job 14 and 15

Read Job 14 and 15 at Bible Gateway.

Hebrew paragraph divisions

For the series of speeches from Job 3:2-28:10, the Hebrew paragraph divisions for each man’s speech are like the divisions in the Psalms that we studied in 2014. There is an understood {s} division at the end of each numbered line, with an {n} marking where a new line begins within a numbered line. There are four {n} division in the speech from Job 14:1-15:35:

14:7a “For there is hope for a tree, {n}
14:12a So man lies down and does not rise. {n}
14:14a If a man dies, shall he live again? {n}
14:19a As water wears away stones, And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth; {n}

Job 12-14 is all one speech, Job’s answer to Zophar; really, his answer to all three friends that have spoken. The final structure I have been able to find within it is:

Job 13:22-14:17, Job does not realize he prophesies of Messiah, when he laments to be hidden in the grave, then risen again, when God’s wrath has passed, to make clean what was unclean:

1a) Job 13:22-27a, Call and I will answer / You mark my iniquities and closely watch my paths;

1) Job 13:22, Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, then You respond to me;
2) Job 13:23-27a, How many are my iniquities? / You bind my feet and closely watch my paths:

1a) Job 13:23-26, How many are my iniquities and sins?
1b) Job 13:27a, You put my feet in the stocks, and watch closely all my paths; {n}

1b) Job 13:27b-14:3, You set my limit, for I am of few days, and then will see decay;

1) Job 13:27b, You set a limit for the soles of my feet;
2) Job 13:28-14:3, Why do You open Your eyes toward man, who is of few days, then decays?

central axis) Job 14:4, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!

2b) Job 14:5-14b, You have appointed his limits, for when he dies he will not rise again;

1) Job 14:5, His days are determined … You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass;
2) Job 14:6-14b, Look away from him, since he will not rise again when he dies;

1a) Job 14:6, Look away from him that he may rest, till like a hired man he finishes his day;
1b) Job 14:7-12, So a man dies and does not rise;
central axis) Job 14:13, Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, that You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, that You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
2b) Job 14:14a, If a man dies, shall he live again? {n}
2a) Job 14:14b, All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes;

2a) Job 14:15-17, Call and I will answer / You do not watch over my sin, but cover my iniquity;

1) Job 14:15, You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands;
2) Job 14:16-17, You number my steps, but do not watch over my sin / You cover my iniquity:

2b) Job 14:16, For now You number my steps, but do not watch over my sin;
2a) Job 14:17, My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and You cover my iniquity.

Job 15 is Eliphaz’s second speech, and I have not been able to find its chiastic structure, if there is one.