Mark A. Copeland
The Book Of Job
The Great Debate: 2nd Cycle Of Speeches (15-21)


OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION

1) To observe the progress of the "great debate", in which Job's friends are unable to convince Job
that he is some great sinner who deserves his suffering

2) To note how Job continues to vent his complaint, and while losing hope for anything in this life, he
does reveal his faith in a Redeemer and in seeing God after death

SUMMARY

The second cycle of speeches continue in the same format, with the three friends speaking and Job
responding to each one in turn. The speeches are shorter, and it appears their tempers are becoming
short as well. Eliphaz begins with an attack on Job, ridiculing his wisdom. Like Bildad, he too appeals
to the wisdom of others as he repeats his main thesis: suffering comes to the wicked, therefore Job must
be wicked (15:1-35). Job's response to Eliphaz begins with a reproach of his friends as "miserable
comforters". Job continues to view his suffering as an attack by God for reasons unknown to him.
Wishing there was someone who could plead for him, he cries out for relief as he resumes his complaint.
With no wisdom from his friends, he is losing hope for anything in this life but death (16:1-17:16).

Bildad angrily wonders "how long" will Job keep speaking this way, and why does he regard his friends
as beasts and stupid? In what appears as an attempt to get Job to confess he is a sinner, Bildad provides
a lengthy description of the suffering of the wicked (18:1-21). Job responds by asking "how long"
would they continue to torment him? While they accuse him of being a great sinner, they have yet to
point out his errors. As Job resumes directing his complaint to God, he bewails his loneliness and
abandonment by friends and family. And yet, while Job feels God is treating him as an enemy, he
affirms his faith in a Redeemer who would one day stand on the earth and in seeing God after his death
(19:1-29).

Zophar speaks in what will be his last contribution to this "great debate". While he offers little that is
really new to the discussion, he does describe the short-lived triumph of the wicked, to whom the
sweetness of sin becomes a bitter curse and whom God will sweep away into darkness. The only
problem is that like his friends, he assumes that such is always the case in this life (20:1-29). Job's
rebuttal provides examples in which some wicked do prosper in this life, and die an easy death.
Therefore his friends' words have proven to be empty and without comfort (21:1-34).

OUTLINE

I. ELIPHAZ SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (15:1-17:16)

A. ELIPHAZ'S REBUTTAL (15:1-35)
1. Eliphaz attacks Job, rebuking his behavior and ridiculing his wisdom (15:1-16)
a. Job is reasoning with unprofitable talk, his own mouth condemns him

The Book Of Job 22
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