Job and Ecclesiastes Lesson 6: THE SPEECH OF ELIHU

Elihu, the last human participant in the debate with Job, appears in chapter 32. His speeches take up the next six chapters and serve as a prelude to the Lord's appearance at the end of the book. Two issues angered Elihu: Job's self-justification and the failure of his friends to find an adequate solution to Job's suffering (cf. 32:1-5). Elihu's elaborate self-Introduction (32:6-33:7) exudes of pride. He had deferred to his elders to solve the problem (32:6-9), but their advice was inadequate (32:10-16). Now he is compelled to speak (32:17-22), and he orders Job to listen (33:1-7). He begins with a restatement of Job's basic argument (33:8-11) and is certain that Job is wrong (33:12). Elihu challenges Job (33:13-16) and offers his own theological perspective (33:17-22; 36:8-12), which is not very different from the other three friends.