Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Dan Wagner <Dan.Wagner AT dstm.com>]

Reggie Ponder writes:
"My own sense is that Job repents, not of sin or impiety, but of his
mournful despair."

Concerning this distinction, i'm undecided myself which view to take.
However, in a sense there is little essential difference. The essence of
Job's "sin or impiety" is actually his occasional lapses in faith reflected
by disparaging complaint against God, i.e., his "mournful despair." In any
case, the context and the progression of the book demand that Job is
changing or repenting in some way at the end (Elihu's prep. for the divine
speeches, their content v. Job's complaints, Job's earlier response, "hand
over mouth", etc.).

However, the distinction is still one worthy of discussion for those who
love precision (as myself!). So thanks for the posts on this--they've been
valuable.

Dan Wagner

-----Original Message-----
From: Reginald Wallace Ponder, Jr. [mailto:rwponder AT lycos.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 10:31
To: Biblical Hebrew
Subject: Re: Job 42:1-6