earticle

영어

A study on the Ethical Imperative of the Deutronomic Theology in Job 29Han Geun Cho, Ph.D Adjunct Professor, Department of Theology, The Salvation Army Officer Training College This study aims to demonstrate the influence of the ethical imperative of the Deuteronomic theology for the poor in Job 29. In this paper, I investigated ethical imperative for the poor in the postexilic times reflected in the Book of Job. For the purpose of the study, I used sociological criticism as a tool interpreting the texts. And I studied social classes to locate the position of the needy in the time of the Book of Job. Also I investigated personal situations of the editor and the problems of the society, which are reflected in Job 29. Deuteronomy stresses social and individual responsibility for the poor. But, the post-exilic community did not observe the laws. The Israelites failed to abide by the words of God regarding the poor throughout their history. In this historical context, Nehemiah tried social reform for the poor at the Second-Temple period(Neh. 5:1-15). Historically, in the postexilic period, the community of Judah showed a great gap between the haves and have-nots. But the community failed to overcome the huge gulf between the rich and poor. The Book of Job provides information about the poor's social position and situation in peculiar historical context in the post-exilic times. Especially, Job 29 shows how the ethical imperative of the Deuteronomic theology for the poor was adapted in post-exilic society. In this paper, I have demonstrated considerable similarities between the Book of Job and Deuteronomy regarding the attitudes for the weak and the poor. In the time of the Book of Job, the Judahites did not protect the poor. Particularly, the aristocrats took bribery, by doing so perverted justice. Job 29 demonstrates how Job, the righteous noble, had diligently helped the poor(Job 29:14). In fact, Job 29 goes further than the Deuteronomic laws in terms of showing the authentic meaning of protecting the poor.

한국어

이 논문은 욥기 29장 안에 나타난 사회적 약자 보호 사상이 신명기적 윤리 규범에 기인함을 지적한다. 필자에 의하면, 욥기는 페르시아 시대의 정치적 상황에서 사회적 약자의 빈곤의 원인을 다루고 있는데, 과거 히브리인들의 법전에서 발견 할 수 없는 진일보한 실천적 윤리의식이 나타난다. 필자는 욥기 29장의 고찰을 통하여 신명기적 윤리 규범이 어떻게 투영되고 발전 되었는지를 규명한다.