The Book of Job: A Commentary [Paperback]

Norman C. Habel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1985

In this volume, Norman Habel takes on the humbling task of writing a commentary on such a classic work as the book of Job--a text that is complex and unclear at many points.

The Old Testament Library provides fresh and authoritative treatments of important aspects of Old Testament study through commentaries and general surveys. The contributors are scholars of international standing.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

The book of Job, which deals with deep-seated conflict between the integrity of God and the integrity of man and belongs to a group of writings known as wisdom literature, surpasses any of its known Babylonian or Egyptian forerunners in the beauty of its poetic discourses and in its insight. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Norman C. Habel is Professorial Fellow at Flinders University and atAdelaide College of Divinity in Australia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 588 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; First Edition edition (May 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664222188
• ISBN-13: 978-0664222185
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #918,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very helpful crtical commentary. Strong scholarship., April 9, 2008

By 

Antioch Church "Rev. Charles" (Cartersville, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Book of Job: A Commentary (Paperback)

I am preparing a sermon series on the Book of Job and Habel's work has been very helpful. While not as good as Hartley's work The Book of Job (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)or as extensive as Clines' Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 17, Job 1-20 (clines), 617pp I find it better than Andersen's Job (Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Series). If one can only afford one modern commentary I would reccomend Hartley and Habel would be a close second.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Most Useful Resource, December 10, 2011

By 

T. Stevens (Montgomery, AL,United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Book of Job: A Commentary (Paperback)

This easily may be one of the most useful one volume commentaries on a biblical book available, incorporating immense scholarship, insightful commentary, and accessibility with affordability. If you can only afford to purchase one commentary on the Book of Job, you really need to look no further.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most insightful, May 11, 2010

By 

Daniel A. Walter "Steelyeye" (Midland, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Book of Job: A Commentary (Paperback)

I'm taking a class in Job currently, and so far (I've read up to ch 32) this commentary has been the most insightful. I've compared it a little with Balentine's and Hartley's. I haven't read other commentaries, but this has been one of the most insightful commentary that I've read on any biblical book. His primary strength is in appreciation of Job as a fine work of literature. Not that this negates the view of Job as the word of God. Rather, it enhances one's appreciation for Job as Scripture. It is only that he focuses on the literary features such as irony, sarcasm, parallelism, inclusio, use of key terms, etc. He brings the text alive through his constant reference to other parts in Job. He also creatively weaves in allusions to other parts of the OT as well as ANE myth and other literature. As an example of his writing and interpretation, here is what he has to say on a beloved verse (19:25):

"The go'el `rises' to testify on Job's behalf just as the Satan rose to challenge Job's integrity. Thus, Job's go'el is a `defender' or defense attorney who is the counterpart of the Satan, whose name is a technical title for his role as the `accuser' or prosecuting attorney. This figure need not be a personal deity like those of Sumerian theology (Pope), nor need the figure be identified any more precisely than is the `Satan.' The go'el is an appropriate sympathetic member of the heavenly council, an angel figure who assumes the role of the defender of Job's innocence, the arbiter of Job's trial (cf. Zech 3:1-5; Gen 48:16), and the vindicator of Job's integrity."

Very conservative readers may not appreciate this commentary (Habel was part of Seminex in the 1970s), but they can still appreciate the fact that Habel is very concerned about the literary unity of the text. Whereas other interpreters would argue for a longer editorial process of Job, he argues for the unity, not only of individual passages but of the book as a whole (prose and poetry sections). One downside is a lack of pastoral implications and theological interpretation. This is mostly higher biblical criticism, but with a high view of the book. Highly recommended. This commentary will open your eyes to the beauty in the book of Job.