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JOB, TESTAMENT OF

A pseudepigraphal book which uses the genre of testament to provide a novelistic retelling of the biblical book of Job. Job gathers his children around his deathbed and reviews events of his life in order to exhort his children to the virtue of endurance or patience (Gk. hypomonḗ).

The recasting of the biblical story is quite expansive and fanciful. For example, the first half (chs. 1-27) retells the first two chapters of the canonical book. Major roles are given to a revealing angel, to a Satan of many disguises, and to Job’s impoverished wife Sitis. Unlike the biblical Job, this Job knows from the start what will happen to him and why, and he has assurance of his ultimate victory.

In the second half of the testament (chs. 28-53) Job offends his four royal friends with his talk of an eternal kingdom in heaven which is far superior to earthly kingdoms. After God restores his fortunes, Job gives his three daughters an inheritance in this earthly kingdom. He provides each of them with a magical sash which guarantees health and protection from the enemy, inspires mystical worship, and leads to the better world in heaven. When Job dies, his daughters witness his soul’s ascent to heaven.

The text is extant in Greek, which was most likely the language of original composition. It was written in Egypt (Job is called “the king of all Egypt” in 28:7) by a Jewish author sometime during the 1st century c.e.

Bibliography. R. T. Spittler, “Testament of Job,” OTP 1 (Garden City, 1983): 829-68.

Randall A. Argall

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JOB, TESTAMENT OF

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)