Job as Adam

Job opens with a number of themes that remind us of the beginning of Genesis. Job is described as a “perfect man,” and he is surrounded with a world of wonderful blessings as Adam was. Like Adam, his kingdom is in the “East” (1:3, cf. Gen. 2:8), like Adam he has been granted rule over many animals (1:3, cf. Gen. 1:26, 28), like Adam he has been granted much food and his children regularly feast (1:4, cf. 1:29, 2:16). And even apart from explicit parallels, similar themes are at work. Job is concerned that one of his children might have sinned and cursed God (1:5). This is reminiscent of Adam’s sin and the curse of God (cf. Gen. 3:14-19). Likewise, the Accuser (Satan) points to how God has “blessed” Job and how “his possessions have increased in the land” (1:10). This reminds us of God’s blessing on Adam and Eve and the command to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28). Of course the characters are also reminiscent: Yahweh, Satan – the “Accuser”, and a perfect man surrounded with blessing. There is even an Eve, Job’s wife who famously counsel’s Job to “curse God and die” (2:9).