c, and, as it
depicts the conflicts of a human soul, it has also been termed the
"epic of the inner life."

Written after the exile,--probably in the latter part of the fourth
century B.C.,--it incorporates various older poems, for the theme is
thought to antedate the Exodus. In the prologue we have a description
of Job, a model sheik of the land of Uz, whose righteousness wins such
complete approval from God that the Almighty proudly quotes his
servant before his assembled council as a perfect man. "The
Adversary," Satan, now dramatically presents himself, and, when
taunted by God with Job's virtues, sarcastically retorts it is easy to
be good when favored with continual prosperity.

Thus challenged, and feeling sure of his subject, God allows Satan to
do his worst and thus test the real worth of Job. In quick succession
we now behold a once happy and prosperous man deprived of children,
wealth, and health,--misfortunes so swift and dire that his friends in
lengthy speeches insist he has offended God, for such trials as his
can only be sent in punishment for grievous sins. The exhortations of
Job's three argumentative friends, as well as of a later-comer, and of
his wife, extend over a period of seven days, and cover three whole
cycles; but, in spite of all they say, Job steadfastly refuses to
curse God as they advise.

Unaware of the Heavenly council or of the fact that he is being
tested, Job, in spite of trials and friends, patiently reiterates "The
Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away," and, when his wife bids him
curse God and die, pathetically inquires, "What! shall we receive good
at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"

There are, besides, whole passages in this book where Job gives way to
his overwhelming grief, these laments being evidently either fragments
from another, older version of the story, or tokens that even such
fortitude as his gave way under pressure of disease and of his
friends' injudicious attempts at consolation. These laments exceed in
pathos any other Hebrew poem, while Job's descriptions of God's power
and wisdom attain to a superbly exalted strain.

Having silenced Zopher, Eliphaz, and Bildad, by assuring them he will
be vindicated in heaven,--if not sooner,--Job watches them and his
last friend depart, and is finally left alone. Then only, and in an
epilogue, we are informed that, having thus been tried in the furnace
of affliction and proved true gold, Job receives f