Job's Attempt to Regain Control: Traces of a Babylonian Birth Incantation in Job 3
Some have suggested that Job's ‘curse’ in ch. 3, beginning ‘Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth’ (3.1), is intended to prod God into allowing him to die (cf. 2.9) or perhaps to gain him an audience with God so that he can vindicate himself. However, the key to interpreting ch....
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2012
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2012, Volume: 36, Issue: 4, Pages: 459-469 |
| Further subjects: | B
Akkadian
B Occupation B Womb B Literary Criticism B Incantation B Birth |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | Some have suggested that Job's ‘curse’ in ch. 3, beginning ‘Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth’ (3.1), is intended to prod God into allowing him to die (cf. 2.9) or perhaps to gain him an audience with God so that he can vindicate himself. However, the key to interpreting ch. 3 lies in understanding the womb imagery which is present in all three strophes. This article explores possible thematic and literary parallels between Job's opening speech in 3.1–10 and Akkadian birth incantations, and suggests that the opening speech is a satirical reversal of a birth incantation designed to undo his birth rather than to assist a birth. |
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| ISSN: | 1476-6728 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0309089212438007 |