Question/insight #54: I am writing a paper on the Book of Job for my university course on "the Bible as Literature," and I am looking for information on the Internet. I would appreciate any help that you could offer. I am focusing on the characterization of God.

Response #54:

I would recommend thoroughly reading the book of Job from several different translations, including the Today's English Version and the NRSV (either the Harper Collins Study Bible edition or the New Oxford Annotated Bible edition). The Revised English Bible and the New American Bible would be additional good choices.

You can explore the BibleTexts.com textual commentary at:

http://www.bibletexts.com/verses/v-job.htm

You can also explore the entries for "Job" in my partial bibliography of Old Testament commentaries at:

http://www.bibletexts.com/bibliogr/05Com-OT.htm

Reyburn's commentary is outstanding for clarification of the translation. Pope's commentary provides more interpretation. They're both excellent resources.

The Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, Revised Edition, also has a section on "The Divine Speeches" (page 529-530).

You can explore more possible resources by browsing the entire index of the BibleTexts.com bibliography at:

http://www.bibletexts.com/bibliogr.htm