Professor David Clines, Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield completes his massive commentary on Job with this tome. In the volume, Clines examines Job 38-42, Yahweh’s response to Job and Job’s replies. He brings his expertise in Hebrew literature to bear as he illuminates this last portion of text and the format of the Word Biblical Commentary series provides him the space to explore some difficult sections and deal with them thoroughly. As with other volumes from the series, the text is divided into appropriate sections of study. Each section opens with a specific bibliography that is followed by the author’s personal translation of the original language. Subsequent to the bibliography and translation, are two sections in which the author deals with specific textual notes and issues of form and structure. These can be a bit technical but it is great for experiencing the intricacies of the Hebrew text. After spending some time specifically with the language and writing style, Clines moves into the Comment section. Here is where you find the running verse-by-verse commentary on Job. Yet, to his credit, Clines does not immediately move into verse-by-verse but rather deals with the section in smaller subsections to help the reader see the movement of the passage. Finally, comes the Explanation section where Clines sums up the work he’s been doing. If you find yourself pressed for time, this is a great place to start – you’ll get the flow of what he’s saying and it may alert you to things you’d like to go back and study further.
The sections Clines identifies here (in agreement with almost every other commentator on Job) are: 1) Yahweh’s first speech, 2) Job’s response, 3) Yahweh’s second speech, 4) Job’s response, 5) Epilogue. He argues (in his previous volume, Job 21-37, and mentioned in this volume) for a rearranged order of the speeches prior to this section. He argues that Elihu’s speech in chapters 32-37 should originally came before Job’s final speech in 29-31 (p. 1088), so that when the LORD asks “Who is this…” it is in reference to Job’s demand for answers. Reading along as Clines analyzes the speech-response pattern of the book is delightful. One almost cannot help but be filled with greater reverence for our incredibly powerful and very personal God.
Fully the last half of this volume is an extensive bibliography of possibly every written work on the book of Job as well as specific items addressed within it. Clines analyzes literature from the patristic fathers all the way up to the 21st century. He also includes works on Job in music, dance and drama. It’s an incredible list.
WBC is a technical commentary series and Clines certainly rises to those expectations. He does a great job of mining the riches of the language and presenting the gems of his work. He cites Biblical and extra-biblical literature in defense of his linguistic work. But he also does a nice job of (as my professor says) putting some of the cookies on the bottom shelf. It wouldn’t be the first choice of commentary for a lay-person, but they would not come away from it empty-handed.
