Dating the Book of Job (PDF) - Ancient Hebrew Research Center

Dating the Book of Job 31
Paul may also be making a vague reference to I Enoch when he speaks of an “aroma of life”;
paralleling it with the knowledge of Christ.
– To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And
who is sufficient for these things? (II Corinthians 2:16 NKJV)
The most ancient references to I Enoch can be found in the book of Job – the oldest book of the
Bible. One example is when Bildad speaks of the stars not being pure in םיהלֹ ִ א’s ֱ sight.
– Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: “Dominion and fear belong to Him; He makes peace in His high
places. Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise? How then can man be righteous
before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? If even the moon does not shine, And the stars are
not pure in His sight, How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?” (Job 25 NKJV)
The idea that the stars are not pure before םיהלֹ ִ אֱ is a peculiar one, but Bildad appears to be
referring to the last part of I Enoch 18.
– I then surveyed the receptacles of all the winds, perceiving that they contributed to adorn the whole creation, and
to preserve the foundation of the earth. I surveyed the stone which supports the corners of the earth. I also beheld
the four winds, which bear up the earth, and the firmament of heaven. And I beheld the winds occupying the
exalted sky. Arising in the midst of heaven and of earth, and constituting the pillars of heaven. I saw the winds
which turn the sky, which cause the orb of the sun and of all the stars to set; and over the earth I saw the winds
which support the clouds. I saw the path of the angels. I perceived at the extremity of the earth the firmament of
heaven above it. Then I passed on towards the south; Where burnt, both by day and night, six mountains formed
of glorious stones; three towards the east, and three towards the south. Those which were towards the east were
of a variegated stone; one of which was of margarite, and another of antimony. Those towards the south were
of a red stone. The middle one reached to heaven like the throne of God; a throne composed of alabaster, the
top of which was of sapphire. I saw, too, a blazing fire hanging over all the mountains. And there I saw a place
on the other side of an extended territory, where waters were collected. I likewise beheld terrestrial fountains,
deep in the fiery columns of heaven. And in the columns of heaven I beheld fires, which descended without
number, but neither on high, nor into the deep. Over these fountains also I perceived a place which had neither
the firmament of heaven above it, nor the solid ground underneath it; neither was there water above it; nor
anything on wing; but the spot was desolate. And there I beheld seven stars, like great blazing mountains, and
like spirits entreating me. Then the angel said, “This place, until the consummation of heaven and earth, will
be the prison of the stars, and the host of heaven. The stars which roll over fire are those which transgressed
the commandment of God before their time arrived; for they came not in their proper season. Therefore was He
offended with them, and bound them, until the period of the consummation of their crimes in the secret year.”
(I Enoch 18)
Proving that they are referring to I Enoch, Job responds to Bildad’s comment with further references
to peculiar phrases found only in the text of I Enoch.
– The dead tremble, Those under the waters and those inhabiting them. Sheol is naked before Him, And Destruction
has no covering. He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. He binds
up the water in His thick clouds, Yet the clouds are not broken under it. He covers the face of His throne, And
spreads His cloud over it. He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, At the boundary of light and
darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble, And are astonished at His rebuke. He stirs up the sea with His power,
And by His understanding He breaks up the storm. By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the
fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But
the thunder of His power who can understand? (Job 26:5-14 NKJV)
When Job refers to “sheol” being “naked” before םיהלֹ ִ אֱ and “destruction” being uncovered,
he may be paraphrasing I Enoch 18 (quoted above) where Enoch writes of a “desolate” place that