The book of Job is often credited with being the finest piece of literature in the Hebrew language. It is a poem, and scholars admit that no translation yet given does it justice. We are not told who God used as the author, but many assume it was Job himself. Some have assumed that the book of Job is merely allegorical, and that Job himself is an imaginary character. However, in Ezekiel 14:14 and James 5:11 Job is classed with other holy men, which would not be the case were this narrative merely a parable.
The fact that Job lived 140 years after his adversities, or probably over 200 years in all, together with the fact that neither he nor his friends make any allusion to Israel or Moses or the Law, nor to Abraham and God’s Covenant made with him, seem to indicate that he lived about the same time as Abraham and Melchisedek. His home was evidently in Arabia, probably not far from Israel.
The spiritual references and the information referred to with regard to science and astronomy could only have been inspired by God, which gives verification that the entire Bible is true. Only God Himself could have known the many facts brought out by this book.
Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast
Blog Post: Why did God allow Satan to harm Job?
Blog Post: Why did Job’s friends tear their clothes?
