El rostro de los oprimidos en el Libro de Job

Abstract

The Book of Job has frequently been described and esteemed as one of the most important literary prototypes in the Old Testament. It is devoted to reflection on a just person’s sufferings. However, as the book moves on into the poetic dialogues between Job and his friends (3,1-42,6), the reader perceives that Job the protagonist becomes a highly representative “everyman” figure. The adversity and misfortunes suffered at the beginning (Job 1-2) are sketched with a distinctly pedagogical purpose, that is to say, that the innocent person should not succumb in the midst of trials. These adversities, however, gradually take the shape of criminal violence perpetrated by the powerful against the poor, and this leads to issues of social injustice. The presentation of the poor, the innocent and the oppressed is carried on face to face with the figure of the wicked oppressor, who lives surrounded by riches and enjoys total impunity for his crimes. As for Job, this poverty obtains its highest dramatic climax with the apparent indifference of God in the face the “cries” and the “screams for help” which pour out of the victims’ mouths. Hence the importance that the book attaches to the answer God himself gives to the bitter questions and accusations formulated by the man of Hus.