Background and Outline

            The author of Job is anonymous. Job does not seem to be an Israelite, because he is said to be from the land of Uz (Job 1:1), which most scholars suggest was to the southeast of ancient Israel. Because he is cited in the book of Ezekiel (14:14, 20), it seems best to date his story no later than Ezekiel’s life (6^thCentury BC). His story, in any case, is timeless.

            The book contains a wide variety of literary genres (narrative, poetry, visions, dialogue and others) woven together into a literary masterpiece. The most commonly accepted outline identifies two cycles of lament, dialogue, and revelation, sandwiched between a prologue and an epilogue:

Job 1-2            Prologue —Job’s prosperity lost

Job 3               Job’s first lament

Job 4-27          Dialogue with the three friends

Job 28             Wisdom revealed

Job 29-31        Job’s second lament

Job 32-37        Dialogue with Elihu

Job 38-42:6     God revealed

Job 42:7-17     Epilogue —Job’s prosperity restored