Trust in Your Piety: Here what is commonly known as the “first dialogue cycle” begins, taking the reader through Job 14:22.

Having been unable to find words to respond to the extremity of Job’s physical suffering earlier, the friends are much less reticent in replying to Job’s angry monologue. Job’s words, and not his situation, spark the dialogue and debate. The first to speak is Eliphaz, who appears to be the eldest and is given pride of place as well as space (regarding Eliphaz’s seniority see Pope, Job, p. 35). He speaks first in all three rotations and is allowed twice as much space as each of the other two friends. Eliphaz, whose name means something like “my God (is) pure gold,” begins a bit hesitantly, as if concerned how Job will respond, but he builds rather quickly to an assured …