| Job, book of the Old Testament (See Bible). It is attributed to Job, the principal character of the book. Biblical scholars presently date the work from the later period following the Babylonian Captivity, or 500 to 250 BC. The Book of Job consists of five distinct sections. In the first, a prose prologue (Chapters 1-2), Satan proposes to God that Job would curse God if he were to lose all his wealth. God and Satan agree to test Job by inflicting misfortune on him; however, Job refuses to curse God. In the second (Chapters 3-31), a series of dramatic discourses takes place between Job and three of his friends. The three friends maintain that Job's misfortunes and suffering must result from some wickedness on his part. Job proclaims his innocence. The third section (Chapters 32-37) consists of the speeches of Elihu, a fourth friend, whose wrath is kindled against Job "because he justified himself rather than God" in the preceding arguments (32:2). In the fourth section (38:1-42:6), God speaks, and in seemingly irrelevant questions (40:8), he both rebukes Job and makes a direct reply to Job's question of why this has happened to him: "What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?" (21:15). Job is humbled and repents (42:1-6). In the last section, a prose epilogue (42:7-17), God gives Job twice the wealth and possessions he formerly had owned, seven sons and three daughters, and a contented old age. | 
