Eliphaz and job

Eliphaz is the first of Job's friends to speak (two chapters--48 verses). Many readers who might have heard that Job's friends were "false friends" or "miserable comforters" expect that Eliphaz will launch into an unforgiving and judgmental speech. Far from it. Eliphaz's first speech is a model of irenicism and encouragement. Three points to note are his conciliatory mood, his gently probing manner, and his optimistic message.

MOOD. When you think about it, Eliphaz was in a difficult situation. He was the first to speak to a friend whose world had collapsed and who was suffering considerable physical and mental pain. How do you approach such a person? Say you are sorry? That might sound trite. Launch right into what you want to say? That might be insensitive. Try to say something to "identify" with your friend? But the falsity of that approach would be obvious. Eliphaz does the best he can; he approaches Job in a friendly way. Note his balance. 'Will you be offended if I talk, Job?' he wonders. 'But, who can keep silent at a time like this? (4:2).' He dares to think that Job is not one of the guilty ones who will perish (4:7). He treads lightly throughout the speech. "I would seek God," he intones (5:8). A gentle hint, Job.

MANNER. His mood is complemented by a gentle, probing manner. Eliphaz tries to reason with Job. 'Look,' he says, 'you have been a pillar of strength encouraging others to faithfulness when their world collapsed. Why don't you apply the same advice to yourself and realize that the best assurance of your eventual delivery is your integrity?' (4:2-6). 'Further,' Eliphaz says, 'I saw a vision, and a word stole upon my ear. In that vision I saw anew that all of us, angels included, err (4:12-21).' The implication is that the fate Job experiences is part of the human condition.

MESSAGE. But most noticeable is the content of Eliphaz's message. He directs Job back to God, and he predicts good things for Job's future. "As for me, I would seek God (5:8)." God does "great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number (5:9)." Job's experience is an example of the divine reproof. Indeed, consistently with the general advice of the Wisdom movement, Eliphaz says, "How happy is the one whom God reproves (5:17)," because reproof is a sign of divine care. God wounds only to bind up; God strikes only to heal (5:18). Even before Job points to God as the culprit who is responsible for his distress, Eliphaz has "taken the sting" out of putting the responsibility for Job's disaster on God, which Job will do very soon. The last seven or so verses in the chapter close with a ringing affirmation of confidence--that Job's condition is only temporary. 'This,' Eliphaz concludes, 'is time-tested wisdom (5:27).'

There is something both satisfying and deeply unsettling about Eliphaz's speech. He tries to establish a genuine human connection, to be sure, and that is positive. Yet he does so at the expense of projecting a wildly unrealistic future for Job. Ultimately his speech is a little clumsy. But, maybe he is afraid and doesn't really know what to say in the situation (cf. 6:21). He wouldn't be the first.

Eliphaz's speech sets the stage for a stinging response from Job, to which we now turn.

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