Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Jonathan Mohler <jonathan.mohler AT gmail.com>]

Hi Karl,

On Jun 24, 2013, at 6:52 AM, K Randolph wrote:

Jonathan:

On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 8:33 PM, Jonathan Mohler <jonathan.mohler AT gmail.com> wrote:

Job says "mud house"  Mud houses have been built this way since the dawn of history.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEbAHCZEUR0

The wood (any soft wood) used in these houses is a termites favorite.

Adobe is mud, dried mud. Except for the lintles and roof beams, wood isn’t used in adobe construction. So when Job mentions “mud houses”, what makes you think he doesn’t mean adobe? 

I would have to say the immediate context of 19-21.  As I pointed out in a subsequent email, he is talking about a house that collapses during the night on unsuspecting victims, as (by simile) a tent whose tent-cord is plucked up from WITHIN.  Two other suggestions I have not mentioned yet:

1) "whose foundation is in the dust" describes perfectly how the bigger posts of the house are rooted in the ground.  This is the initial access of the termite.

2) "unobserved" in v20 might very well belong to the preceding phrase, so that the activity (presumably of the consuming of the termites) that leads to the collapse between morning and night goes on UNOBSERVED, that is, the people in the house are unaware.

Though Eliphaz may very well have been aware of adobe construction, it doesn't make enough sense in this context, either with a moth or a termite.

Jonathan Mohler.

Karl W. Randolph.

Jonathan Mohler