4:1–14:22; 15:1–21:34; 22:1–27:23 Review · Three Cycles of Dialogue: Job has no idea how true his last few words are. He has spoken them of his past. He will soon discover that they anticipate his future. The frustrating dialogues with the friends lie ahead—agitating trouble has indeed come.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar will by and large collectively affirm a traditional doctrine of divine retribution: God rewards good and punishes evil. Job will declare his innocence. The friends will increasingly grow frustrated with Job. Job will progressively become agitated with them and with God. The tension that arises from listening in on the characters cannot be resolved by omnisciently declaring the friends wrong and Job correct. Rather, we experience firsthand through their respective words the…