospitality
• 31.33-34 Hypocrisy
• 31.35-37 Jobs Vindication, Appeal to have
  Charges Specified
• 31.38-40 Jobs Vindication, Invocation of Curse