God's Answer And Job's Response

The current understanding of the Book of Job, put forth by M. Tsevat in 1966 and widely accepted, is that YH-w-H implicitly denies the existence of divine justice. Retribution is not part of reality, but only a delusion. The present article argues that the book teaches the need for fidelity in the face of divine injustice. The Theophany shows a God whose care for the world of nature hints at his care for humans. The reader, unlike Job, knows that Job's suffering is important to God, as establishing the possibility of true human loyalty.