SUMMARY
After lamenting his current terrible situation, Job takes a long oath of innocence and calls on God to answer him.
ANALYSIS
Job’s speeches have led to this moment. His friends are silenced and he has moved from wishing for death to wishing for justice, for his day in court. In this final chapter of Job’s final monologue, Job takes a long oath of innocence, listing various sins that he could have committed but did not. The oath mostly takes the form of “if/then” statements:
“if I have raised my hand against the orphan,
because I saw I had supporters at the gate
then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.” (31:21-22)
According to this oath that Job swears, he did not commit adultery or mistreat his slaves. He did not ignore the plight of the widowA widow is a woman whose spouse has died, often plunging her into poverty and putting her in a vulnerable position in society. Jesus, in his concern for the poor, regards widows with compassion and concern. More, the orphan, or the poor. He did not trust in gold or rejoice at the ruin of his enemies. Job in fact has done nothing to deserve the suffering that has come upon him. Therefore, he demands to know what God has against him: “Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!” (31:35).
“The words of Job are ended,” says the narrator after Job’s oath (31:40). The word translated “ended” also means “complete.” Job has said all he can. It is now up to God to respond.
