Elihu (Job)

Elihu is the name of one of the people who want comfort in the Book of Job in the Old Testament of the Bible to the fate and hard-hit by the bad news of Job (Job ) in his suffering. Elihu's speech includes chapters 32-37 of the book.

Elihu emphasizes Job offset mainly by God's absolute power and justice, and also that God is not to be questioned and he draws attention that is beyond the strict theory of retribution on opportunities.

After the speech of Elihu says YHWH himself to Job.

Elihu's argument

The argument of Elihu differs from the reasoning of the three friends of Job, who spoke before him.

Elihu expresses his anger at Job because he regarded himself as God for righteous, and his friends, who knew no answer, and yet Job damned. Therefore Elihu can no longer remain silent and summarizes the Job's protestations of innocence. With the opinion that God is greater than man he puts Job's troubles aside. It is wrong to think God would be against Job. For if God is not heard, lies the most people.

The individual Elihureden

1 Elihurede: The speech develops a kind of divine suffering pedagogy which should call the sinner to repentance, key sentence: Job 33:12: " Behold, in this you are not, I have to answer you; for God is greater than man. "

Elihu points out in chapter 33:13 ff on a possible way out can be like God to man talk: Thoughts can put into your mind and be "remembered". The popularly translated as follows this text passage: " And the Lord there is in His Sleep ". As a result, the person can take these thoughts by free decision or reject what painful happens sometimes sleepless nights. Compare also inspiration and obsession.

2 Elihurede: Elihu speaks of the absolute justice of the absolutely powerful God: Job 34:12: "God never does wrong and pervert justice. "

3 Elihurede: man is responsible for his actions, the silence of God 's answer to the silence of the people; So the person has to wait patiently.

4 Elihurede: From God's infallible justice follows: man is to worship God and praise.

Exegesis

The historical-critical exegesis of the Bible recognizes the majority Elihureden be additions to a more original text of the Book of Job. The following reasons are attached

• Elihu occurs very suddenly
• As unexpected, he disappears after his speeches again
• The Elihureden have a long introduction
• Elihu preferred the name of God "el"
• Less frequently used prepositions and particles
• His vocabulary has special features
• He has a wide sweeping and monotonous style