The Writings, as they were referred to in the New Testament, were the poetic or wisdom books. They include the Psalms, some written by David, but mostly ranging from the 10th–4th century BCE, and the Proverbs, ascribed to Solomon, ranging from the 9th century–3rd century BCE, as well as the Book of Job, from the 6th century BCE. Both the Psalms and Proverbs were written over a period of time, but they each have an author attributed to them, King David to the Psalms, and King Solomon to the Proverbs. Job was not an Israelite, but his story was instructive to the Israelites.
an Israelite
Yahweh hates divorces (Mal 2:14-2:16)
“You ask.
‘Why does he not?’
Because Yahweh was
A witness
Between you
And the wife of your youth.
You have been faithless
To her.
She is your companion.
She is your wife by covenant.
Did not one God make her?
Both flesh and spirit are his.
What does the one God desire?
Godly offspring.
Thus,
Look to yourselves
Do not let anyone
Be faithless
To the wife of his youth!
I hate divorce.’
Says Yahweh,
The God of Israel.
‘Do not cover
One’s garment
With violence!’
Says Yahweh of hosts.
‘Thus,
Take heed to yourselves!
Do not be faithless!’”
Yahweh warned them that he was a witness to the marriage of an Israelite to the bride of his youth. If he was not faithful to her, Yahweh would not accept his sacrifices. The bride of his youth was his companion and wife, since God made her, both flesh and spirit. God’s desire was offspring. He reminded the Israelites to look at themselves. They should be faithful to the bride of their youth. Yahweh hated divorce. They should not cover their garment or wife in violence. They were to remain faithful to God and their wife.
The response of Jonah (Jon 1:9-1:9)
“Jonah said to them.
‘I am a Hebrew.
I worship Yahweh,
The God of heaven,
Who made the sea.
He also made
The dry land.’”
Jonah responded to them that he was a Hebrew. He did not call himself an Israelite or a Judean. He worshiped Yahweh, the God of heaven and the creator of the sea and the land.
The three great men (Ezek 14:14-14:16)
“‘Even if
These three men,
Noah,
Daniel,
Job,
Were in that land,
They would save
Only their own lives
By their righteousness.’
Says Yahweh God.
‘If I send
Wild animals
Through the land,
To ravage it,
Thus it is made desolate,
So that no one
May pass through
Because of the animals.
Even if these three men
Were in that land,
As I live,
They would deliver
Neither sons,
Nor daughters.
They alone
Would be saved.
But the land
Would be desolate.’
Says Yahweh God.”
Yahweh seems to single out 3 great men, Noah, Daniel, and Job. Strangely enough, all 3 are not mainstays of Israelite history. Noah, in Genesis, precedes Abraham, thus is pre-Israelite. Daniel is a prophet who lived after the time of Ezekiel, with a book named after him. Job was, of course, not an Israelite in his famous book. They seem like unlikely heroes for the exiles. The point of this oracle was that individuals could not save a country of wicked people. Their righteousness would only save their own lives. Quite often this is used as an example of individual responsibility. However, it can be seen as an example of the limited impact of good people. The land would be devastated by wild animals, despite these 3 good men. They would not even be able to save their own sons or daughters. Only they would be saved since the land would be desolate.
Job (Sir 49:9-49:9)
“God also
Remembered Job.
He held fast
To all the ways of justice.”
It is fascinating to note that Sirach made mention of Job, who was not even an Israelite, but was the main character in the biblical Book of Job. This would indicate that this book was considered a canonical book by the time of this writing. God remembered Job for his righteousness and his justice. In spite of all his trials, he never turned on God.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 