Prologue: Job's suffering

Prologue (Job 1–2)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

1. a
   introduction (sets the stage): Job's righteousness and prosperity1:1–5
2. b
   Satan's first challenge1:6–12begins: "One day the sons of God came . . . and Satan also came with them. Yahweh said to Satan, . . . 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him.'"; Satan accuses Job and proposes suffering; God grants permission, with restrictions; ends: and Satan went out from Yahweh's presence
3. c
   suffering befalls Job: loss of wealth and family1:13–19
4. d
   Job's first righteous response1:20–22Job's act of self-abasement and declaration of faith in God; conclusion: "in all this, Job did not sin"
5. b′
   Satan's second challenge2:1–7abegins: "One day the sons of God came . . . and Satan also came with them. Yahweh said to Satan, . . . 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him.'"; Satan accuses Job and proposes suffering; God grants permission, with restrictions; ends: and Satan went out from God's presence
6. c′
   more suffering befalls Job: loss of health2:7b
7. d′
   Job's second righteous response2:8–10Job's act of self-abasement and declaration of faith in God; conclusion: "in all this, Job did not sin"