Job Chapter 11
The Least Awful Friend
Zophar is rude. He's not passive aggressive like Bildad or toxically positive like Eliphaz. He's rude. He outright accuses Job of trying to babble his friends into silence. He's justifiably angry, most likely at the “the innocents die and G-d laughs” line. Yet, Zophar is also the most genuine friend. His chapter is short, a mere 20 lines. In that chapter he distinguishes himself from his peers in the following way.
G-d is bigger than you
Think about what you got away with
Fewer false promises in his repentance pitch
When Zophar tells Job that he can't understand G-d, he's not telling Job what G-d is like. Bildad and Eliphaz are full of G-d facts. G-d is bigger than Job. G-d is also bigger than Bildad or Eliphaz. G-d is higher than the heavens and deeper than the sea. He also sees evil, takes note and recognizes deceivers. See Maimonides for how the Bible uses anthropomorphic descriptions of G-d in a metaphorical way.
Instead of speaking on behalf of G-d, Zophar says “Oh how I wish that G-d would speak and disclose his secrets.” Zophar isn't going to accept Job's view of G-d, but he's not going to pretend that he knows what G-d is up to. Also since G-d does end up talking to Job in the last chapters, this is some dead on foreshadowing.
Then there's the one verse where Zophar notes that G-d has ignored some of Job's sins. Maybe G-d is unfair, but sometimes that is an advantage. Job might want consistency, but if the world was perfectly fair, we'd all be fucked. Wasn't that the point of the rainbow? Humanity is wicked from birth. G-d needs to give everyone some slack. If the “what comes around, goes around” is really true then we all would be dead. Granted, maybe it'd be better to face punishment at once. How many times have you sat on your couch, watched a movie and remembered making your mom cry when you were 14? Or how you joined in with the bullies against the weird kid because it felt good to not be their victim?
Finally, we have the last section where Zophar promises emotional well-being. He's not spouting prosperity gospel bullshit. He's not promising that Job will vanquish his enemies. He's simply saying that if Job devotes his heart to G-d then he will lift up his face, forget his trouble and feel better. Zophar is also speaking from ignorance. Job was devoting his heart to G-d and Job is still devoting his heart to G-d.
Job is just angry at G-d.
Zophar is still less noxious than Bildad and Eliphaz. Too often, religious people try to win converts with prizes. Worship our god and you'll go to Heaven. Worship G-d our way and you'll get rich. Demons will stop hitting you in the balls. You won't feel the guilt that we've been instilling in you since childhood.
In truth, religion offers community, service and perspective.
Life is difficult. It's good to have a support network and a healthy viewpoint.
That's what Zophar promises to Job. He's not promising riches or eternal happiness. He's promising Job a path to mental health.
All three of Job's friends admonish him to return to G-d. Only Zophar seems to genuinely care about Job instead of his own comfort.
This is like today when people tell each other that they should go to therapy. Most of the time, they are trying to push off things that they don't like. You told me to fuck off when I insulted your sister. Get help. We don't agree politically. Maybe you should go on medication. Are Trump fans still trying to push “Trump Derangement Syndrome”?
Yet, sometimes you recommend therapy because your friend is hurting and you want them to work through their pain. You might be wrong. Buy you actually mean well. Zophar is an asshole, but he means well. That's more than we can say for Eliphaz and Bildad.
Next week: Job is sarcastic.
Still looking for work but in the meantime, please help me pay my rent.
I published a biography of medieval rabbi, Rashi, so if you’re curious, buy it.