Overview of the following three text: 8:1–22; 18:1–21; 25:1–26:14 · Bildad’s Words: Bildad grants less piety to Job than does Eliphaz and appears a bit more patient than Zophar. Bildad argues, at first, with comparison. Job is alive, his children are not. He urges Job to sift through his life to make sure that he is free of the guilt that has taken his children’s lives (8:4–6). Bildad develops a plant metaphor to teach Job the truth that the impious wither (8:11–19), though, for a season, they sometimes flourish (8:16–19). Bildad is certain that the wicked receive the judgment they deserve (18) and that God is in charge of a predictable world order (25–26).

8:1–22 Review · Unlike Eliphaz, Bildad’s first response to Job acknowledges nothing laudable. Suffering is punishment. Job is suffering…