What Was Job's Malady?


Type
Article
Change log
Authors
Dell, Katharine J 
Abstract

jats:p This article explores the nature of Job's malady on various levels, using insights from disability studies as they have been applied to other parts of the Hebrew Bible, but rarely Job. What was the nature of Job's skin disease? Beyond that, how should we assess Job's mental torment accompanying his physical illness, as part of a broader intertextual resonance of lament as known from certain Psalms? It is argued that it is Job's feelings of social exclusion that are a major aspect of his malady, a factor well attested in disability studies but often left out of account in traditional biblical studies evaluations, which tend to focus on moral issues. The relevance of the moral judgment of the friends who regard Job's disease as a punishment for sin is assessed. A fresh interpretation is offered of the strange omission of Job's restoration from illness from the Epilogue. </jats:p>

Description
Keywords
Job, Epilogue, skin disease, disability studies, lament, social exclusion
Journal Title
JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0309-0892
1476-6728
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Publications