Sermon and Worship Resources

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Job 32:1--37:24

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... . The NIV’s or to water his earth is a very expansive rendering of the literal Hebrew: “or for his earth.” Some emend this phrase (lʾrts) by dividing the letters differently (lʾrtsw) to mean “if they [humans] are unwilling” (see Hartley, Job, p. 479). Others posit the existence of an otherwise unknown word with the meaning “grace” (Pope, Job, p. 243). The phrase show his love is a third speculative reading in the same verse. This translation ignores the balanced structure of the three Hebrew ...

2. Job Speaks

Job 3:1-26

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... deep shadow” will be more interested in “That day” and will claim it. This is a rather negative use of the verb gʾl, often used to describe divine “redemption.” Rather than pray that God redeem him, Job desires that “darkness” will buy back the day ... of the word yom (“day”) in this verse to yam (“sea”). See the discussions in Clines, Job 1–20, p. 71; Pope, Job, p. 30; and Hartley, Job, p. 94. Since the verse seems a return to the more inclusive view of day and night, it seems best to ...

3. Eliphaz's Second Speech to Job

Job 15:1-35

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... described in his first speech (4:12–16) and to which he returns in 15:14–16 (see, e.g., Hartley, Job, p. 246). In this view the revelation consoles because it indicates that all humans—even the most righteous—sin occasionally and ... at, meaning gently, rather than the verb lʾt, “cover; be secret.” 15:12 Flash (or perhaps “wink”) is derived by transposing the consonants of the verb to rmz. Clines, Job 1–20, p. 342 (following TurSinai), and Pope, Job, p. 116, understand the meaning to be “ ...

4. Job's Third Reply to Eliphaz

Job 23:1--24:25

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... ʾakhor, or what is “behind.” Similarly, “north” is semoʾl, “left hand,” and “south” is yamin, “right hand” (G. H. Wilson, “Orientation,” ISBE 3, p. 615). No matter which direction Job explores, his hidden God ... in darkness. When daylight is gone. Without emendation the Hebrew would better express the time before dawn (so Hartley, Job, pp. 348–50; Clines, Job 21–37, p. 612), suggesting that the murderous wicked are eager to begin their oppressive activities. They kill the poor ...

5. Eliphaz

Job 4:1-5:27

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... paralleled in 4:9b with klh, “come to an end; disappear; be destroyed.” Both imply complete destruction. 4:20 Hartley, Job, p. 110, n. 11, discusses the difficult Hebrew construction (mibbeli mesim) on which the NIV bases its translation unnoticed. He suggests ... in Current Catholic Thought [ed. John L. McKenzie; New York: Herder & Herder, 1962], pp. 55–74) with the meaning “without a name,” or “nameless.” See the discussion in Pope, Job, p. 38, and Clines, Job 1–20, p. 113. 5:5 On from among ...

6. Bildad's Second Speech to Job

Job 18:1-21

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... , “by disease.” This also necessitates reading the verb “eats” as a passive form “is eaten.” See the comments in Hartley, Job, p. 276. The discussion in Clines, Job 1–20, pp. 417–18, is particularly helpful. Hartley, Job, p. 277, is less accurate in reporting the evidence of the Ugaritic text UT, 67:1:19–20, where Mot is ... , what was “before” (qedem) is east, what is “behind” (ʾakharon) is west, the “right hand” (yamin) is south, while the “left hand” (semoʾl) is north.

7. Zophar

Job 11:1-20

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... speech is idle talk (Heb. bad, “empty/idle talk; chatter”) not worthy of a hearing. Even more negatively, Zophar accuses Job of mockery (Heb. lʿg, a sort of stammering ridicule of others; Job employed this verb himself in 9:23 when he claimed that God “mocks the despair ... more usual “with.” The context does imply that God’s speech would undermine Job’s claims. See the comments in Hartley, Job, p. 195. 11:6 The word translated secrets here is the pl. of Heb. taʿal-ummah, derived from the verb ʿ ...

8. Jacob Blesses His Sons

Genesis 49:1-28

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Jacob’s Last Testament: Just before his death, Jacob, the patriarch whose name Israel will become the name of the nation that will develop from his children, delivers his last testament, focusing on the destinies of his twelve sons. Since God has appeared to Jacob from time to time, he has the authority to describe the character of each tribe in regard to its future settlement in the promised land. This testament is a complex piece, for it is the composite of three genres: deathbed blessing, farewell ...

9. The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

The Dispersion of Humans for Their Building at Babel: The preceding Table of Nations describes the unity among all peoples on earth, while this narrative gives the reason for the diversity, discord, and distrust that exist among the various clans, tribes, and nations. In this narrative the people take counsel and begin to build a tower (vv. 1–4); God in response takes counsel and puts an end to their building (vv. 5–8); and the episode is memorialized by naming that place Babel, that is, Babylon (v. 9). ...

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