The Trials of Job

The Book of Job consists of five parts: (1) a prologue setting the story in motion; (2) a series of dialogues between Job and three of his friends; (3) several speeches by a young man named Elihu, who eavesdropped on the dialogues and wants to give his own commentary; (4) God’s speeches; and (5) a short epilogue wrapping up the narrative elements of the story.

In the prose prologue (chapters 1–2), God tells the Satan that no one is as virtuous as his loyal servant Job, the man from Uz. The Satan, however, points out that goodness and piety are all too easy for someone like Job, who has a large family and incomparable wealth. “But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has,” the Satan predicts, “and he will curse you to your face” (Job 1:11).

God agrees to the test, but stipulates that the Satan must not harm Job himself. Shortly, Job loses his possessions, his servants are killed, and his seven sons and three daughters perish when a house collapses on them. Through all this, Job remains steadfast, saying, “the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).