Job

Also known as: Jobab · Family: Edom · Role: the most pious Gentile · First appears: Job And The Patriarchs

Job, also called Jobab, succeeded Bela as king after the sons of Esau appointed him. A grandson of Esau and son-in-law of Jacob, he married Dinah as his second wife. He worshipped God, and his prosperity was described as a foretaste of the Messianic time. Yet Job failed to remain steadfast like the three Fathers and was punished for his words against God.

After learning that the idol was the tempter’s handiwork, Job destroyed it. God then gave Satan power over Job’s possessions, and Job lost his sheep and children before Satan was permitted to afflict his body. Struck with leprosy, Job left the city and sat on an ash-heap. His wife Zitidos advised him to pray for death, but she also cut off her hair to buy him bread. When Satan admitted defeat and departed, Job’s friends Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Elihu hastened to help. Job refused the physicians’ offer, saying, “My healing and my restoration come from God, the Creator of all physicians.” He told Zitidos that their dead children were with the Ruler of heaven, crowned with glory.

God healed Job and gave him a celestial girdle that ended his pain. Job offered a sacrifice for his friends, which God accepted, and his wealth doubled. After Zitidos died during his trials, Job married Dinah, who bore him seven sons and three daughters: Jemimah, Keziah and Amaltheas. He divided his possessions among his sons and gave each daughter a riband from the girdle. On the fourth day, angels came to fetch his soul.