Job’s three sins

Stephen Mitchell writes that one of the milder paradoxes that shape this greatest Jewish work is that its hero is not a pious Jew. Yet his theme is the great Jewish one, the theme of the victim. In modern terms: “Someone must have slandered Job because one morning he was arrested, even though he had done nothing wrong.” That is what makes Job the central parable of our post-Holocaust age, and gives such urgency to its deep spiritual power.

I offer the following comments to understand the first two chapters of the Book of Job so we can see that no human can be totally sinless: “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who [always] does good  and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

1 In the land of Uz there lived a man named Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and owned thousands of sheep, camels, oxen and donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”

This was Job’s regular custom [and thus Job overdid his religion. It was a sin for Job to think that “Perhaps my children have sinned” when he had no evidence at all that his children had actually sinned. Job became a self-righteous, judgmental, extremist person who violated the good advice of the Hebrew Bible]: 16 Do not be overly righteous, neither be over-wise, why destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overly wicked, and do not be a fool, why die before your time? 18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.” (Ecclesiastes 7:16-18)

6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and [the angel] Satan [the adversary] also came with them. 7 The Lord said to [angel] Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 8 Then the Lord said to [angel] Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe [in proper mourning] and shaved his head [in excess]. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” [In this Job acted correctly]

2 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and [angel] Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

4 “Skin for skin!” [angel] Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. [Job sinned because no husband should ever insult his wife]. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this Job did not sin in what he said [about God, but he did sin in being suspicious of his children’s innocent activities, and he sinned by disrespecting and insulted his wife, and he sinned by being an overly religious extremist.]

A good husband should be consoling his wife, yet Job responds with slander and disrespect for his wife by calling her a fool; the word in Hebrew actually means a dried up corpse. Can he be considered a righteous Tsadeek or a Hasid? True, Job is under tremendous stress; but so too is his wife who has also lost all her children; and whose husband is now sorely afflicted physically.

Job’s wife seems to have a husband who is totally unaware of her parallel suffering.