Avraham and Iyyov/0
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Avraham and Iyyov
Introduction
Content Parallels
The stories of Avraham and Iyyov contain a number of similarities:
- Heavenly test
- Both Avraham and Iyyov are tested by Hashem (Bereshit 22 and Iyyov 1-2), and each of their tests involve mortal danger to children (Avraham is commanded to kill his son, Satan kills Iyyov's children).
- Both figures are shown to be truly God-fearing (Avraham is told he is "יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים", and Iyyov is tested in attempt to prove he is not).
- Both also feature an angelic figure (Avraham is stopped from killing his son by an angel who informs him that he passed his test, while Iyyov's test was instigated by the Satan).1
- Prayer for others – Both Avraham and Iyyov pray that others should recover and be spared from the wrath of God (Bereshit 20 and Iyyov 42). In both cases, a negative interaction with Avraham or Iyyov (Avimelekh taking Avraham's wife, and Iyyov's friends' conversation with him) results in God contacting them directly and threatening them (Avimelekh is told in a dream he will die, and Iyyov's friends are just told Hashem is angry with them). God tells them that the only way to appease Him is to ask Avraham or Iyyov to pray for them. Avraham and Iyyov then indeed pray, and their prayers are followed by Hashem blessing them with children.
- Riches – Both Avraham and Iyyov are described as being very wealthy, both before (Bereshit 13:2 and Iyyov 1:3) and after (Bereshit 24:1,35 and Iyyov 42:12) their major test.
- Three associates – Avraham is described as having three allies (Bereshit 13:14), and Iyyov has three companions (Iyyov 2:11).
- Single escapee – Each of Avraham and Iyyov are informed by a lone escapee of the disasters which have befallen their family members. Avraham is notified by a refugee that his nephew was kidnapped (Bereshit 14:11-13) and Iyyov is told of the four disasters, each time by a single escapee (Iyyov 1:14-19).
Literary Allusions
The Iyyov stories contain a number of literary allusions to the Avraham narratives:
- תָמִים and יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים – Avraham is once commanded to be תָמִים (Bereshit 17:1), and is described as יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים (Bereshit 22:12). Iyyov is similarly described as תָּם וְיָשָׁר וִירֵא אֱלֹהִים (Iyyov 1:1,8, 2:3).
- אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדךָ – Avraham is commanded by the angel to avoid harming Yitzchak with the phrase "אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדְךָ אֶל הַנַּעַר" (Bereshit 22:12), while the Satan is warned against harming Iyyov with the nearly identical phrase "רַק אֵלָיו אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדֶךָ" (Iyyov 1:12).
- עָפָר וָאֵפֶר – Both Avraham and Iyyov describe themselves using the phrase "עָפָר וָאֵפֶר" (Bereshit 18:27 and Iyyov 30:19, 42:6).
- וַיהֹוָה בֵּרַךְ – Hashem blessed ("וַיהֹוָה בֵּרַךְ אֶת") Avraham and Iyyov at the end of their lives with riches including sheep, cattle, camels, and donkeys (Bereshit 24:1,35 and Iyyov 42:12).
- וַיָּמׇת... זָקֵן וְשׂבעַ – After recounting Avraham's long life-span, the Torah describes him as dying "בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה זָקֵן וְשָׂבֵעַ" (Bereshit 25:7-8). Similarly, after the remainder of Iyyov's years are counted, he dies "זָקֵן וּשְׂבַע יָמִים" (Iyyov 42:16-17).
- עוּץ – Avraham has a nephew named עוּץ (Bereshit 22:21), and Iyyov lives in the land of עוּץ (Iyyov 1:1).
Analysis
- Degree of similarity –
- עוּץ – While the word used in both stories is identical, by Avraham it is referring to a person, and by Iyyov it is referring to a place.
- Distinctive phrases –
- יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים – While not unique, the description "יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים" is found only rarely in Tanakh.2
- אַל תִּשְׁלַח יָדךָ – These three words in this exact order are unique.3
- עָפָר וָאֵפֶר – These are the only three occurrences of this combination.
- וַיהֹוָה בֵּרַךְ – These are the only occurrences of this exact phrase.
- זָקֵן וְשׂבעַ – This combination is found in only one other place.4
Points of Contrast
- What happens to children –
- Reaction to test –
