Job: An Introduction and Study Guide - (T&t Clark's Study Guides to the Old Testament) by Katharine J Dell (Paperback)

About the Book

In the light of dramatic new hermeneutical approaches to the Bible that have characterized the last couple of decades, this guide to Job follows both literary and readerly approaches to the book that acknowledge the traditional historical questions but find others yet more pressing for our time. Job is a work of great literature that has engaged readers, scholars, sceptics and believers for many centuries. This guide reflects that diversity in its rounded picture of exciting new work that is taking place in the present-day readerly arena. Each chapter contains a 'key text' that highlights a particular section of the text of Job that serves as a focus for a topic of current concern. A special emphasis and interest of Katharine Dell is the matter of genre. She shows how problematic the term 'wisdom' is for this unique book, and argues that its radical sentiments earn it, rather, the title of 'parody'. Of all the biblical books it comes closest to tragedy, raising profound questions about its nature and place in the biblical canon. Job's relationship to its ancient Near Eastern counterparts, notably in ancient Mesopotamia, are also closely examined and key theological themes that characterize the book are explored. Finally different readerly approaches-feminist, liberationist, ecological and psychological-are pursued that illuminate and inform our own personal readings and generate ever fresh understandings of this enigmatic text.

Book Synopsis

In the light of dramatic new interpretative approaches to the Bible this guide to Job follows not only a range of new approaches to the text but also addresses the traditional historical questions and other topical issues.

Dell particularly highlights the problem of genre in understanding Job. She shows how problematic the term 'wisdom' is for this unique book, and argues that its radical sentiments earn it, rather, the title of 'parody'. Of all the biblical books it comes closest to tragedy, raising profound questions about its nature and place in the biblical canon.

Job's relationship to its ancient Near Eastern counterparts, notably in ancient Mesopotamia, are also closely examined and key theological themes that characterize the book are explored. Finally different approaches - feminist, liberationist, ecological and psychological - are outlined so as to illuminate and inform our own personal readings and generate ever fresh understandings of this enigmatic text.

Review Quotes

A thoughtful and useful study of a really significant text.
Regent's Reviews

About the Author

Katharine Dell is Reader in Old Testament Literature and Theology at the Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge University, UK and Fellow of St. Catharine's College, Oxford, UK.